Often we hear, losing weight, this means I’m getting healthy. But, we lose weight and think this is the answer to becoming healthy. Not considering our lifestyle has a big impact on our health. Yes the benefits of losing weight can be enormous, there are so many other factors to take into account.
When we are told our body mass index is above the “normal” range. Losing weight is touted by media and health professionals as the cure for a range of health issues, from diabetes and heart disease and early death.
But some experts say focusing on weight loss as the main goal is not necessary right. That promoting a consistent set of healthy behaviours would see the whole population healthier in the long run.
Looking back in history cultures that still live traditionally may be able to assist us when seeking to understand what our body needs and how we adapt to what is available to us. Humans are adaptive to their surroundings and the food that is available to them, particularly eating with the seasons. Just notice the diversity of foods and cultures around the world. We have lost touch with what our ancestors ate.
History can teach us so much. It used to be a mother’s role to teach her young what to eat, how to prepare it and what would make them sick. But have we have lost the art of traditional cooking, eating, fermenting, baking, and sharing these traditions. I feel we need to base our food choices on real foods, cut the processed foods.
If we take an historical perspective of the dietary guidelines introduced to Australia in 1982, they haven’t necessarily been a positive influence on the waistlines and health of the nation. Foods I feel have a benefit on our health like saturated fat and salt are still demonised by the health industry.
As for scientific proof, can science be completely accurate when it comes to diet and humans as every human is different. Every human may have a different health issue, the food may not be digested or absorbed in the same way, the microbiome will always be different, people will have a varying exposure to chemicals, different genetics that change metabolic parameters, and so on. Different foods may react different in the gut.
A study from 2012 found the following behaviours and doing them consistently people had a lower risk of mortality
In this study, people who kept up with all four behaviours had similarly a low risk of dying, regardless of whether they were classed as normal weight, overweight or obese. The researcher also adds that we should get enough good quality sleep, eat at regular times, only eat during daylight hours, and reduce stress. (Matheson, King and Everett, 2012)
In conclusion losing weight will have benefits for the body but doing just this does not mean you are healthy. Living a life with balance in all areas can have amazing benefits to our longevity and quality of our long-term life. There are a few definitions of health this one resonates with me
Health is a state of balance, an equilibrium that an individual has established within themselves and between themselves and their social and physical environment. (Satourius N, 2006)
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References
Matheson, E., King, D. and Everett, C., 2012. Healthy Lifestyle Habits and Mortality in Overweight and Obese Individuals. The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, 25(1), pp.9-15.
Sartorius N. The meanings of health and its promotion. Croat Med J. 2006;47(4):662-664.
