Is Obesity a Disease?

In my last post I shared what I know about the anti-obesity drugs that are coming on the market and my thoughts on safer alternatives.  I received quite a bit of feedback from readers, one saying “this is brilliant. I’m so glad you wrote this. I will admit I explored these myself. I decided a while ago it wasn’t worth the risk and this just confirms that.”  Another, a medical doctor said  “I just completed a 38 hour review course on General Internal Medicine for Specialists . We had sessions on obesity, diabetes, heart disease, etc.. They advocated lifestyle changes as step one to reducing “unhealthy weight"; then adding professional counseling if this does not result in a 5% reduction in 3-6 months. Then just 3-6 months in Step 2 with a rapid transition to Step 3 - drugs! Then 3-6 months with drugs before going to Step 4 - operation! I thought this very aggressive since it can lead to an irreversible operation within a year! If I were treating patients, I would allow 1-2 years in Step 2 , looking for at least a 10% weight reduction. I would include aggressive Cognitive-Behavioral Training as well as Nutritionist counseling in Step 2.”

Using just this sampling of responses to my newsletter, it made me step back and ask the question - Is obesity a disease?

Modern medicine now defines it as such.  I understand that obesity is linked to a number of diseases: high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep apnea, Type II diabetes and some forms of cancer.  But is obesity itself a disease, or is it a condition that is the result of  chronically poor nutrition?

Let me define what chronically poor nutrition and resulting weight issues looks like to me:

   1.   a regular diet of low nutrient high calorie foods, leading to chronic hunger

   2.  constant dieting, trying restrictive diets that tip essential nutrients out of balance with a goal of rapid weight loss, resulting in loss of muscle mass and altering metabolism

   3.  snacking, especially when it takes the place of meals

   4.  overindulgence in refined sugar and white flour

   5.  absence of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, beans/legumes and/or lean meat

   6.  night time eating

   7.  insufficient intake of water

   8.  loneliness

   9   boredom

  10. anxiety

  11. unmanaged stress

So you see, nutrition and weight are not just about food. No question, nutrition and weight issues are complex.  That’s why in my work I begin with the food part, looking to stabilize eating practices to three nourishing meals each day.  But the deeper work needs to be done too.  How do you take care of yourself?  Is it just outward appearances, or do you give yourself enough rest, social connection with people you care about, and time for the things you enjoy?  Do you get outside in the daytime to listen to the birds, look at the sky and just be?

I worry that people who only focus on the idea that weight loss is the answer will succumb to the intense marketing of obesity drugs you will see this year. It looks so simple, until you look at the fine print of side effects and the need to remain on the drug indefinitely or the lost weight will return.  Time magazine has again brought some of the serious issues related to these drugs to light.

Don’t blame yourself - when was the last time you saw an ad for broccoli?  Or carrots?

Obesity is not the result of laziness or gluttony,  It’s the failure of our government to make nutrition education a priority, all the while subsidizing the food industries that produce inferior foods and charge a lot of money for them.  By calling obesity a disease, it suggests that people are helpless where what we really need is better affordable food choices at the market and comprehensive education on food and the basics of meal preparation.  We need public service announcements and community organizations that teach shopping and cooking skills.

In the meantime, don’t put your health and happiness at risk by obsessing over your weight.  You are unique,  the result of your anatomy, your food and how you care for yourself. That’s where your power is.

Meryl Streep - Wise Woman

I had the honor of speaking at the MA Conference for Women in 2017.  Meryl Streep was a keynote.  Here’s what she said about weight: “Don’t worry about your weight.”   “It’s a big waste of time. When I think about how many years I’ve wasted thinking about that subject, it’s just idiotic.  And we lose so many genius people and their genius ideas because they are looking in the mirror and saying ‘Oh my God, my ass is too big’”

The audience of 11,000 women erupted.  I hope you just did too.

