I guess I am not that lucky.

Everytime I check, the same message shows up. Not sure I can live without tweets. This is as bad as trying to kick a smoking or caffeine habit.

What am I missing out on?

What will be old news by the time they let me in?

Why aren’t they letting me in?

Damn it!

Artwork: James MacDonald (Flockey)

Today’s Americans face more health problems than ever before. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, about one-third of American children and two-thirds adults face obesity problems. Poor nutritional choices and the lack of exercise contribute to this ever-growing population of unhealthy citizens.

Genetically Speaking

Obesity related illnesses though many times are linked to certain genetic markers, triggering those markers through unhealthy habits of health ( bad diet, poor sleep, lack of exercise or movement) can awaken these illnesses and adversely effect longevity and the quality of life. If you fall into this category, you can better handle an illness if you lost the extra weight and chose better eating habits. Some people may escape or manage inherited diseases by simply taking the right steps to be healthy. You can be one of these people.

Pitfalls to Avoid

Avoiding the pitfalls of obesity requires doing several things: eat healthy, decrease portion size and cut the fat. The most important and first step is eating healthier. The majority of people choose fast-food over much healthier choices. It’s an easy choice due to hectic schedules, long work hours and other obstacles. However, if more people sat down and ate a healthy home-cooked meal every night, obesity can be stopped in its tracks.

The same goes for portion size. Consuming a double cheese burger, extra-large fries and super-sized cola will only trigger obesity, high cholesterol and even a heart attack. Even those who do eat at home can over-indulge on food. Limit portions to the size of your palm. Do this with all your family members. Exchange the extra serving or sweet dessert for a glass of skim milk, fat-free jello or ice water. What goes in may not always come out.

Most foods contain high amounts of saturated fats. This fat ends up on your thighs, mid-section and any place else you can think of. Make an effort to know what you are eating. Read product labels, understand serving sizes and if in doubt – ask. Find a nutritionist or doctor who can help decipher product labels. The majority of family doctors will help if asked.

Medications and Obesity

Taking medications for heart-related problems, cancer or some other illness may trigger weight gain. Pain, weakness and other factors may influence how well you eat or exercise. Some medications simply make the body weak while treating the problem. It is important to talk with a physician about managing your weight and diet while taking any medication. Your physician will know the best and safest ways to eat and exercise without compromising the effects of your medications.

Obesity-Related Illnesses

We may be getting sicker due to a number of illnesses caused by obesity. High blood pressure and stroke – often called silent killers – are health conditions caused by being overweight. Diabetes Type 2 is another condition that must be controlled. According to the Centers for Control and Prevention, about two-thirds of adults have this disease due to obesity or being overweight.

Conditions that are not talked about as much are gallbladder and gallstone disorders. The gallbladder is tied to the liver. It works to regulate digestion and the extra cholesterol found in the blood. In order to have a healthy weight, your body depends on organs such as the gallbladder to their jobs. Unhealthy gallbladders can form gallstones and block the ducts that empty all the substances regulated by the gallbladder. People who are overweight can get this condition.

You are at risk for heart disease and other major complications if you are obese. Congestive heart failure, high blood cholesterol and heart disease are what you have to fight if your weight gets out of control. Managing your weight begins by thinking heart healthy. Choose nutritious alternatives to fatty foods and sugary sweets. Plan an exercise regiment that fits your schedule, but allows you to stay active at least three times a week. Being active makes all the difference in staying a step ahead of heart-related problems.

Pregnancy Factors and Complications

Pregnant women are at high-risk for obesity related problems. Consuming too much food during pregnancy not only leads to chubby babies, but months of fighting a weight problem. The March of Dimes says women should not gain more than 11 to 20 pounds if they are already obese. Those who begin their pregnancies at a normal weight should stay in the 25 to 35 pound category.

If you are obese during the pregnancy, you are at risk for high blood pressure, gestational diabetes and varicose veins. Poor female reproductive health also influences your weight, pregnancy and labor. Obesity can trigger a miscarriage or an unhealthy pregnancy. Speak with a doctor about safe exercises and good nutritional meals during pregnancy. However, you only need about 300 extra calories each day to maintain a safe pregnancy and weight.

Other Main Factors

Gout, osteoarthritis, loss of bladder control and some types of cancers may affect your health and well-being. Not all of these problems occur at old age. They can happen to overweight people of any age, especially bone disorders. Your bones require the ability to withstand the body’s weight. When you are obese, the bones undergo stress. According to the John Hopkins Arthritis Center, obese women are four times more likely to experience osteoarthritis than women who are not overweight. The statistics increase to five times more likely for men.

Psychological Disorders

Compulsive eating, binging and denial are psychological disorders that can affect you or someone else who is fighting obesity. Understanding why you overeat can help you begin on a journey to lose the weight and keep it off.

Children and Obesity

Childhood obesity is a trend quickly surpassing all over conditions in kids. Long hours of video games, junk food and sedentary lives may decrease the life-expectancy of these kids. As the world advances in technologies, the health of children everywhere slows down. Being overweight should end with the parents; not the next generation.

Fault Lines – Fast food, fat profits: Obesity in America (Duration: 23:15)

Video is about: Obesity in America has reached a crisis point. Two out of every three Americans are overweight, one out of every three is obese. One in three are expected to have diabetes by 2050. Minorities have been even more profoundly affected. African-Americans have a 50 per cent higher prevalence of obesity and Hispanics 25 per cent higher when compared with whites. How did the situation get so out of hand?

On this week’s episode of Fault Lines, Josh Rushing explores the world of cheap food for Americans living at the margins. What opportunities do people have to eat healthy? Who is responsible for food deserts and processed food in American schools? Fault Lines finds food revolutions taking place and speaks with the people that are fighting back. Source: AlJazeeraEnglish

Further I am surprised at the number of businesses that are open and expect their employees to be there to serve. Hope everyone gets home safely. Thanks for risking your necks to make sure we get our emergency beer and chips.