Obesity is the root cause of hundreds of diseases and chronic conditions. As we get sicker, the pharmaceutical industry pumps out thousands of very profitable pills designed to treat our symptoms. There's no incentive for them to identify the root causes of disease and to educate the public. If they solved the real problems they would put themselves out of business. For each dollar they spend on advertising, the population responds by purchasing $4.25 worth of pills. What do you think is more important to the pharmaceutical industry – your well being, or their profits?

Obesity is more than a cosmetic problem; it is a very serious health hazard. Approximately 280,000 adult deaths in the United States each year are related to obesity. Several serious medical conditions have been linked to obesity, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke. Obesity is also linked to higher rates of certain types of cancer. Obese men are more likely than non-obese men to die from cancer of the colon, rectum or prostate. Obese women are more likely than non-obese women to die from cancer of the gallbladder, breast, uterus, cervix or ovaries.

Even being 10 to 20 lbs overweight can increase your risk of:

• Gallbladder disease and gallstones.
• Liver disease.
• Osteoarthritis, a disease in which the joints deteriorate. This is possibly the result of excess weight on the joints.
• Gout, another disease affecting the joints.
• Pulmonary (breathing) problems, including sleep apnea in which a person can stop breathing for a short time during sleep – this can be fatal.
• Reproductive problems in women, including menstrual irregularities and infertility.

Emotional suffering may be one of the most painful parts of obesity. American society emphasizes physical appearance and often equates attractiveness with slimness, especially for women. Such messages make overweight people feel unattractive. Many people think that obese individuals are gluttonous, lazy or both, even though this is not true. As a result, obese people often face prejudice or discrimination in the job market, at school, and in social situations. Feelings of rejection, shame or depression are common.

So why are so many people literally digging their graves with their forks? The answer to this question lies in a story that we call “frog in the frying pan”.

You can put a pan of cool water on the stove and put a live frog in the pan, and as long as the water is comfortable the frog will stay right in the pan. You can then turn the heat on to a very low setting. So low, that as the water begins to heat up the frog can't notice the difference. As the water gets warmer and warmer the frog gets sleepier and sleepier and finally falls off into a deep sleep. Meanwhile the water is getting hotter and hotter and hotter. Finally when the water begins to boil the frog wakes up but the heat of the water has relaxed its muscles so much that the frog can't jump out of the pan. It tries, it strains and lurches this way and that way but by the time it wakes up, it's too late.

Overweight people lull themselves into a false sense of security. They “rationalize” their condition and eat more to soothe their depression and sadness. They know that they should lose weight – they know it's taking a toll on their health – they know that they are at an increased risk of disease, but just like the frog, they fall off into a deep sleep. Days, weeks, months and years continue to pass. They keep saying “tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow” and then all of a sudden they are stricken with diabetes or have a heart attack. Then they wake up. But many times, just like the frog, it's too late. They've already caused serious and permanent damage to themselves. Once you get diabetes it doesn't just go away one day. Neither do heart disease, bone disease, liver disease, gallbladder disease, pulmonary disease or cancer.

Are you off in a deep sleep while the water is getting hotter and hotter and hotter? This is your chance to “snap out of it” – this is your chance to really wake up before it's too late.