Food Is Medicine

Some years ago, Dr. Conrad Esselstyn and Colin Campbell combined their expertise in clinical nutrition and nutritional research and reinforced the finding that there is one true path toward lifelong wellness, and that is food.

Like Dan Buettner. who wrote The Blue Zone, they showed that eating fresh unprocessed food makes a world of difference in health and wellness, and may be the only medicine needed throughout life.

It’s been my mission since completing my training at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in 2005 to help whoever is ready and open to living with the simple belief that whole foods are the answer. It doesn’t mean you can never have a treat, or a pizza, or fried clams or chips. What it means is that most of your food falls into the categories  of fruits, vegetables. whole grains, clean meat and seafood, nuts, beans, fermented foods and seeds. Real food.

It also means that while  staying within these parameters, there may be times when some of these foods don’t agree with you or you just don’t like them. That is your bio-individuality speaking to you, and it is up to you to listen.

You may know I offer nutritional cleanses 3 times annually.  These are times designed to acclimate to changing seasons and in one case reset from the holidays. Here’s an example of what you might discover through this experience:

Karen was a first -time cleanser with Wellness and You.  This is what she relayed back to me a week after the cleanse ended:

“I finished the cleanse 6 days ago and I’ve re-introduced coffee, bread and yogurt into my diet. 
  Coffee:  Have changed cups to 1 eight-oz cup and thoroughly enjoy 1 cup in the morning.
  Bread:  2 slices per day/max - not every day
  Yogurt:  about 1/2c to 1 cup per day with breakfast and occasionally with fresh/frozen berries and nuts as an afternoon treat or in an afternoon smoothie.  
  Sweetener:  maple sugar only and the amount is regulated.

Here’s what I have noticed since finishing the cleanse:
  Hair Loss:  Definitely have noticeably less hair loss when I wash my hair.  I love it!  That benefit alone is worth changing one’s diet!
 Mornings:  hip pain is gone (yeahhh); overall stiffness diminished; no morning fog at all upon waking.
 Throughout the day:  higher energy levels.  
  Sweet tooth lower:  Last weekend, my daughter purchased a lemon meringue pie to share.  I ate a slice and noticed that I didn’t enjoy the taste that much while I was eating it - that surprised me!. 
Again, I’m delighted.  I’m not craving sugary sweets and deliberately not bringing any into my pantry.

I like your meal plan so much!  It has given me a simple, viable, healthy plan to follow and remove the angst around grocery shopping and quantity to purchase.  

Peg, thank you for your expertise.  Your cleanse plan really helped me understand what I , needed to do to live well and age well.  I am very grateful for the experience.
”

— Karen

The Proof Is Here

Look at Drs. Esselstyn, Campbell’s conclusions. Look at The Blue Zone, And look at Karen.  Eating healthy is the best medicine and it heals quickly.  I’ve seen it over and over.  You may know Dr. Mark Hyman, another doctor who espouses food as medicine. The bad part is we hear so little from mainstream medicine about the power of food,

Instead, we hear one should lose weight, or exercise. Excess weight and the lack of exercise is the result of poor quality food. In my book Food Becomes You I talk about malnutrition.  You might think I’m talking about not having enough food, but I’m not. I’m talking about eating highly processed food that offer few if any nutrients, causing you to always feel hungry. That hunger turns to over-eating, and if the food offers no nutrients, your brain will continue to trigger your appetite.

Join Me on the Path to Wellness

We all want to feel good. No one wants to be crippled by pain, digestive distress, headaches, depression, high blood pressure or excess weight.  Taking time to commit yourself to a healthier way of life with your food is so worth it. It takes time and attention, but like Karen, once you see how much better you can feel, you see how worth it healthy eating really is.

I invite you to read over my programs page to see if something may be right for you. I work virtually and in person in my Six Weeks and Comprehensive Coaching programs. We start with a detailed health history and goals statement to be sure the program is right for you. Everything is confidential.   And the best news of all, getting your food right will create a ripple effect in all aspects of your life.