How Eating a Healthy Diet Can Increase a Persons' Life Span - Assignment Example

Eating Healthy Obesity is one of the leading causes of health problems, which can makes themselves present as a person gets older. Obesity used to be an issue in adults, but in this day and age, obesity is something that often starts when a person is in their childhood, and it, as well as their health, worsens the older they get. Health problems that are associated with obesity include diabetes, heart failure, and various kinds of cancer; unfortunately, many of these can lead to an early death. There is a method, however, that not only can reverse obesity and make a person healthier and more fit, but can increase the lifespan of a person, and that is to eat and stick with a healthy diet. Since obesity usually starts when a person is young, it is best to initiate a plan of attack while they are still young, either to prevent obesity or to begin lessening the affects before they get too old, when it is more difficult to reverse the weight gain and health issues. Most children become overweight due to the ease at which they are able to obtain junk food, and how little they tend to exercise or involve themselves in physical activities. Children are often media targets for advertisements for junk food; combined with the desire to watch television or play video games more often than exercise, it is no surprise that many children have become overweight before they hit their teenage years, which is much sooner than their parents would have. Due to the sudden increase in which Americas children are becoming obese, it has been stated that "the current generation of American youth might live less healthy and possibly even have shorter lives than their parents (Bernstein)" if nothing is done about the deteriorating health of children. As aforementioned, the media has played a large role in encouraging obesity; due to the increase in how many children are obese, the media has since turned around, discouraging the gorging of junk food products, urging children to eat better and to spend more time participating in physical activity. Television networks designed mainly for children, such as Nickelodeon and the Disney Channel, have taken it upon themselves to encourage children to live healthier; both networks have designed various programs that allow children to become more involved in their own health and weight. There are even a few times a year that the networks shut themselves down for a few hours so that children do not feel as obliged to sit around and watch television, but are encouraged to go outside and participate in sports activities with their friends and family. The networks even suggest games that families can play together, since being children and eating healthy begins at home. Fortunately, though, aiding weight loss and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is almost as simple as it is to fall prey to obesity. If parents start their children young on good diets and daily exercise, there is less of a chance that they will develop obesity and its many related health problems. Parents tend to play the biggest role in the outcome of their childrens health. If they stopped stocking junk food and replaced it with fruits and vegetables, then that is what their children will eat. If their parents limit how much time they watch television or play on the computer, their children will benefit from it by playing active games. The parents need to become more involved in the health of their children if they want them to remain healthy. It is also a good option for them to be more concerned about their own health. It is easier to stop obesity when the child is younger and still growing; it is more difficult if they are older, as they may have already developed additional diseases and health issues. When a child is young and is on a good, healthy diet and participating in physical activities, they can increase their lifespan. They do not have to worry about the risks and consequences of leading an unhealthy lifestyle if they start a healthy one as a child; the longer they hold off living a healthy lifestyle, the more difficult it is to get and maintain good health. Healthier foods will not only make a person healthier, but will also provide them with the nutrients and vitamins that they need to remain healthy and to keep their weight under control. They will be more fit and experience more energy than if they were to remain on a sugar-based diet, as, unfortunately, most children are. When an obese person is older, though it may be harder to control their weight, they can still partake in a healthy diet and exercise plan to lessen their chances of causing further damage to their health. By eating healthy, they are still able to turn their life around and increase their chance at having a lifespan longer than the one they could have if they kept up an unhealthy lifestyle. They still have the chance of ridding themselves of the health problems that they might have gained over the years. Maintaining a healthy weight is something that needs to be worked at constantly to notice any changes; it needs to be something that develops into a daily pattern. If a lifestyle like that is kept up, the person will begin to see changes in their weight and in their health, regardless of the current problems they may have. However, the older a person is, the harder it is to keep the weight off once it has been taken off. There are many options for a person in this predicament to consider; there are an array of diets that people can go on, from Atkins to Weight Watchers, both of which monitor the type and amount of food that is eaten. Different surgeries and medical procedures are available for those that qualify, such as the Lap Band and tummy tuck. These diets and surgeries must also be coupled with exercise if the person wants to accomplish keeping the weight off (Warner); they also need to continue with a healthy eating regimen. While these procedures can work, even though the outcome varies with each person, they are also fairly expensive; in some cases, weight loss surgery might be covered under health insurance, such as when a person is too obese to apply themselves to any exercise routine, though this is not often available. For some people, like those with fast metabolisms, gaining weight is sometimes not an issue, so they choose to eat unhealthily, thinking that they wont be affected. They may not gain weight, but they can still get the same symptoms that others might have when they are eating too much of the wrong stuff. Some of these symptoms include, but are not limited to, fatigue, stress, insomnia, and high cholesterol ("Laterlife"). These can further lead to the same health issues that obese people face, like diabetes and heart disease, so they must also become aware of what they are putting into their body and how they are treating it. Regardless of the body type that a person has, or whether their weight is affected or not, they still need to stick to a healthy diet and exercise routine to ease the amount of health problems that they can experience later in life. The cheap and easy way to get and maintain a healthy weight - and, in turn, increase the lifespan - would be to monitor what is eaten and to increase the amount of exercise ("Destination"). Though this does not always work and some people may need to seek further help, it is usually a method with pleasing and long-lasting effects. Each person is different when it comes to keeping a healthy weight and living a lifestyle that compliments that weight, so each individual needs to find out what is best for them and stick to that plan. Consulting a doctor or a nutritionist, especially before beginning a diet, is a surefire way to make sure that the diet plan is appropriate for that person and will not cause further harm. Everyone will react differently to the various diets, and some might benefit from a plan that differs from others. Using a scale such as the Body Mass Index chart can determine where a person is at in regards to what their weight should be in comparison to their height and age (Miller). The younger a person is when they begin to experience weight problems, the more of a chance they have at being obese when they are an adult. A healthy lifestyle and a longer lifespan starts with childhood; the more they are subjected to a healthy diet, the more chance they have at avoiding potentially life-threatening diseases and conditions. It is best to start children off on a good diet that they can later benefit from. They will be getting the nutrients and vitamins they need early on, so it will show in good health when they are adults. Adults also have the chance to change their health by eating better and exercising more. Read More