Dieting, Surgery and Diet Pills essay

Dieting, Surgery and Diet Pills

Dieting. Americans are obsessed with weight loss and “healthy living.” Some people spend thousands of dollars on surgeries such as gastric-by-pass or liposuction to look and feel a certain way. Others talk to their doctor and are put on medications that will help them achieve their desired weight or to make them feel a certain way. Some people even resort to excessive exercise and food disorders.

People don’t realize that the key to having energy, a controlled body weight, and a long healthy future is a healthy diet and regular daily activity, not medications. Surgeries, medications, excessive exercise and food disorders are not the answer, and in some cases they are actually making the problem worse. Doctors should advise patients with chronic health diseases to live healthy lifestyles. People are suffering from Type 2 Diabetes (DM2), heart diseases and other ailments because doctors are pushing pills instead of solving the problems and finding a cure.

Over the years our understanding of chronic illnesses such as DM2 and heart disease have drastically changed. DM2 is, “a chronic disorder of glucose intolerance and impaired carbohydrate, protein, and lipid metabolism caused by a deficiency of insulin or resistance to the action of insulin. A deficiency of effective insulin results in hyperglycemia” (Silvestri 637).

According to Mosby’s Dictionary of Medicine, a patient with DM2 should have a daily intake of 40% to 60% of complex carbohydrates. A patient with DM2 should also have 12% to 20% of their dietary calories be protein. Along with carbohydrates and protein, a patient only eat 30% or less of total calories in fat. The fat percentage breaks down into 6% to 8% polyunsaturated fats, 10% or less saturated fats, and whatever percentage remains is monounsaturated fats.

The daily dietary fat percentage should not exceed 40% (544). Diabetes mellitus should try and be controlled by diet and exercise before any prescri……………………….