Can obesity really be as deadly as smoking?

Doctors and anti smoking activists have been warning against the dangers of smoking for years. But what about obesity? Can it really be as bad as smoking? Will a few excess pounds have such a dramatic impact on your health?

The answer may surprise you. Studies indicate that being overweight results in more visits to the doctor than smoking.

While smoking has been declining, the rates of obesity are still rising. Approximately one-quarter to one-third of American and Canadian citizens are obese and two-thirds are overweight. It is estimated that one-third of children in America between 2 and 19 years of age are overweight also.

It is no surprise that obesity can shorten one's life by causing illnesses such as strokes, but a recent study quantifies the toll: The more severe cases cut a person's lifespan more than cigarettes.

But it gets even worse. Obesity comes closely behind smoking in yearly premature deaths: 324,000 to 443,000 for smoking.

And in terms of money spent in annual medical costs, obesity actually exceeds smoking with 147 billion spent on the former and 97 billion on the latter.

How did we get here?

Simply put Americans exercise less and eat more unhealthy food than they did in years gone by. The Medical News Today, in fact, reported that out of 10 adults 3 are not doing the recommended exercise per week - like 30 mins of walking 5 times a week.

Children in particular spend a record amount of time in front of the computer and TV. The days are long gone when kids would play outside for hours. Up to 80% of kids between the ages of 13-15 don’t even get the recommended hour of daily exercise.

And adults are not that far behind. Rather that the exception, a sedentary lifestyle has become the norm.

In terms of what we eat, prepared and processed foods, packed with high fructose corn syrup and sugar make up the bulk of the current American diet. An astonishing 90% of money that Americans spend on food is used in purchasing processed foods or in restaurants.

A diet low in nutrients and highly processed, wreaks havoc with our bodies. We need to think again about how we approach food, so as to reverse any damage done to our bodies. Similar to anti-smoking campaigns that reveal the dangers of smoking, people need to be aware of how their food choices affect their overall health. Just because it's edible does not mean it's healthy.

Simple steps you can take to recover your health.

• Avoid using Processed Foods - They are packed with everything you should avoid like, high-fructose corn syrup, empty carbohydrates and sugar. Buying whole foods and making your own meals allows for your body to get the proper nourishment.
• Eat More Raw Foods - Raw vegetables, fruit, nuts and seeds are rich in fiber and good for your digestive system.
• Instead of Carbs and Sugars have Healthy Fats - Even though fats are usually higher in calories than sugar, they are full of nutrients and necessary for proper body functioning.
• Exercise - Not only does it keep your weight under control, it also reduces stress and keeps your spirits up. It is very important to keep children fit and limit their time in front of the computer or TV.

Anti-smoking campaigns have been effective in disclosing the dangers associated with cigarettes. So why not a similar approach for unhealthy lifestyle choices?

What do you think? Would an anti-junk food approach be useful?