The Tribune

By IVOINE INGRAHAM

Living healthy is relative. What is good for one person may not be so good for others, and what is beneficial for me may not be of great benefit to you. The strain on our health care system could be less if we all were more responsible.

On the family island, our diet was a celebration of health. People lived longer, children were stronger and smarter because of little distraction or bad habits that are fueled today by television.

We savoured the bounty of the soil and the freshness of the sea. There was no refrigeration because it was not needed, we ate fresh vegetables and fresh fish. The absence of automobiles made walking our only mode of transportation, except for a horse or donkey. And when the sun set, it was a signal for rest. We were healthier because we were not distracted by the trappings of modernity.

Eating well was ingrained in us from habit, our mothers took the family serious. However, moving to Nassau and being anxious to abandon the island life, we adopted what we saw in Nassau, thinking it was a better way of life.

Taking shortcuts to preparing meals then became the order of the day. We stopped eating fresh fruits and became fancy by purchasing more groceries and refrigerating which started to wean us because the food was not fresh anymore but processed to last longer. Snacks made from artificial ingredients, laced with salt and sugar became more palatable.

We became cute by dining out instead of eating a well-prepared home-cooked meal. We lost the time to bond as a family. Instead of exercising, we ate, relaxed, and lay down to watch television before the food was digested. So, the metabolism did not work as it should, and then a tiny bulge appeared. It’s cute. Our friends and family noticed it and joked, attributing it to good living.

We succumb to societal pressures and ridicule those who have managed to stay slim and fit. We mock them, calling them sick, and even pressure them to gain weight. Without realising it, we follow their advice because everyone else is overweight. We even have euphemisms like “solid”, which is just another word for “fat”. Recognising these societal pressures and not letting them dictate our health choices is important.

Some people put on weight to appease their mates, who say they love them that way, when, in fact, that is just an excuse for being lazy.

So, because of peer pressure, poor diet, and low self-esteem, we find out that another thirty pounds sneaked on us. After receiving backhanded compliments for looking good, we settled for three larger dress sizes.

Our appeal is now losing stock, and we are becoming depressed. We keep telling ourselves that we will exercise, but we use the fact that no one wants to go with us as an excuse. All the while, we eat more to satisfy the pain of seeing the deterioration.

Depression sets in, and there are fewer dates, so we hibernate and eat to ease the pain of frustration. The more we eat, the bigger we get, the bigger we get, the more frustrated we become, and the more we eat.

There is less fraternising, less socialising, and less confidence. But that does not stop us from spiralling into further depression until soon there is no resistance.

The mental, physical, and psychological deterioration from obesity is serious. Unless and until there is a serious self-evaluation, there will be no progress. Unless there is an admission that there is a problem, there will be no progress. And if there is no will to do something about it, the situation could easily spiral out of control.

Obesity is not a final blow, but it could be a wake-up call to appreciate life more. There will be no results unless there is a concerted effort to stop blaming anyone else and take control. If you are overweight, it is your fault. It is not personal, but you must get a grip on yourself and make an effort to fix it. This could involve consulting a nutritionist, starting a regular exercise routine, and gradually changing your diet. You could do this. You deserve the best quality of life, to please no one else but yourself.

There is a great reward when you finally get to a healthy size. If you are overweight, it taxes the heart and lungs and puts great strain on your limbs. If you carry more weight than the heart was designed to carry, there will be challenges. It’s crucial to address this issue before it leads to serious health problems.

So stop measuring your health by how someone else looks; that’s them, not you. Embrace your unique journey to health and focus on self-care. Stop following fashion because obesity is a disease: Cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and obstructive sleep apnea, it’s a risk to your health, but with self-acceptance and self-care, you can overcome it.

The Bahamian diet does nothing to help. Peas and rice, macaroni heavy in mayonnaise, and meat fried in animal fat and heavy in salt may be tradition, but it is a recipe for ill health and the destruction of your self-esteem, regardless of how much you pretend to be happy.

Fast food is fast death. Laziness has caused us to take shortcuts in rearing our children. Even though it is fashionable, most cannot afford to buy it daily. Still, we do what irresponsible parents do: appease our children who are now hooked on grease and salt, a recipe for disaster or pay through the nose at the hospital later.

Much strain is put on the healthcare system because we are an unhealthy country. We only get serious and run for fruits when admitted to the hospital; that alone should tell us that we know what is good for us; we play crazy.

Let’s face reality: good health is great wealth. When you look good, you feel great, your self-esteem is higher, and you live longer.

No one is telling you what to do; just suggesting a better way of life. The choice is yours.