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“The Edge ... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is, are the ones who have gone over.”— Hunter S. Thompson
Americans are living voraciously edgy lifestyles as they wear their true “nutritious” colors on their sleeve by placing a higher value on television and quick, nutrient-void food instead of physical activities and a healthy body. Skyrocketing rates of obesity and diabetes reveal Americans’ obsession with the edge as they precariously teeter between self-indulgence and self-control. And with that balance lacking, they are sadly choosing to deleteriously chip away at their health.
“Dietary habits have shifted away from healthy foods (such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains) to a much greater reliance on fast food, processed snack foods and sugary drinks,” said Frederic J. Vagnini, M.D., FACS, the medical director of the Heart, Diabetes and Weight Loss Centers of New York. “Nearly one-third of U.S. children aged 4 to 19 eat fast food every day, resulting in approximately six extra pounds per year, per child. Since 1970, fast-food consumption has increased fivefold among children.”1
Dietary problem number one? Portion size. How much larger can our food get? “Look at the youth who are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes: obese, inactive and high-fat, high-carb, nutritionally devoid diets,” said Sharon Howard, R.D., M.S., C.D.E., F.A.D.A., member of the Healthcare Advisory Board of Diabetescare.net. “Let's not ‘blame’ this on one food ingredient or lack of a single nutrient. It’s broader as a societal issue. Everything is BIG. It's even difficult to find medium-size eggs in a store!”
This is not a revolutionary concept. Six years ago a documentary, “Supersize Me,” focused on many aspects of the fast-food industry—from fat, sodium and calorie content to a McDonald’s-only diet’s effect on mood, liver function, energy levels and many other factors of general health—but more notably, portion control; hence, the title.
With diets swinging back and forth between large portions and nutrient-sparse food, it is no wonder diabetes is a household condition. According to the American Diabetes Association, 23.6 million children and adults in the United States, or 7.8 percent of the population, have diabetes. While an estimated 17.9 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 5.7 million people (or nearly one-quarter) are unaware they have the disease. A Canadian review noted, “In the United States in the next 50 years, it is projected that the percentage of adults with type 2 diabetes will exceed 30 percent, with the vast majority older than 65 years. It is therefore important to determine the best possible dietary and lifestyle modifications to prevent and control this disease and its associated complications.”2