The U.S. has reached new heights in percentages of people over weight and obese. The problem is it leads to health and economic issues. More people have chronic diseases and both the national budget for health care and personal insurance costs are out of control.
There is not a lack of education on how to eat properly nor the fact exercise is good for health. People disregard what they know in their hearts are good practices. There is a reason. They can’t fight their brain’s messages.
In his book The Hungry Brain, researcher Stephen J Guyenet, Ph.D chronicles how since the beginning of modern species millions of years ago, the brain has made decisions on which the most economical foods are to pursue in order to perform our most important function in Nature-reproduction. In modern times, this is just another aspect of life, but modern times are only about .008% of the time life has been on earth.
Our brain, which has grown, but not changed in function since the first forms of life has been making survival decisions for us. It is always seeking to find the highest calorie foods with the least effort. We don’t want to expend more energy to find food than we gain from the food.
Unfortunately, in modern times, high calorie food is as available as a vending machine or drive through, or our pantries or refrigerator. We live in a calorie rich environment. The brain is so happy. It doesn’t seem to prioritize longevity because in the past, without lots of calories, which were always threatened, longevity was day to day.
Now we have trouble over riding the brain’s search for calories to live more minimalist in our daily lifestyles. Some people have better control than others. The second problem is the food industry has found the most enticing food combinations to make us buy more.
Since the 1970’s, high fructose corn syrup has been plentiful due to the government subsidizing corn. Food manufacturers can add this inexpensive additive to all foods to make them more appealing and addictive. Salt is also relatively inexpensive and we love salty foods such as chips and fries.
Not only has the food industry discovered what are our addictions, but we can conserve calories with the ease in which they are made available. We can drive through a fast food restaurant on our way to anywhere and eat in our car. So efficient. We can take ready made foods home and perhaps just pop them in the microwave or oven. We give our kids all the quickly made fast foods and easy to prepare foods like pop tarts or ready made lunches not to mention pizzas and macaroni and cheese.
The battle of the waist lines is on. Big waist lines are a first indication of a metabolic disorder. Metabolic disorders lead to diabetes, heart attacks, and strokes. Cancer is next. The percentage of world population with diabetes is increasing dramatically.
Add to the formula that more people are not exercising as they struggle with survival and rationalize they don’t have the time or energy and we accelerate the weight gain and health problems. Our brain is a mighty foe and victory relies on a person’s ability and will power to overcome natural impulses.
Our second foe in the weight loss battle is our metabolism. It fights in alliance with the brain in our efforts to lose weight. When we have lost weight, we lower the metabolism’s calorie burning rate because it is conserving fat for the evidently lack of food. When we have hit our weight loss target, the metabolism remains at low levels of expenditure. We resume our regular diet and the metabolism no longer burns as many calories to maintain body functions.
The environmental problems will not improve because there is no regulation on the amount of calories the food industry can make easily available. This means we have to become self-regulating in face of all the temptations. We can get calories, quickly, inexpensively, and they taste so good our brain produces dopamine from the pleasure of harmful foods.
If you are trying to lose weight, you must realize the battle ground before you. You must make choices that run against the grain. The health industry is a multi-billion dollar behemoth to help people trying to make the right choices. We just have to pay attention and get engaged.
Lifestyle Posts:
Lifestyle Determines Our Health
How Lifestyle Leads to Happiness
Lifestyle Changes for Productivity
Making Gratitude a Primary Goal
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