Obesity and Its Impact on Chiropractic Care

Different Lifestyle

Today's video is about obesity and chiropractic.

So what I did is I took two different countries with different obesity rates and different lifestyles, so we can kind of review what's going on here in the US.

We currently have an obesity rate of 36.2%, so over one out of every three Americans is obese.

Health Risks Associated with Obesity

That's a significant number because we know obesity contributes to high risks down the road for strokes, heart attacks, diabetes, and cancers.

You name it, your risk for all of that goes up.

So we need to discuss this since this has been on the rise for a while, and it can affect even your chiropractic care.

In the US, we have a lot of fast food options.

There are over 13,000 Mcdonald's in the US.

And in Vietnam, there are only 20 in the entire country.

So there are lots and lots of ads for us to eat and even certain times a day, late at night, you'll see these fourth meals and all these other ads to get you to eat some fast food when that stuff is not going to nourish our bodies.

In Vietnam, if you're there they are at a 2.1% obesity rate.

So that is the lowest obesity rate, I think, in the world at this point.

They have many real food options, fresh foods, and fresh dishes available to people for your choices.

Track Your Steps

We tend to be slightly more sedentary in the United States, and they tend to move a lot more in Vietnam.

There's a lot more walking involved in daily life, which is a really cool thing for people to think about.

I've been tracking my steps recently, making sure I do over 10,000 steps.

And I had to realize I was walking less than I thought.

I thought, oh, no problem, I'm easily breaking 10,000, and it turns out it wasn't.

I started incorporating a half an hour walk after I ate my lunch during my day.

I've been walking in the morning with my wife, Shelly, and we've also been walking in the evenings.

And I've been more than exceeding the 10,000 steps.

And I feel really, really good.

So this is something for us all to consider, even Dr. Aaron.

But, hey, I need to track this and see if I can improve that.

And it's great for walking because it's not super hard on your body.

So there's not a ton of wear and tear involved, and it is a foundational thing that you want to be able to move as you age.

So something to keep an eye on there.

Eat in Small Portions

Another thing here in the US, big portions are becoming the norm everywhere we go.

There's a lot more portion control, smaller portions for people.

Even if you eat more frequently but have smaller portions, that's another way to look at doing this.

So there are some big differences, and the numbers don't lie here.

If we eat more whole foods, we move around more.

I don't need you to do crazy exercises, but if we're moving more throughout the day and keeping an eye on the portions we're eating.

Wear and Tear on Spine

That can make a big difference if you're struggling with weight loss or anything like that.

And this does affect your spine.

The heavier you are, the more wear and tear on your joints, and the more likely you are to develop arthritis in the knees, the back, the hips, you name it, because those are all weight-bearing structures, and the heavier you are, the more it wears those joints out.

Here are a couple of tips for me that I like to do.

This helps me stay on track.

None of us are perfect, not even me.

Many of us need help if there are good foods around to make healthy choices.

Keep Healthy Food Around

And so one of the things that I do that helps keep me successful at eating as healthy as possible is keep healthy food around and make sure you stock up.

We go to Costco every week, buy a lot of organic vegetables and fruits, healthy organic lean meats, and try to have that stuff around.

I'll even cook meat in bulk, so I have chicken breast ready for three or four days at a time.

That helps me.

I'm okay eating leftovers, and that keeps me on point.

If I'm hungry, I know I can reach for something healthy.

Stay Hydrated

And then also making sure you're getting enough water.

Sometimes people will eat more food if they are dehydrated because there is water and moisture in food.

So, to keep an eye on, if you're not drinking enough water, consider upping your water intake.

So hopefully, this video helps you guys understand obesity a little bit better.

I'm Dr. Aaron Seaton with The Chiropractic Place.

 

Call our office today to schedule an appointment to kickstart your healthy life: 530-221-8443

 

*The transcription is auto-generated by a program and may not be accurate. In order to ensure you get all the information from the video properly, you must watch the video.