Here’s a hypothetical for you, would you rather:
A) Live to 100 but with chronic pain and mobility issues that limit your life to mostly indoors and relying on others to help with activities such as grocery shopping, cleaning, and household chores.
OR
B) Live to 80 and, outside of the normal diminished physical and mental abilities that come with advanced age, still enjoy life without the worry of a chronic condition that limits your lifestyle and prevents you from being able to care for yourself.
To me, it’s a no-brainer. Give me a shorter yet healthy, independent, and active life over a longer one filled with discomfort and dependence and a sedentary one any day of the week. Unfortunately, the majority of people in the U.S. anyway will fall into the first category. The worst part is it doesn’t have to be this way. Last year, it was estimated that, as a country, 4.5 trillion dollars was spent on health care, or $13,493 per person. What have we to show for this amazing amount of money? Quite a bit, actually, only most of it is bad news. The sad reality is that the average person is overweight and on the verge of type II diabetes.
Obesity Statistics
According to 2017–2018 data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)
Nearly 1 in 3 adults (30.7%) are overweight.1
More than 2 in 5 adults (42.4%) have obesity.1
About 1 in 11 adults (9.2%) have severe obesity.1
According to 2017–2018 NHANES data
About 1 in 6 children and adolescents ages 2 to 19 (16.1%) are overweight.2
Almost 1 in 5 children and adolescents ages 2 to 19 (19.3%) have obesity.2
About 1 in 16 children and adolescents ages 2 to 19 (6.1%) have severe obesity.2
Diabetes & Prediabetes Statistics (3)
Total: 38.4 million people of all ages had diabetes (11.6% of the population) in 2021. 38.1 million were adults ages 18 years or older.
Diagnosed: 29.7 million people of all ages had been diagnosed with diabetes (8.9% of the population).
Among U.S. adults ages 18 years or older, 97.6 million—more than 1 in 3—had prediabetes in 2021.
32.8 million adults ages 18 to 44 years old
37.5 million adults ages 45 to 64 years old
27.2 million adults ages 65 or older
Prediabetes is just as it sounds: a condition where blood glucose values are higher than normal but not high enough to qualify as diabetic. However, if left untreated, it will likely lead to type II diabetes.
The silver lining of this storm cloud, though, is that you have the ability to avert this descent into an advanced age filled with doctor visits, medications, and chronic disease. The above statistics aren’t there to scare you but to serve as motivation to be an outlier.
Every Thursday, I participate in a yoga class at the gym where I work. This isn’t an ordinary yoga class by any means, but rather a high effort, challenging, total body effort that is not to be taken lightly. Many of my fellow participants are much older than me, but they show up every week anyway. A central theme repeated in my conversations with them is that they wish they had taken better care of themselves when they were younger. Yoga is just one of many methods available to you right now to help avoid becoming one of the statistics above.
A long and fruitful health span requires more than exercise, though. What you eat and the company, or lack thereof, you keep also contribute to your wellness. In essence, the three factors of movement, diet, and social life will account for a large percentage of how much enjoyment and fulfillment your golden years will possess. The sooner these habits are established, the more they will pay off in the future.
Friday Beer Break
On a happier and tastier note, this is the time of year when breweries begin to release their summer seasonal offerings. As always, Sierra Nevada delivers its version of a pale lager that quenches your thirst while still packing a crisp, slightly bitter, and dry finish that is perfect for a hot summer day. Enjoy with friends to reinforce your positive social habits and improve your healthspan. Beer, what can’t it do?
References
[1] https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-statistics/diabetes-statistics#:~:text=Estimated%20prevalence%20of%20diabetes%20in,8.9%25%20of%20the%20population).
[2] Fryar CD, Carroll MD, Afful J. Prevalence of overweight, obesity, and severe obesity among children and adolescents aged 2–19 years: United States, 1963–1965 through 2017–2018. NCHS Health E-Stats, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated January 29, 2021. Accessed April 22, 2021. www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/obesity-child-17-18/overweight-obesity-child-H.pdf
[3] Fryar CD, Carroll MD, Afful J. Prevalence of overweight, obesity, and severe obesity among adults aged 20 and over: United States, 1960–1962 through 2017–2018. NCHS Health E-Stats, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2020. Updated February 8, 2021. Accessed January 29, 2021. www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/obesity-adult-17-18/obesity-adult.htm