Tag Archives: #Morbid Obesity

Healthy Eating…Obesity around the World…

 

 

Worldwide obesity figures are rising… with the rising of obesity then lifestyle diseases are on the increase and putting a strain on already stretched health services around the world which means longer waiting times to be seen plus as we/I get older I want to preserve my body as well as I possibly can which means I watch what I eat and I am walking more which is my preferred exercise…Sally over at Smorgasbord has been posting an excellent series on Morbid Obesity…Sally is a trained Nutritionist and her posts are very informative and helpful …Please head over by clicking the highlighted link above…I will leave all the important stuff we should know and the many tips to help us be in our best health to Sally as she is an expert…

My aim is to highlight the scale of the problem and to know that we are all part of the solution and are not alone in this…

This series is one I posted a couple years ago when I looked at worldwide figures and how it looks depending on where you live…I am a self-confessed nerd sometimes…smile…therefore I am repeating and updating this series…

But I also believe life is for living…Food is for enjoying… So what I have decided to do is some comparisons …Which wasn’t my plan initially for these posts… I was just reading and researching and saw a link which I clicked and three hours later and many links later this idea was born…

It started with a headline about obesity ...Country by country and percentages and then I got to thinking about the difference in lifestyles and options or just what we have always eaten…But then those stats began to make sense to me…

My diet has changed drastically since I have lived here and it is not just me who has lost weight we all have … Now I know that when it is hot, you sweat more and your appetite diminishes somewhat…You eat less!

But the food is also different and not just Chillies … I have added some pictures to the header picture of food which is on every menu and commonly eaten at home…

Firstly I will just pick out a random mix for the list below….countries where many of my readers come from or live I have also included the top and the bottom country… Just because I can but over the next couple of weeks I will look at what is commonly eaten to see if a pattern emerges.

There are 192 countries in this and I have also added the link just in case you want to see where you fit…

  • 192  is Timor-Leste with a percentage of 2.2% ( of their population are obese.)
  • 147 is Thailand with a percentage of  8.5%
  • 95 is Germany with a percentage of 20.10%
  • 66 is France with a percentage of 23.9%
  • 35 is Canada with a percentage of 28.0%
  • 33 is the Uk with a percentage of 28.10%
  • 31 is Australia with a percentage of 28.60%
  • 19 is the US with a percentage of 33.7%
  • 1 is the Cook Islands with a percentage of 50.80%

If you wish to check your country out here is the link https://renewbariatrics.com/obesity-rank-by-countries/

At the end of this little experiment, I will do a post o the 1st and last and see what the differences in diet and lifestyles are.

Eating habits here in Thailand… Meals are eaten together as a family and the meal could last a few hours as Thais enjoy their food but it is a social gathering… Whether it is at home or eating out you will see family and friends all together eating and sharing.

Much of the fruit and vegetables are eaten raw or very lightly steamed and everywhere you go to eat you will get your food plus a dish of fresh herbs and vegetables. The variety is awesome Thais forage a lot and I have given up being surprised at what is eaten.

Lily flowers ..you know the pretty white ones that generally drop overnight and are collected early morning they are a delicacy here to eat they are lightly steamed then the stamens are removed and the rest are eaten with a spicy fish sort of pate… Just fish pounded in a pestle and mortar with chillies, fish sauce, lime juice, and maybe dried shrimp or shrimp paste it depends.

The banana flower is a delicacy steamed and eaten with a spicy dip. The lotus flower the seed pods which are left when the flower has finished blooming are eaten.

banana flower 1

A Sticky rice pot filled with fresh rice is a staple here and everywhere you will see a pot..the tuk-tuk drivers have their little pots lovingly made by their spouses and the food stalls have some really massive ones absolutely enormous you could feed an army.

Food and time to eat food are very important here… We learnt very early on that you didn’t ask staff to leave their lunch and serve a customer… A definite no-no it could cause a mass walkout and if a Thai is hungry…Look out! You do not want to cross a hungry Thai…

The world stops here for food be it a bus or any form of transport… The foot is to the floor and every shortcut is taken …

If you break down what Thais eat there are few carbs, lots of raw fresh herbs and vegetables, Lots of eggs in various forms, lots of BBQ meats chicken, fish in salt, kidneys, sun-dried beef, pork and fish eaten with Som Tam( Papaya Salad) which again comes in many variations but with lots of tomatoes, beans, dried shrimp, chillies, peanuts, maybe some crab…

Thai Platter

A typical Thai meal of Som Tam, Mushroom soup, mushrooms just sliced and steamed with a very hot spicy dip some fresh vegetables, crispy pork scratching and sticky rice. Sometimes this will be served with steamed fish or just as it is…

This platter is slightly more substantial with the fish.

