So Let’s Talk Pandemic

By Stacey Nolan Young

Everybody is talking about it. It’s on the news, in your papers, debated about in workplaces and homes. Get the shot, don’t get the shot…but one thing is certain- this current pandemic is everywhere. And people are either sick or sick of hearing about it, scared or think it’s just a big scam.

Bet you thought I would weigh in on this, didn’t you? Those who know me know where I stand on this issue so I’ll leave this debate to the media for now. What I want to talk about is a bigger threat to our society. Much bigger than this H1N1 virus. Something that is killing more people daily than you can imagine.

This pandemic, the REAL epidemic is obesity.

All over social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter I see people debating on whether or not to get the shot for their kids or for themselves, pondering whether or not the vaccine is safe and if it’s a good idea. But some of these people don’t hesitate or even question feeding their children processed and fast foods. And doing so on a continual basis is more detrimental to their health than getting a flu vaccine. And worse- more people die each year from obesity related disease than any virus.

Obesity is an epidemic in North America and across the world. Here, in Hamilton we have the distinction of being the city in Canada with the highest number of overweight and obese people accounting for 75% of our residents. Was it always this way? Certainly not. Our fast paced society has played a significant role in this transformation. More fast food places have popped up. Convenience food has replaced more healthy and nutritious meals. And parents have become so busy that tossing around a baseball with their kids has been replaced by electronic babysitters such as TV, computers and gaming systems.

This may not be the case for everyone but it is fast becoming the norm. And this terrifies me.

A lot of illness and disease that is rampant today is highly preventable. Some examples of diseases where obesity is a signficant risk factor include:

Type 2 Diabetes
High Blood Pressure
Stroke
Heart Attack
Heart Disease
Cancer
Gallstones
Gout
Osteoarthritis
Sleep Apnea
Reproductive Problems

And these are just the tip of the iceberg.

If you think you are immune, think again. In fact- you do not even have to be obese to be at risk for some of these illnesses. No- you just simply have to maintain that unhealthy lifestyle that you have been following. Some people can look great on the outside and be a big mess on the inside.

We need a change in this society. A big change in order to make a difference. Habits formed are difficult to break for some. My thoughts? Start with the kids. If you instill healthy habits into your children when they are young then they are more likely to follow them as they age and hopefully pass them down to their own children. But in order to start with your kids, parents have to make the changes themselves and set a good example for their children.

Simple nutritional changes can make an impact like sitting down with your children for a healthy homecooked dinner, stocking your refridgerator with plenty of fruits and vegetables and limiting the refined and processed snacks kept around the house. Exercise can be implemented as “family fun time” on a weekend. Take your kids out for hikes or sporting activities. With winter around the corner you can look forward to ice skating, skiing and toboganning. Why not enroll your child in a sport or extra curricular activity? This will not only give your child much needed exercise but also enhance their social skills.

Theses things can mean the difference between a lifetime of illness, aches, pains, depression and inactivity and a lifetime of health. Start today with yourself.

This is within our control.

Add comment November 18th, 2009