PUT YOURSELF SECOND By Kara Davis, M.D.
Some sobering news was released last week. According to the CDC, by 2030, 42% of
Americans will be obese. That’s
significant enough, but what’s even more disturbing is this: currently 51% of
African American women over age 40 are obese, and 88% of us are overweight. So where will we find ourselves when 2030
rolls around? In 18 years, will the
statistics show that 60% of black women are obese and 95% of us are overweight?
As an internist, I treat women (and men) with conditions
that are related to lifestyle. The foods
we eat (or fail to eat), physical activity and body weight all play a role in heart
disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and even some forms of cancer. Many times I find women who, for a variety of
reasons, are not motivated to make lifestyle changes, even when their health is
at stake. So lately I’ve shifted gears with
my approach. In the past, I’ve told
women never to forsake their own needs while they care for others, but now I’m
encouraging them to put the needs of others first. Maybe this approach might hold the key to
success—instead of dropping a few pounds for yourself, do it for someone else.
Do it for your
friends Research has shown an
interesting phenomenon when it comes to weight gain: people are more likely to gain weight when
their friends gain weight. So if you
can’t get motivated to eat right and move more for your own sake, then do it
for the sake of your friends!
Do it for your
children Childhood obesity is an
epidemic with dire consequences: we are leaving our kids an inheritance of
illness. But this doesn’t have to
be. The next time you can’t seem to
compel yourself to exercise or cook a nutritious meal, then think about your
children and do it for them!
Do it for your
country Much of our healthcare dollars are spent on diseases that are
potentially preventable through following a healthy lifestyle. Regardless of your opinion about government and
irrespective of your political party, we owe it to our country to do what we
can to curtail this healthcare crisis.
So if you can’t seem to push the plate away for yourself, then do it for
your country!
I’m interested in hearing what you think about this novel
approach.
Contact me through the BOSS
Network, or at www.drkaradavis.com, www.facebook.com/DrKaraDavis or Twitter
@DrKaraDavis.
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Its definitely important that women start to take care of themselves and for the right reasons. Being healthy shouldn't be chore but a daily commitment. Thank you for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad to have this quarter focus on health and wellness. We need to inform more women of color on how to be healthy and happy.
ReplyDeleteKara i'll share this link on http://www.hairtalkandmore.com. I'm discussing over the next few weeks how exercise & nutrition affect our hair & scalp. Thanks. Marshay
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