Cardiac Health and Lifestyle

¶ … incidence rates of childhood obesity are linked to socio-economic factors. Core drivers of obesity in both children and adults are diet and exercise, and research has shown that a calorie is not a calorie. That is to say that certain foods serve as triggers for metabolic responses and physiological events that impact the overall health of individuals. The old adage that people can focus on loosing weight -- the associated implication is that they will be healthy as a result -- has shown not to be true. Much of the prepackaged food consumed today -- particularly so-called junk food -- is high in sugar, fats, and calories. However, this statement is too reductionist to be of help to people who are interested in improving their diets in order to actually become healthier.

Recent research indicates that obesity is certainly a factor in the incidence of diabetes, as is total caloric intake. However, sugar has been shown to play a pivotal role in the development of diabetes. Consider that pre-packaged snack foods often contain high quantities of both sugar and salt. The relation between sugar intake and obesity has been shown in a robust body of literature. The impact that high quantities of salt in the diet have on blood pressure is also well established in the literature. When these two ingredients are combined in snack foods and junk foods, and an individual's diet contains large amounts of this type of food, their metabolic health is at risk.

The United States is addressing the issue of obesity in a number of important ways. It seems that a new solution is not needed so much as it is necessary to strengthen of the strategies currently being implemented. The lunches available to school children are being changed to offer only healthier alternatives, and the beverage vending machines in many schools no longer offer sugary drinks. Some cities and regions have implemented legislation that restricts the size of sugary drinks that may be sold within their jurisdiction, although this has received a considerable amount of push-back from the public in general.