Take Control

Okay, the disclaimer is that I am morbidly obese, and I have been so for 30 years. I have fluctuated my weight, but it's been a losing battle for me, personally.

Some of my physical/medical factors include Rheumatoid and Psoriatic Arthritis, fatigue, and high blood pressure. Oddly enough, I am not diabetic, though my cholesterol is somewhat elevated.

Some of the mental/behavioral health issues involve dysfunctional childhood, extreme abuse and neglect, multiple fears, very low self-esteem, very low self-worth, perfectionism, and other serious issues that I address, daily.

Now, to the core of this post. "Fat Acceptance" must end, and it must do so with dignity and understanding that nearly every obese person is so because of poor diet, poor exercise, and personal perception issues. There is absolutely nothing "acceptable" about obesity, and the people who are holding on to this outrageous belief that "fat shaming" is a social construct and that obesity isn't a health risk will simply die at an early age after a brief time of extraordinary pain and degradation.

Because of the arthritis issues, movement is very dicey and I would love to be much closer to an aqua-therapy center. Aqua-therapy is probably the very best and most effective means of exercise for all individuals, but for obese people, particularly. Because there is a natural resistance within the water, any movement is "exercise."

Morbid obesity factors into cancer risks, depression, anxiety, suicide, auto-immune disorders, behavioral disorders, digestive diseases, heart disease, vascular diseases, lymphatic failure, adrenal failure, joint replacement, and a host of other real medical issues.

Diet. Let's start reading labels, folks. It would be the greatest coup if lawmakers would FORCE companies to abandon the use of high fructose corn syrup in any and all consumable products. This substance is, by its very nature, a killer. The percentage of the U.S. population diagnosed with diabetes in 1958 was 1%. In 2015, nearly 25% of the population was diagnosed with diabetes, and the percentage keeps increasing.  Childhood obesity is around 60%. Why?

High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) was discovered in 1965 and mainstream consumption was in full-swing beginning in 1970. Prior to the widespread use of this sweetener, specific foods contained dietary fructose, like grapes, milk products, meats, and most vegetables.  Today, there is "added sugar" in nearly every processed food or beverage.

If we even replace HFCS with decreased percentages of raw sugar, this could make obesity and weight control manageable.

The best possible thing that each person can do is to grow their own vegetables, learn how to can/preserve their harvests, or purchase foods from local farms. People who live in vastly urban environments can co-op to use CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) to provide their nutritional needs.

Next, the FDA needs to either be dismantled, or reconfigured to have the public's health and well-being at the forefront. NO MORE corporate shills, lobbyists, or political graft. This would include Big Pharma exclusion because diabetes is one of the major health industries in the U.S. The equipment, drugs, tests, copays, treatments, and accessories (shoes, socks, etc.) are a multi - BILLION DOLLAR industry. Keeping our nation fat, sick, and dying is a major source of our gross National Product.

There is so much more to this epidemic than one forum post can contain, but I invite everyone who is battling obesity to join with me to take control of their own lives, health, and well-being. The FDA is not the friend of the public. Drugs aren't the answer. Bariatric surgery is not the answer. Eating lettuce is not the answer. The answer lies in some tough and challenging decisions and making wise choices.

Young men and women out there? Please. Get up and off of the sofa. Get away from you computers and smart phones. Move your bodies, even if it's dancing in your bedroom or taking a brisk walk with a friend. Read labels - if you cannot pronounce any of the ingredients, it's NOT food. If there's HFCS, it's NOT food. If the first ingredient is sugar, it's NOT food.

Begin taking control, and denounce "Fat Acceptance" for what it is: denial and hedonism. Fat is ugly. Fat is deadly. Fat is painful.