Is Our Attitude About Health Unhealthy?

Is Our Attitude About Health Unhealthy?

Is Our Attitude About Health Unhealthy?

People who have the riskiest-for-their-health behavior are likelier to blame their genetic makeup than to attribute illnesses - primarily hypertension and various cancers - to their behavior. In fact, a study which was published in the journal Annals of Behavioral Medicine found that the more behavioral risk factors people had - like smoking, not exercising and eating a high-fat diet - the less likely they were to be interested in information about how to live healthier. By blaming their genes they didn't have to take responsibility for their actions - or lack of actions.

Because of lack of action Americans are still getting fatter. In 1991 no state had an obesity rate over 20%. In 2010 more than two-thirds of the states did. A recent study showed obesity rates increased in 28 states in 2009. For the 6th year running Mississippi was the fattest state. In 2009 Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and West Virginia had obesity rates over 30%. In 2010 Louisiana, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Arkansas joined those states. The District of Columbia was the only area with a decrease in its adult obesity rate - in spite of all the "fat cats" in Washington.

Because of parental denial American children are still getting fatter. According to a University of Michigan study, 43% of parents with obese children ages 6-11 said their children were "about the right weight"; 37%, "slightly overweight"; and 13%, "very overweight". However, parents with obese children ages 12-17 were more aware of the problem. Eleven percent said "about the right weight"; 56%, "slightly overweight"; and 31%, "very overweight". Some parents in both age groups said "slightly underweight". It seems parents think that their children will outgrow obesity, but in this case taking a "weight-and-see" attitude is unhealthy.

Both adults and children should know that it's the brain that makes people crave sugary, fatty foods. There's a system of interconnected neurons called the reward pathway. It evolved millions of years ago to encourage prehistoric man to do things necessary to survive - like eat. Because high calorie foods were scarce, the brain learned to release feel-good chemicals like dopamine and serotonin in response to tastes, smells and places associated with rich food. This system worked well until rich foods became easily available. It's the stomach that signals real hunger by releasing ghrelin, the hunger hormone. If you want to avoid gaining weight, you can't have a "brain trust".

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