WHY IS OBESITY INCREASING SO MUCH?

It’s no secret that, as a society, Americans and people in other industrialized nations are getting heavier. Obesity rates are skyrocketing compared to previous generations, with the current US adult obesity rate at over 40%. Why is this happening?

Like obesity itself, there are likely multiple dimensions that contribute to a systemic rise in national obesity rates:

Nutrition Habits And Choices Based On Convenience

There’s nothing like a home-cooked meal made with fresh ingredients. But these occasions have become more the exception than the norm, especially among younger adults as well as urban and suburban dwellers. It’s easier than ever to log onto a food delivery app to have a meal delivered in 45 minutes or less. If food is prepared at home, there’s a high chance it includes prepackaged or processed components. The upside to these eating trends is convenience and time efficiency. However, the downside might be more costly to weight management and overall health. Restaurant and prepackaged foods often contain far more fat, calories, salt, and sugar than meals prepared the old-fashioned way.

In fact, if you were able to peek into the kitchens at most fast food and convenience restaurants, what you would find may just spoil your appetite. For instance, seemingly healthy stir-fried veggies might be cooked with a half stick of butter. Grilled chicken could be dipped in oil first. Or, that “healthy” egg white breakfast burrito might be fried in pure bacon fat! The fact is, you have very little control over ingredients and food preparation when you order from a restaurant. That could derail the necessary calorie control needed for effective weight loss.

Speaking of calories, many restaurants also serve much larger portion sizes than in previous years, hoping to out-serve their competitors while justifying the higher price of eating out. In some cases, a single meal can contain 2,000 calories or more. That’s more than someone should eat all day, much less in a single meal.

Moving Less

We are living in what’s known as the Information Age, which is marked by professions and lifestyles that revolve around technology and the processing of vast amounts of data. Living in the Information Age does not require much physical activity from our bodies. As a result, we spend the bulk of our time in a sedentary position. This could look like sitting in front of a computer all day at work, spending hours bingeing on Netflix, or playing video games into the wee hours of the morning. In addition, our car-based infrastructure causes most of us to sit as we get from point A to point B. In short, most of us are moving too little.

A lack of consistent daily activity is extremely detrimental to both weight loss efforts and overall health. It impedes muscle development and maintenance, a healthy cardiovascular system, a strong immune system, as well as emotional resilience. The combination of poor nutritional choices and a sedentary lifestyle spells disaster for successful weight loss, leading to an excess of calories consumed versus burned.

Poor Sleep Habits

Sleep might not appear to have any relation to obesity risks, but it’s a critical piece of the puzzle. Good sleep helps provide the recharging we need for everyday living, including physical exercise. And did you know that fatigue can increase your chances of giving into food temptations? Good sleep keeps your guard up to make better decisions about what and how much you consume. According to the CDC, between 30-35% of American adults do not get sufficient quality sleep.

Social Isolation

A 2024 Gallup Survey revealed that 1 in 5 American adults report feeling lonely at least once per day. Social isolation is becoming an increasing problem for many reasons, including effective weight and health management. Loneliness can lead to emotional overeating and increased periods of sedentary behavior. In the long term, this can result in unhealthy weight gain and increased risk for chronic disease and depression.

How You Can Fight The Trends

It’s not easy to go against the grain. But it’s necessary for the sake of your weight, long-term health, and longevity.

In the areas described above, you must find a way to create a personal routine that prioritizes calorie-controlled, healthy-ingredient meals, consistent physical exercise, improved sleep hygiene, and meaningful social interaction. It may seem overwhelming, especially as the world continually tempts us to take the “easy way out”. Just know there’s no need to tackle everything at once. Take it in small steps until you fully establish them as habits. It’s a process, but one that is worth the effort!

If you need help, CMWL offers plans, tools, and resources to help you make the positive changes you might be looking for. From GLP-1 Plans to help control appetite and protein products to maintain lean muscle to behavior change plans that encourage healthy habit adoption, we can help you create a healthy lifestyle you enjoy.