In the last part of the last century and certainly lingering in the 21st century is a new social and cultural syndrome that poses a grave health threat to us. It's called the "Vanity Syndrome". Dr. Marcus Wells(http://www.tgx360.com/ ) has termed it becaue of a type of narcissism that has somehow invaded our habits and behaviors daily and diverted our real health focus. It has spoiled us and become heavily influenced by a media campaign that tells us to dislike ourselves for "who" we are to become somthing that isn't "what" we are!
No body shape is perfect but the media industry has hammered that into our heads that not being "perfect" is not acceptable so much that we have started believing it. It begins with the several hours of television, radio , bill board and inernet ads that bombard us with images that influence our subconcious.
We are "programmed" to fit into and look a certain way and if not we are to be considered somehow less desirable, inadequate, incompetent and yes even unhealthy by some standards.
Beauty has been redefined by the media and Ad industry as a measure of their ideal standard and it has created a "Vanity Syndrome" for some who have felt that they have to obtain this ideal ( fabricated) standard at all or any cost literally , even at the expense of their own lives.
On Monday March 8th ABC Nightline ran a story about the rising rate of liposuction in the United States. Years ago this was a surgical procedure reserved only for skilled and qualified plastic surgeons to perform. Now, virtually "any" MD from any general or other specialized field can take a few hours couse on the weekend to learn how to do it.
"Lipo" makes over $10 Billion dollars a year in revenue and now it is not only being performed at inpatient hospital ORs, but outpatient clinics as well as commercial spas.
The risk of liposuction to the general public is usually under-publicized and realized. Going "under the knife" with "lipo" can sometimes involve heavy anesthesia such as lidocaine and propofol. Being unconcious presents always a concern as well as bleeding. Heart rates, breathing rates, blood gases, and body hemodynamics most always be properly monitored!
DYING TO LOSE WEIGHT
Today we are seeing quick weight loss programs that do not stress fitness, nutritional support, wellness, and prevention. We have seen how extremely very low calorie diets and liquid protein diets have caused problems with dehydration, loss of minerals and cardiac complications. At one time wrapping up in tight non-breathable material to workout in was acceptable. Super weight loss drugs like phertermine and fenfluramine posed a health concern as well as high dose Ephedra(Mahuang).
It's almost possible to lose weight with virtually anything today. However, the question we should be asking ourselves is are we also getting proper nutritional support, drinking adequate water, getting in leisure exercise, learning prevention , wellnes and in a nutshell making a healthier lifestyle choice. Anything that radically changes your lifestyle or is only usable for 2-3 months can not be considered a lifestyle change.
BEAUTY IN THE EYE OF A CALORIE
Today we have run into several "side effects" of the "Vanity Syndrome". We judge people harder who are obese and overweight by putting certain stereotypes on them. This isolates them further from participating in the socializiation process and causes them to develop depression, anxiety, eating disorders, bulimia, anorexia, and body dysmorphia. As children inparticular are ostracized by judgemental parents or cruel peers we see skewed eating patterns develop. Overeating is not so simply explained as we were once led to believe. Foods can be addictive and eating can become a compulsion based on a chemical imbalance we have with serotonin, a neurotransmitter in the brain. Unfortunately some have felt that drugs called serotonin re-uptake inhibitors and selective serotonin inhibitors(SRI/SSRI) are the best way to treat this problem. The problem is that these same drugs actually can cause suicide, anxiety and depression.
Today we recognize the real possiblity of local, state and even federal government imposing taxes on obese and overweight people as a type of "sin tax" , even foods that have higher calories and fats also may become more taxed. Parents who let their children become fat may become penalized or even criminalized in the system. Airlines have already begun to charge extra or demand that those over a certain weight purchase an extra seat or be faced with being "kicked off " the flight!
MEASURING UP
If the public can not "measure up" to the media's ideal standards of beauty, what is the community to do? Do people with moderate obesity or overweight continue with liposuction and go on crash diets? The answer goes back to making something a part of your lifestyle. We can make a culture of wellness by defining acceptable and reasonable health standards.But, the "nexus" of this paradigm shift will have to be for health agencies like the HHS, FDA, USDA, restaurant and grocery industry as well as media and Hollywood "engineers" to create a campaign that will back up an extraordinary platform of prevention, wellness and fitness. The healthcare professionals would have to change their focus from sub-compartamentlized medicine to holistic-preventive-ocmplemtary-integrated health. This means using supplements and alternatives to help in the fight for physical health and for the fiscal budget.
The ultimate responsibility will be our own in this battle that is waged against an unhealthy lifestyle. If the cost of health ends up costing our own lives, then we must focus on "changing" our lifestyle and the image we see ourselves as. This means becoming more self aware when we are gaining weight, becoming sedentary, not drinking enough water, not getting nutrients or exposed to household and environmental toxins.
