The future of our health…..maybe

Lets look to the future. I’m not talking SciFi flying car and perosnal jet packs: I’m talking in 8 years. That’s 2 more Olympics, 2 more Presidentail Elections, when my kids will be 12 and 16. Not too far away.

Here is what is projected. Based on a study (National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES)) done marking trends in health outcomes between 1988 and 2008 and we can expect that 83% of men and 72% of women will be overweight or obese. (compared to 72 and 63 receptively right now).  The study which represents averages for Americans generalizes over factors like regions, incomes, education and other divisions but is inclusive of the whole country.  It also tells us that we could look forward to 77% of men and 53% of women having either diabetes or pre-diabetes (compared to 62 and 43% respectively right now).

That’s pretty shocking and more than a little depressing. But like Scrooge on Christmas morning having been shown the grim future from the third ghost, we have time to make a few changes and escape the terrible future the ghost has projected. But will we?

Get up and move, it’s not too late. Show your kids that you are not willing to accept “being sick” when in fact the “sickness” is a decision to be sick. We can control our own health and future if we decide to take the initiative. The future IS in our hands. However, since I am asking to amend the possible future I do hope we can still come up with personal jet packs. How cool would that be to have a jet pack but have the option to walk and run too.