After Defeating the Invisible Enemy, Let’s Win the Battle of the Bulge
[See Update below]Sorry Trump haters, it’s not about resigning.
Significant risk factors for COVID-19 fatalities sadly appear to include obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
Authorities are primarily focusing — perhaps understandably amidst a pandemic — on therapeutics and vaccines, i.e., pharmaceutical interventions, rather than talking about prevention in terms of lifestyle choices.
That aside, President Trump, however, might be best positioned to personally reverse a trend whereby so many of our fellow citizens deal with compromised or weakened immune systems owing to obesity-related conditions.
Granted, regardless of the state of one’s current wellness, no one knows what’s around the corner on an individual basis in terms of health.
The coronavirus, however, should be a wake-up call for America to clean up its diet and exercise more so that the population can become as healthy as possible.
Americans need to strengthen their immune systems should a second coronavirus infection wave occur in the fall or before COVID-20 or 21 rolls around.
Parenthetically, complicating matters in terms of facts on the ground is that hospitals apparently have a substantial financial incentive to code any death with COVID-19 as being from COVID-19.
Fattening the Curve?
From the New York Post:
“We eat too much, drink too much, snack too much, sit too much — then rely on the marvels of modern medicine to repair our battered bodies. And that makes us easy prey for a brand-new infection like the novel coronavirus.
“This is on us,” Nicole Saphier, MD, told The Post. “We left ourselves vulnerable to this epidemic. Our health-care system would not be so overwhelmed right now if it was not already overwhelmed with our preventable chronic illnesses.”
“…Take cardiovascular disease and stroke. In 2018 the United States shelled out $329 billion to treat them, the American Heart Association calculated. About 80 percent of those cases — $263 billion worth — were caused by poor diet, lack of exercise, alcohol use and obesity…
“Two new studies from separate teams of researchers at New York University, both published this month, pointed to obesity — not lung disease or cancer — as a major risk factor for COVID-19 hospitalizations of American patients…
“A CDC study found that from 2013 to 2016, nearly 40 percent of Americans admitted to eating fast food on any given day — high-salt, high-fat, high-carbohydrate products that contribute mightily to the conditions that cause early death for hundreds of thousands of us every year…
“’But right now, all Americans are vulnerable to COVID-19 because of our lifestyle. We don’t have a COVID-19 problem so much as we have a problem with preventable chronic illnesses.,’ [Dr. Saphier said].”
With so many of our fellow citizens stuck home binge-eating on comfort food while binge-watching Netflix, and with government orders still keeping the gyms in most states still close, it’s a challenging time to embark on personal behavior upgrades of this kind, although not impossible obviously.
Flattening the Stomach?
When things get back to whatever the new normal is going to be, however, why not prioritize health and fitness?
It’s not fat-shaming; it could be a matter of life or death.
That means, among other things up, giving up or cutting down on carbs, sugar, what’s called “seed oils,” processed food, and beer.
Increasing real food, particularly protein, and the intake of good fats, while engaging in resisting training, plus mind-body techniques like tai chi or qigong, to the extent possible, can be highly beneficial.
Many people have had good results with intermittent fasting.
Immune system-boosting supplements can also be helpful.
[Note: Before embarking on any kind of diet or exercise regimen, engage in due diligence and obtain guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.]
President Trump, who is not exactly thin, reportedly doesn’t believe in exercise other than playing golf. He does like his fast food.
Assuming he gets reelected and still has the bully pulpit, Trump is in an incredible (to use his favorite word) position to set an example for the country to get into better shape.
Especially at his age, no one expects Trump to run a marathon; a reasonable exercise program is certainly doable for a man with his high energy level and work ethic.
Imagine the impact on the American public if Trump started working out, eliminated carbs, ate more nutritious food, and dropped about 30 pounds or so.
Melania (whose birthday is today) and family would probably be thrilled.
And in or out of office, lots of personal trainers and nutritionists would welcome the opportunity to work with Donald Trump on a fitness program.
Politics aside (if that’s even possible in this polarized environment), he can be an outstanding role model or motivator for his countrymen and women.
Not to be insensitive, but how about if we stay slim, as well as safe, out there?
Update
In an article published on his website on May 4, 2020, holistic physician Dr. Joseph Mercola asserts, among other things, in “The Real Pandemic Is Insulin Resistance, that obesity makes people more vulnerable to infectious diseases by lowering their immune function:
“After old age, obesity appears to be the most prominent risk factor for being hospitalized with COVID-19 — doubling the risk of hospitalization in patients under the age of 60 in one study — even if the individual has no other obesity-related health problems…While obesity may top the list of comorbidities — underlying conditions that make COVID-19 worse — investigations reveal most COVID-19 patients have more than one underlying health issue…
“So, to summarize, the real pandemic here appears to be dysregulated glucose metabolism; in other words, insulin resistance, which is exceedingly prevalent in the U.S. Insulin resistance, in turn, is a diet-induced condition.
“Specifically, processed foods — which are loaded with added sugars, processed grains and industrially processed omega-6 vegetable oils — are the primary culprits causing insulin resistance, Type 2 diabetes and obesity, and according to FoodNavigator.com, doctors are finally starting to talk about the food industry’s role in the COVID-19 pandemic…
“If we want people to survive the next pandemic, whatever that might be, then improving public health has got to be the No. 1 priority going forward. Waiting for a drug cure or vaccine is a fool’s game.
“Health care really needs to start emphasizing strategies known to improve overall health rather than throwing drugs at symptoms that don’t address the underlying causes. Robust immune function is necessary to effectively combat COVID-19, and the same is true for all other infectious disease.
“When it comes to improving health, addressing insulin resistance is truly key, seeing how it’s a factor in virtually all chronic diseases. And, to do that, we need to dramatically cut down on processed foods…”
While your comments are valid, your delivery shows your dislike of Mr. Trump. You have answered your own question, sadly, NO it is NOT possible for people to leave politics out of any conversation anymore, as you have just demonstrated from your own bully pulpit.
A A Ron, I didn’t see this article as being snarky or disrespectful to President Trump. Actually, it recognized his ability to reach people, as well as the impact we’re he to set the example of a little diet and a little exercise. And many, many of us can both have conversations that leave politics out, as well as discuss issues without being overly political. It’s simply living by the Golden Rule. Be safe! Be happy!
A A Ron, I didn’t see this article as being snarky or disrespectful to President Trump. Actually, it recognized his ability to reach people, as well as the impact were he to set the example of a little diet and a little exercise. And many, many of us can both have conversations that leave politics out, as well as discuss issues without being overly political. It’s simply living by the Golden Rule. Be safe! Be happy!
I think what’s good for you isn’t necessarily good for everybody. We have individual differences and that’s what makes America great. Mob calisthenics or an entire country tai chi may be right for China but may not be too popular here. The President ought to be able to enjoy his fast food without being compared to the wimpy Obama or the jogging Bill Clinton. Go ahead and enjoy your daily regimen and let others go through theirs.