Five thoughts, ideas, insights, or quotes to power up your mind to think differently and creatively about life and who we are. Put all previous thinking away and open up a brand new world of the Supermind. YOUR SuperMind.
This week – Obesity.
We need food to live. And add some on for fun and pleasure. But, just enough so that we balance the two nicely as our overall diet. We also have to ensure that we don’t overeat to keep our health in good shape. Well, that’s what we SHOULD do, but more and more people certainly are not. Human obesity is showing a sharp increase so this week at SMS we are going to consider this growing problem.
1. Easy Food, Easy Calories.
Worldwide obesity has doubled since 1990 and some 1 billion people are now classed as obese. This is a rapid rise in such a short span of time in human history. How come? Well, also in that time we have seen a massive increase in takeaways, food deliveries, and supermarkets open for long hours. Food is easily available and always nearby or on our plates without any effort. What comes easy too are the calories contained within this often not so healthy food option buying. Should we curb the ability for us to access food like this in some kind of regulation before it’s too late?
2. Consequence for Calories.
Health services everywhere are straining under the pressure from this obese epidemic. They have to deal with all the myriad of health conditions overeating causes in people from diabetes to poor mobility as examples. It seems the view is that somehow health providers will solve the issues that people have created themselves by their eating habits (I know some nurses who will confirm this). Trouble is the very same people come back again and again with more issues from not changing their behaviour. So, should their be a consequence for those that consume up appointments and treatments like they consume food? Should there be a limit of care for people who simply won’t help themselves?
3. Too Young to be Too Heavy.
Adolescent obesity has quadrupled since 1990 and in 2024 over 35 million children under 5 were already overweight. This is shocking and scary. The most shocking of all is children don’t get to choose what they eat, they require their parents to allow and pay for their meals. Children of the past were given the odd treat as part of a balanced, sensible diet. Not today. Again quick and easy seems parental preference too often. How do we encourage parents to cook better? Or is there another reason, such as adults are working longer and longer hours than ever and so have less time? How do we help children eat well again?
4. Bad Food Not Bad People.
People have lapsed into bad food choices. Yes, one is because it saves time and effort, but also, it can’t be denied, some of it tastes good. Food companies have created dishes that have an addictive quality. No wonder then that the average person keeps coming back for more, especially as they can get it almost everywhere. As a world, we are hooked on this. We don’t mean it, we’re not bad people. Addicts for the taste and favour. And there’s the problem. How can we remove or quell the addictive nature of foods that are causing the obesity issue?
5. Benefits for Better.
Right now our minds clearly don’t see the benefit in not being obese – better health, feeling more energetic, not needing medication etc. Our taste buds override this. The benefit is attached to the enjoyment not the ongoing improvements. Quick hits are far more inspiring that longer term positives. Maybe it’s time for other benefits as an encouragement to change diet. What benefits or mini reward can be given to those currently obese so that they improve their eating AND stay that way? How do we change behaviours with a benefit, especially for the young?
Ok, that’s another SuperMind Saturday done. Thank you for being here for the SuperMind time. Keep thinking about these through the week to open up more of your mind and to solve some of the issues mentioned. Consider more, generate ideas more, think on bigger possibilities more, activate your connection to your personal higher mind. Employ your SuperMInd and Super Think. You have more answers and ideas than you ever previously thought possible!!
See you next time for more super thinking.
References – World Health Organisation – Obesity and Overweight.
Photo attribution – Free to use under the Pixabay Content Licence by paulinapuchalska88.
