Obesity Epidemic in the U.S.

Forks Over KnivesThe western diet is taking a toll. Despite the most advanced medical technology in the world, Americans are sicker than ever before. Cardiovascular disease is still the number one cause of death killing 600,000 people a year. Processed sugar and refined food are far denser than the whole foods they are made of. Consumption of naturally dense food is the primary cause of the obesity epidemic in the United States. Billions are spent each year to “battle” conditions related to obesity.

The average American now carries 23 extra pounds. Two out of every three of us are overweight, and 40% are obese. About half of us are taking at least one prescription drug. Cases of diabetes are exploding, especially amongst our younger population. Major medical operations have become routine, helping to drive health care costs to astronomical levels. Heart disease, cancer, and stroke are the nation’s three leading causes of death. Half a million people get a heart bypass surgery every year.

Forks over Knives is an American documentary released in 2011 to empower people to turn their health around by improving their nutrition with a low-fat, whole-food, vegan diet.

What is Causing Obesity?

The film links processed and animal-based foods to obesity, heart conditions, certain cancers, and other illnesses. Forks Over Knives’ solution to all of this is to avoid any food product that comes from animals. By avoiding dairy and meats, people can significantly reduce their risks of getting these diseases.

Obesity and its related comorbidities cost the United States 120 billion dollars a year.

Solution for Obesity

Diet Change

So what do we eat instead? Plant-based foods have plenty of protein and calcium along with far greater amounts of countless other essential nutrients (such as antioxidants and complex carbohydrates) than meat and dairy. Processed foods tend to be more calorically dense than natural foods, and can fool our satiety mechanism.

Read More: Balancing Quick Weight Loss with Healthy Results

Forks Over Knives

Mechanism of Satiety

By eating more plant-based foods, we can decrease our feelings of hunger and induce stomach satiety. Satiety – the sense of fullness – results from a balance of hormonal and neurological signals reaching your brain from your belly. Neurological signals come from stretch receptors (how much the stomach is expanding) and density receptors (determines the richness of our food).

  • 500 calories of natural plant food fill the stomach completely. Both stretch and density receptors signal the brain that we have eaten enough.
  • 500 calories of processed food do not fill the stomach as much, and it triggers the signal to the brain that we need to eat more.
  • 500 calories of oil (pure fat) is even less filling and barely triggers any response at all.

Weight Loss Surgery

Nutritional change is an important measure to fight obesity, however, it is not a proven long-term solution for getting rid of excess weight for most Americans. The surgical treatment, such as gastric sleeve, is a fast, long-term answer to this problem. Its results reveal improvements in comorbidities like diabetes, cardiovascular problems, and hypertension.

Mexico Bariatric Center® offers reliable and affordable bariatric surgery in Mexico for uninsured and underinsured. Contact our seasoned patient coordinators to see if this is the right fit for you!