Obesity and Health Care

On September 23, a visitor took a moment to leave me this thoughtful message:

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"Please carry out an intelligent and careful examination of the problem obesity and health care. It is nice to read the considered response, which makes me think."

(Thank-you for asking!)  This is a topic that is near and dear to my heart.  My opinion regarding obesity as it pertains to health care would be considered controversial in some circles, but I will offer it here, and I welcome your comments and opinions as well!

It is my considered opinion that in the majority of cases, obesity is nothing more (or less!) than a symptom of serious and chronic malnutrition. 

Now, don't get me wrong.  By using the word malnutrition, I do not mean to say that the obese person got to be obese by not eating enough--but he did get there by starving himself of all the vitamins, minerals, living enzymes, pure water, essential fatty acids, proteins, complex carbohydrates, bioflavinoids, and other phytonutrients we all need to grow, repair, cleanse and maintain our bodies on the cellular level.

Like it or not, we live and die at the cellular level.  If enough of our cells become sick and congested with waste and toxins, tissues die.  As enough living tissue dies, organs begin to fail and die.  When organs fail, our whole body embarks upon a path leading inexorably toward death.

As obesity pertains to health care, it is almost always considered a "risk factor" for every known chronic disease state. Diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, cancers, vascular disease, dementia...you name it, and the medical community will tell you that if you are obese, your risk factor for developing any of these diseases is increased dramatically as compared to the normal-weight individual.

Photo Credit: ulina c

I would argue, however, that obesity is not a risk factor as much as it is a disease state unto itself; obesity being a function of malnourishment.  In as much as malnutrition (and the resulting cellular toxicity) is the root cause of obesity, it is also at the root of all chronically debilitating health care issues.

When people eat freely of plant and animal foods that are naturally grown on healthy soil, wholesome whole foods that have been minimally processed and have not been exposed to every herbicide, fungicide and pesticide known to mankind--they will be healthy and thrive.

People should eat abundantly and with much joy and thanksgiving for what God has so graciously given us, and they will never become obese when they generously nourish their bodies with foods that are locally and organically grown.  Remember, Food Matters!