Ozempic is not a diet drug
The late (great) Erma Bombeck once said, “I’ve been on a constant diet for the last two decades. I’ve lost a total of 789 pounds. By all accounts, I should be hanging from a charm bracelet.”
Unfortunately, that describes far too many people who have struggled with their weight. Studies show that three out of every 10 men and 4 out of every 10 Women are trying to lose weight, and 3 out of every 10 adults are actively trying to maintain weight. Most know they are overweight and many are trying to do something about it. But the problem continues to worsen.
And, typical, everyone is looking for the silver bullet to weight loss. A pill or shot that allows you to keep eating what you want and magically you just lose weight. But it’s never that simple., and proof of that is the tragedy of what’s happening now with the diabetes drug Ozempic.
With obesity, comes the increased risk of diseases such as high blood pressure, Type II Diabetes, heart disease, and breast, colon, and prostate cancer. In addition, obesity has been linked to many mental health conditions. Health experts say that even losing 10 to 15 percent of your body weight can dramatically decrease the risk of developing these serious conditions.
Some years ago doctors in certain parts of the country asked pharmaceutical companies, “Please make the hypodermic needles longer and sharper so that we can get the medication through [all that American fat]!”
Most people use the scale to determine if they are overweight. It’s one thing to lose weight. It’s something else altogether to lose fat! As it relates to fitness, your weight tells you at most very little, and at least, not enough. As I will explain in greater detail later on, the one thing everyone needs to know to truly evaluate their fitness is their percentage of body fat.
For every extra pound of fat you carry, you have one to six miles of additional capillaries, for your blood to be forced through every day! The average body fat for men in America presently is: 27%. The average for women is: 34%. What should it be? Men should be between 11-18% depending on age. Women should be between 19-24% depending on age.
Twenty years ago, in my lectures on health and fitness, I predicted that the “Dumpling Decade” was coming. Much to my dismay I was correct—it’s here big time! It was not, I must admit, a difficult prediction to make based on even a casual observation of how kids eat, and how little they move.
The health of our nation’s children is in jeopardy. The prevalence of overweight young people has doubled in recent decades. Even at young ages, obesity is not just a cosmetic issue. Almost two-thirds of overweight youth have at least one additional risk factor for heart disease, including high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Overweight kids also may suffer with sleep apnea or bone and joint problems, according to the CDC.
If not dealt with, these obese, or soon to be obese, children will severely tax our already struggling healthcare system. The problem is both nutritional and fitness related. On the nutritional side, a large proportion of children’s caloric intake comes from processed foods seriously lacking in nutritional value.