Dr. Marcus Wells, MD, MPH is a previous clinical associate at the National Institutes of Health in the National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute(NIH/NHLBI). He has served in the Health and Human Services(HHS), Public Health Service(PHS) and Commssioned Corp.
Learn more on natural and preventive ways to a healthier lifestyle at http://www.tgx360.com/
No body shape is perfect but the media industry has hammered that into our heads that not being "perfect" is not acceptable so much that we have started believing it. It begins with the several hours of television, radio , bill board and inernet ads that bombard us with images that influence our subconcious.
We are "programmed" to fit into and look a certain way and if not we are to be considered somehow less desirable, inadequate, incompetent and yes even unhealthy by some standards.
Beauty has been redefined by the media and Ad industry as a measure of their ideal standard and it has created a "Vanity Syndrome" for some who have felt that they have to obtain this ideal ( fabricated) standard at all or any cost literally , even at the expense of their own lives.
On Monday March 8th ABC Nightline ran a story about the rising rate of liposuction in the United States. Years ago this was a surgical procedure reserved only for skilled and qualified plastic surgeons to perform. Now, virtually "any" MD from any general or other specialized field can take a few hours couse on the weekend to learn how to do it.
"Lipo" makes over $10 Billion dollars a year in revenue and now it is not only being performed at inpatient hospital ORs, but outpatient clinics as well as commercial spas.
The risk of liposuction to the general public is usually under-publicized and realized. Going "under the knife" with "lipo" can sometimes involve heavy anesthesia such as lidocaine and propofol. Being unconcious presents always a concern as well as bleeding. Heart rates, breathing rates, blood gases, and body hemodynamics most always be properly monitored!
DYING TO LOSE WEIGHT
Today we are seeing quick weight loss programs that do not stress fitness, nutritional support, wellness, and prevention. We have seen how extremely very low calorie diets and liquid protein diets have caused problems with dehydration, loss of minerals and cardiac complications. At one time wrapping up in tight non-breathable material to workout in was acceptable. Super weight loss drugs like phertermine and fenfluramine posed a health concern as well as high dose Ephedra(Mahuang).
It's almost possible to lose weight with virtually anything today. However, the question we should be asking ourselves is are we also getting proper nutritional support, drinking adequate water, getting in leisure exercise, learning prevention , wellnes and in a nutshell making a healthier lifestyle choice. Anything that radically changes your lifestyle or is only usable for 2-3 months can not be considered a lifestyle change.
BEAUTY IN THE EYE OF A CALORIE
Today we have run into several "side effects" of the "Vanity Syndrome". We judge people harder who are obese and overweight by putting certain stereotypes on them. This isolates them further from participating in the socializiation process and causes them to develop depression, anxiety, eating disorders, bulimia, anorexia, and body dysmorphia. As children inparticular are ostracized by judgemental parents or cruel peers we see skewed eating patterns develop. Overeating is not so simply explained as we were once led to believe. Foods can be addictive and eating can become a compulsion based on a chemical imbalance we have with serotonin, a neurotransmitter in the brain. Unfortunately some have felt that drugs called serotonin re-uptake inhibitors and selective serotonin inhibitors(SRI/SSRI) are the best way to treat this problem. The problem is that these same drugs actually can cause suicide, anxiety and depression.
Today we recognize the real possiblity of local, state and even federal government imposing taxes on obese and overweight people as a type of "sin tax" , even foods that have higher calories and fats also may become more taxed. Parents who let their children become fat may become penalized or even criminalized in the system. Airlines have already begun to charge extra or demand that those over a certain weight purchase an extra seat or be faced with being "kicked off " the flight!
MEASURING UP
If the public can not "measure up" to the media's ideal standards of beauty, what is the community to do? Do people with moderate obesity or overweight continue with liposuction and go on crash diets? The answer goes back to making something a part of your lifestyle. We can make a culture of wellness by defining acceptable and reasonable health standards.But, the "nexus" of this paradigm shift will have to be for health agencies like the HHS, FDA, USDA, restaurant and grocery industry as well as media and Hollywood "engineers" to create a campaign that will back up an extraordinary platform of prevention, wellness and fitness. The healthcare professionals would have to change their focus from sub-compartamentlized medicine to holistic-preventive-ocmplemtary-integrated health. This means using supplements and alternatives to help in the fight for physical health and for the fiscal budget.
The ultimate responsibility will be our own in this battle that is waged against an unhealthy lifestyle. If the cost of health ends up costing our own lives, then we must focus on "changing" our lifestyle and the image we see ourselves as. This means becoming more self aware when we are gaining weight, becoming sedentary, not drinking enough water, not getting nutrients or exposed to household and environmental toxins.
Dr. Marcus Wells, MD, MPH is a previous clinical associate at the National Institutes of Health in the National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute(NIH/NHLBI). He has served in the Health and Human Services(HHS), Public Health Service(PHS) and Commssioned Corp.
Learn more on natural and preventive ways to a healthier lifestyle at http://www.tgx360.com/
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