Mixed Thai Food

Out for the evening and a little more…

Thai platter in Phuket Town

This plate has rice noodles and some thick rice noodles, a little chicken, Som Tam, vegetables and herbs, bitter gourd and crispy garlic but if you look at all three they are very similar…A large percentage of the food is fresh raw vegetables or plain steamed noodles… Not too much fried or high in carbs quite natural …Not high on processed foods either…

I do think over the next few weeks when I explore other diets we will see where and how much the diets vary from country to country…most of this diet I did eat in the UK as we had a large Thai community near where we lived plus my daughter in law taught me how to cook Thai food and also to enjoy my food in its raw state rather than processed and cooked to death… Not too many nasties on those platters of food.

In Thailand food is to be enjoyed, It is fun and food is savoured, enjoyed and time is taken ..No rushing and bolting down of food but pure enjoyment and if full they talk and laugh and then eat some more… a meal can and does last for a few hours and then in no time at all the next meal is being planned…

I do hope you have enjoyed reading about the food I eat and how much my diet has changed but also how much my health has improved and I no longer eat food just because it is good for me …I eat because I love what I eat.

Thank you for joining me today as always I look forward to your comments which I will respond to when I return from Bangkok we are having a few days away x

Smorgasbord Health Column – Size Matters: The Sequel – #Morbid Obesity – The power of sleep when losing weight and to be healthy by Sally Cronin

Weight loss and the power of sleep

Sally has already established that healthy weight loss is not just about calories in and out. Although that is the basic principle of losing fat, there are so many other elements to consider, that are emotionally, physically and mentally critical to a successful outcome.

In the last few months, we have explored the impact of stress, emotional and physical, types of foods that are nutrient-dense, willpower and exercise. Another daily activity that also has a part to play in maintaining a healthy balance in our bodies is sleep. I have posted before in the various weight loss series but it is worth reminding ourselves how important this period in our day is to us.

If you are trying to lose weight…sleep is one of your most powerful diet aids.

lady sleeping

You might wonder why weight loss and sleeping go together.

Well apart from the fact you won’t be putting any calories in during that time; your body will be processing those you ate the day before. If you consistently only have five or six hours of sleep not only has that process not been completed efficiently, but you wake up wanting to dive into carbohydrates and as many sugary coffees you can get your hands on.

Over a period of time as your body loses energy it will demand that you top up more frequently and consume sugars to keep it going… Before you know it your weight is going steadily upwards.

Sleep is essential for the recovery of the body and mind. It is the time of day when organs continue to function, but calmly enough to be able to carry out diagnostics and repairs ready to face the next active 16 hours.

Without this downtime every night you will find yourself vulnerable to physical and mental stress and if sleeplessness is a long-term issue for you it can lead to a number of health problems.

The Power of Sleep.

To read the original post please click the highlighted link below.

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2022/10/27/smorgasbord-health-column-size-matters-the-sequel-morbid-obesity-the-power-of-sleep-when-losing-weight-and-to-be-healthy-by-sally-cronin/

Smorgasbord Health Column – Size Matters: The Sequel – #Morbid Obesity – Hitting the Weight Loss Plateau #fluids by Sally Cronin

 

It happens to us all the diet is trundling along nicely and the weight is coming off…then bam we hit a wall…a plateau but all is not lost…Sally has the answers so please click the highlighted link below that will take you straight to Smorgasbord Magazine…See you there x

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2022/10/20/smorgasbord-health-column-size-matters-the-sequel-morbid-obesity-hitting-the-weight-loss-plateau-fluids-by-sally-cronin/

Smorgasbord Health Column – Size Matters: The Sequel – #Morbid Obesity – Getting Moving and shifting the pounds by Sally Cronin

Getting Moving and shifting the pounds

When you are embarking on a programme to regain good health, the last thing you need is to be laid up with a knee or other injury. The temptation is to complement your new healthy eating commitment with an annual gym membership and attempting to run a marathon…

It is much better to learn to walk before you run…. and if you are a certain age… it is better to ease into the weight lifting by starting with a couple of tins of beans.

Before you even begin to run, you do need to ensure that the ligaments, muscles and joints that have been on sabbatical for some time (except for the weight training involved in moving excess weight around) are in good condition for what is to come.

I suggest that you spend some time increasing your flexibility. And rather than get down on the floor at first (and be found months later very thin but in a fixed position) that you lie down on the bed or use a chair for some of the movements that follow.

To read the original post please click the highlighted link below…

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2022/10/13/smorgasbord-health-column-size-matters-the-sequel-morbid-obesity-getting-moving-and-shifting-the-pounds-by-sally-cronin/

 

Smorgasbord Health Column – Size Matters: The Sequel – #Morbid Obesity – Putting your Healthy Eating Plan together Part Two – Example Menus and exercise by Sally Cronin

Now we are getting to the sharp end of this fabulous series…what we should be eating and how much we can eat(and) I bet you didn’t realise just how much you actually can eat… it’s a lot and still, lose weight…Yes, you can!!

