Diabetes And Obesity - How Wealth is Destroying Our Health

It would be wrong to say that what we eat is the only reason for an increase in the cases of diabetes, especially Type 2 Diabetes. Rising cases of obesity are also undoubtedly related to insufficient physical activity and excessive caloric intake. Nevertheless, the statistics are staggering: In 1980, there were only approximately 25 million people in the world with Type 2 Diabetes. By today, only 30 years later, some estimate the number to be above 200 million. That is an increase of 800%. It blows my mind.

In America and around the world, our greatest technological advances have in some ways been to our detriment. We are wealthier than at any time in the past, but we have not been trained for healthy diet and active lifestyle. Americans are working long hours, but most work at desks or behind counters. On average, Americans eat out approximately one time each day.

When we eat out, we are eating larger portions. In addition, most of the foods available at restaurants, especially fast food restaurants, are loaded with saturated fat and refined carbohydrates. These foods are cheap to produce, and they are convenient.

What can we do? I often find myself angry at what is being offered to children in school. I remember the school lunch at my elementary school, and it was like eating fast food. At the time, though, I thought it was good and I didn’t know otherwise. Despite being wealthier than ever in the past, we are not spending money on keeping children healthy.

I will stop ranting now. This is a topic that I am truly fervent about, though. Health needs to be cool, and eating junk needs to be criticized. Don’t be fooled by processed foods and fad diets.