Obesity is Contagious?/ BLOG 3

Throughout the world, beauty is defined in numerous ways. In some countries, being heavier is considered healthy and beautiful. But, as we all can tell, in most culture and/or countries, the standard for what is beautiful, sexy, and attractive leans more towards being thin. Because of social media, women in particular are proceeding that in order to be attractive, you need to be a certain size, weight, or have a specific body shape (coco cola, etc.) Even though weight gain is no longer looked down upon, hence the weight gain for body building; there are still cases of obesity and how contagious it is. In the article http://www.newsweek.com/weight-gain-contagious-and-you-could-catch-obesity-your-neighbors-study-finds-789547, researchers found that people were up to 57% likely to be obese if a friend or family did the same during that time. Because of the environment you live in and those you surround yourself with, it would more than likely affect your consumption intake.

Also, you should consider yourself. Just think, when you were in a relationship, did you and your significant other eat out a lot? Consider this, when you were together, you just wanted to do everything together, and when you ran out of things to do, eating out was fun (in it’s own way.) In the article, https://www.livestrong.com/article/130602-people-gain-weight-after-marriage/, it talks about couples who gained weight after marriage (in my argument, you can gain it even while dating.) This correlates with obesity being contagious and how much easier it is to gain weight because of those around you and their influence. Because of weight gain, health conditions can slowly draw it’s way into your life and slowly build up on your insecurities, leading back to what the world/society considers as the standard of what is attractive.

Invest In Yourself

Who doesn’t want to feel good? No matter what your age, race, gender, weight, healthy eating in combination with exercise will positively impact YOUR overall health. Yes, I said YOU. There are so many other weight loss products on the market right now that promise miraculous weight loss and boost in energy. The only promise they will fulfill is a dent in your bank account. The only proven way to look and feel better is through good old fashioned eating healthy in combination with exercise.

Think of eating healthy as an investment to your body. Eating out is not only expensive but can lead to poor food choices. The top 5 benefits of eating healthy according to Heathline.com highlight why committing to a healthy diet can be one of the best decisions you’ve ever made.

1) Controls weight

2) Improves mood

3) Combats disease

4) Boots energy

5) Improves longevity

I get it, everyone has really busy schedules, but the gym doesn’t have to be a huge time commitment. The top 5 benefits of exercise according to naturalbalancefoods.co.uk highlight why adding just 30 minutes of exercise 3-5 times per week can change your life.

1) Get a natural high

2) Sleep better

3) Look good

4) Get a healthier mind

5) Improve your health

Do all of these benefits sound like something you are interested in? There are obvious benefits to each action but you cannot be successful with one without the other. Imagine the endless possibilities that eating healthy in combination of exercise will bring to your life.

Vaccinations are good for you and the community

The vaccination debate continues in the presidential campaign. And, many medical experts believe Trump’s fear-based comment about the link between autism and vaccinations is dangerous for families and the community at large. There are rare exceptions where vaccines caused severe reactions; however, studies have shown that there is no link between receiving vaccinations and developing autism. Vaccinations save millions of live. The benefits of vaccinations outweighs their risk.

I believe in advocating for our own families; however, when your actions affect the greater health of the community you need to accept the consequences. When government guidelines require specific vaccinations before a child enters kindergarten, then I think families who make the choice not to vaccinate their children (for personal reasons, not medical reasons) ought to home-school their children—that’s how strongly I feel about vaccinations. Because of the 1990s deadly measles outbreak in Minnesota, one of our daughters had to get an additional measles vaccination due to our exposure to community mostly affected.

From thirteen to sixteen years-old, I volunteered as candy striper at a local hospital. My assignments were simple tasks that supported the patients’ need such as, filling their water, delivering their food trays, or bringing them an extra blanket—but I took the job seriously. It felt good knowing that I was helping others.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BGIhsIBmuG6/?taken-by=salvatore.betsy

At the same time, my volunteer experience exposed me to some of the consequences of infectious diseases. The patient who impacted me the most, to quit fussing about getting vaccinations, was the young women in the iron lung. She had polio. She was only in her mid-twenties and was confined to a large machine to help keep her alive. Because only her head was exposed from the machine, she learned to paint holding the paintbrush in her mouth. My job was to hold the paint pallet so she could enjoy painting.

Watch a video clip to learn more about the iron lung

As a carefree teen, it was alarming to see the damaging effects caused by polio—a vaccine-preventable disease. Since 1979, the U.S. has been polio free, thanks to the polio vaccine. However, the crippling and potentially deadly polio virus is still a threat in some countries. It only takes one case of an infectious disease to cause concern, because it can quickly cause an outbreak. The range of symptoms can be from mild to severe and life-threatening. With the ease of access to travel around the world it’s important that you and your family have up-to-date vaccinations.

The infographic below (compiled by designer Leon Farrant) shows the dramatic impact of vaccinations.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BGKYKs3GuLTNZAUtRf97jOCU9dPv0e1Wxbr8l80/?taken-by=salvatore.betsy

 

Your vaccinations also help people who cannot receive them for health reasons. For example, people with compromised immune systems are especially vulnerable to life-threatening illnesses when exposed to diseases. Our friend Steve, who has been sick since childhood, had a double-lung transplant in 2014. He relies on the people around him to be up-to-date on their vaccinations to help protect him—it’s a matter of life and death.

Are your vaccinations up-to-date? Educate yourself on the positive impact of vaccinations. Visit the Public Health Organization to gain a better understanding of vaccines.