Of course, this cannot be done without some exercise but the choice is yours…me I hate the gym…always have and always will but I love walking..if you have a dog that’s sorted that one…if you haven’t then listen to your favourite music or novel or just let your thoughts run free which I do… my best ideas come from when I am walking…

If you are ready for this challenge…I’m on it already then please click the highlighted link below and let’s get started…See you there over at Smorgasbord…

Putting your Eating Plan together PartTwo – Example Menus

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2022/10/06/smorgasbord-health-column-size-matters-the-sequel-morbid-obesity-putting-your-healthy-eating-plan-together-part-two-example-menus-by-sally-cronin/

CarolCooks2 weekly roundup… 25th September -1st October 2022-Monday Musings, Mushroom Lasagne with 40 cloves of garlic, Health, Morbid Obesity, Aromatic Leaves…Scent Leaves…and Saturday Snippets where “Rain” is my one word prompt.

Hello and welcome to my weekly roundup of posts you may have missed during the week…September was in its final week...the start of high season and sunshine for some although we are still getting some ferocious tropical downpours and the start of shorter nights and colder days for others…I managed to dodge the spots today on my early morning walk…

Yesterday was the 1st of October…it was World Vegetarian Day, the start of National Apple Month(1st-31st), it was National Potato Day in Ireland and I’m sure there were lots of beautiful potato dishes on offer as Ireland is known for its potatoes…3rd-9th October is National Curry Week, plus not only is Tuesday the 4th October World Taco Day but it is also Cinnamon Roll Day…anything with cinnamon and I am there…it comes into its own at this time of year…

This is the time to gather up the rest of the harvest and prepare for the winter month for those of you who are in the Southern Hemisphere…lots of lovely root veggies…

What else can we look forward to in October?…for some there is Halloween but it’s also a month loaded with national and global celebrations. In addition to spooky revelry, October’s schedule includes multiple days on the topic of bullying awareness …it makes me sad that after all the days, weeks and months we are still banging this drum…Bullying is unacceptable in my book and yet it still exists…

It’s National Apple, Chilli and Caramel, pears and Rhubarb month plus cookbook month… those are just a few of my favourites already the recipes are swirling around in my brain…

Let’s have look at last week’s posts…starting with…Monday Musings...

I was serious on Monday…there are some steps forward from B Corps…Lots of info on that and the climate crisis is on full display this week with hurricanes and typhoon-related storms causing mass destruction…Please help, if you can…and if you are in the path of any of these then please stay safe x

Monday Musings…26th September 2022…

Tuesday it was time for a veggie recipe...I love mushrooms and garlic and this recipe is both garlic approx 40 cloves..not a typo it’s definitely garlic and mushroom heavy..delicious and decadent…

CarolCooks2 in my kitchen…Mushroom Lasagne…

A big thank you to Sally from Smorgabord Magazine for sharing my first A-Z…I am loving rereading this series…I hope you are too…

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Carol Taylor’s – Culinary A – Z Rewind – ‘H’ is for Honey, Hamburgers, Hummus, Herbs, Haggis and Hoisin Sauce

This post was meant to raise awareness of the stark reality of food loss and waste…it is a problem. a huge problem and we need to do more!

CarolCooks2…Today is the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste…

Morbid Obesity…

The good news from the UK and it’s not before time is that stores are no longer allowed to promote junk food at the tills and in certain other parts of the stores more on that in this week’s Monday Musings…The worldwide figures on Morbid Obesity are scary…In fact, obesity is considered a modern epidemic in most parts of the world.

Worldwide obesity has nearly tripled since 1975, with about 13% of adults being obese and about 39% of adults being overweight…Sally’s posts are great she uses herself as an example of what can be achieved …she is brutally honest about why she was obese and the effect on her health and where she is now healthy and at a normal weight…Please head over by clicking the highlighted link below…

Smorgasbord Health Column – Size Matters: The Sequel – #Morbid Obesity – Putting your Healthy Eating Plan together Part One #Measurements #Motivation by Sally Cronin

I cannot believe I am on part 6 of aromatic leaves at best I thought I might stretch to 3 posts but I keep coming across aromatic leaves and this last week it was quite by chance as you will see if you read the post…

CarolCooks2…Friday Food Reviews…Aromatic Leaves…Part 6…

Saturday Snippets…my most fun post of the week to write and yesterday my muse chose “Rain” as my one-word prompt…

I came across a stunning rain tree, a Japanese rain doll…I totally forgot to include Rainbow  Pasta…it looks so cool and all-natural…

Isn’t that cool…not sure about the voice but at least its clear…

Thank you for joining me today as always I look forward to your comments..have a great Sunday and if you are in the path of any hurricanes or typhoons then please batten down and stay safe…x