Obesity’s Consequences Will Kill You! Here Are Easy Ways to Stay Fit

“Obesity is expected to affect 1 in 2 adults by 2030” (Ward ZJ, et al. Projected U.S. state-level prevalence of adult obesity and severe obesity. New England Journal of Medicine). The word is not “overweight” but “obesity.” That is huge and frightening and may overwhelm American health care and health care insurance providers more than coronavirus has. Speaking of COVID-19, where I live, the only deaths I’m aware of from the virus have been of people who are very old or obese.
Obesity kills. For example, it makes you more susceptible to various cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and dementia. Losing weight may not be easy, but you have to start somewhere. Here are ways I stay in shape:

• Avoid drive-thrus. They make it too easy to get food that is crummy for your body. There isn’t even walking involved.
• Walk as if you’re late, not as if you’re idly ambling. Walking is the most basic exercise, but do any exercise you can tolerate at least five days/week. Increase your length and intensity of exercise very gradually and pace, if need be.
• Eat less meat and more vegetables. The infrequent times I eat meat at restaurants, I eat about one-third of the portion and take the rest home for future meals. Portions have grown as fast as Americans’ waistlines over the past three decades, so start consuming less than you normally do. If you’re feeling deprived, eat more vegetables, which offer nutrition and fiber for way fewer calories.

Get on your feet!

Walking is the most basic exercise. Photo: Jo Zimny Photos, Flickr Creative Commons

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Darla Nagel is a biomedical copy editor who has an invisible chronic illness. She wants to educate healthcare professionals and encourage patients. If you want to receive quarterly updates from her, email darla.nagel{a}gmail.com.