Despite years of research, scientists have yet to determine how to solve the childhood obesity epidemic. While attempts are made to understand the contribution of one's genetic and socioeconomic exposure in the future development of obesity, physicians can take steps concrete steps to help families live healthier.
With nine out of 10 Americans consuming too much sodium and over 70 million people suffering from hypertension, physicians, government, and industry must develop a joint public health intervention. Ultimately, it will take a synchronized effort -- the public understanding the effects of the sodium in the food they eat, consumers demanding lower sodium in their purchase options, the government setting out goals and guidelines for sodium reduction in food production, and the food industry responding to these coordinated calls for change -- to reduce the salt in our food.
Last week, a review published in JAMA Internal Medicine undertook an historical analysis of a set of documents related to research on sugar and its role in the etiology of heart disease. A healthy diet cannot come down to solely one ingredient, so while it is indisputably crucial to discuss and be exposed to the harms of sugar, let us not let this outrage drown out the rest of the conversation.
We know that obesity is linked to chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease, but is there a link to overall mortality? This past July, the Global BMI Mortality Collaboration published a global meta-analysis examining the relationship between body mass index and all cause mortality. Lowest all-cause mortality was seen in those with BMI between 20-25. A higher risk of mortality was seen in the populations both below and above this range.
The patients at the WCCC are uninsured, and they often work multiple jobs, with long hours and low wages. In some ways, they’re not so different than medical students when it comes to budgeting their time and money for food, and their concerns are shared by many.
