It’s no secret that America is one of the fattest countries in the world. Obesity in America has been a heated topic of conversation since the 50s with the rise of fast food chains and a preference for quick and easy food options. Recent studies have shown that 38 percent of U.S. adults are considered obese, with another third considered to be overweight. But why is being overweight something we’re still struggling with as a nation?
A recent article on the Huffington Post addressed the shortage of endocrinologists in the U.S. as a potential reason for the rise of obesity in America. Endocrinologists generally treat an imbalance of hormones in the body such as hypothyroidism, something that is often the cause of rapid weight gain, but with only about 6,000 endocrinologist in America, people with hormonal imbalances are faced with a health care shortage. Without access to physicians who help to treat imbalances before they lead to weight gain, many Americans find their fate sealed. Of course, this isn’t to say that proper diet and exercise can correct many issues surrounding obesity and weight gain, but for many this type of knowledge is never provided. It’s generally common knowledge that it’s important to eat right and exercise daily, but when it comes to weight loss, diet and exercise isn’t a “one size fits all” solution. Hormonal imbalances may make it nearly impossible to lose weight without personalized information, which is why the shortage of health care professionals means bad news.
It’s also important to note that obesity in America is often approached with a treatment approach rather than a preventative approach. In fact, it has been proven that the U.S. health care system rewards procedural approaches to obesity such as gastric bypass, liposuction, etc. versus preventative medicine that stops weight gain before it happens. This treatment philosophy in U.S. healthcare is part of the reason why companies like Genetic Direction are beginning to pop up across the country. It doesn’t make to apply a blanket treatment to everyone’s health related problems. Just because 38 percent of the American population is obese doesn’t mean they’re all obese for the same reasons. There’s a cause in each individual that lead to the effect. While it might take more time and more physicians, in the long term it’s cheaper to practice preventative medicine. If each individual were to be tested for genetic predispositions for weight gain, thyroid imbalances, response to exercise, etc. then each individual would understand how to properly care for his or her body and fewer people would face frustrations regarding their health or why they weren’t losing weight. In the world of healthcare, it only makes sense to focus on one body at a time, because we are all genetically different.
Of course, switching the healthcare system to a more preventative medicine based system would take a lot of work and likely a lot of politics. It’s something that many of us likely won’t see happen in our lifetimes, but it’s important to be aware that many of our health issues are treated with a pill or a universal solution that doesn’t always address the underlying problem, leading to even more problems down the road. While they may still be limited, we have options when it comes to maintaining our health. Genetic tests or even blood work give us a little glimpse of how our body works and make it easier to correct our lifestyles so as to prevent diseases like obesity. It’s part of the reason why Genetic Direction and GxSlim make so much sense. Understanding your genetics helps to prevent health issues rather than treat them. It’s one of the few ways that we have any hope of decreasing obesity in America.
