3.2 Vulnerable Populations

Why are we still ONLY focused on sedentary lifestyles and diets when addressing obesity in the US?  Why are we not also looking at ways to decrease exposures to those chemicals that may be contributing to the epidemic?
Three Reasons Why I Think Sedentary Lifestyles and Diets are the Focus for Addressing Obesity

1. Chemicals are harder to see- I think that as human beings things has to be seen or have a scent to it in order for us to believe it. The only way to know the existence of certain chemicals is through testing. We would have to get tested to know what toxins are inside of us. Objects need to be tested to know what is in it and if it is harmful. Sedentary lifestyles and diets is an outcome that is easier to see when it comes to obesity and it is unfortunate that it is the only thing that we are taught. 

2. Afraid of change- As Elise Miller mentioned in the First Thousand Days video, at first, people were concerned about eliminating the lead out of their houses because they did not think that another alternative was going to work. This may be the same concern with other chemical exposures. People probably think that the alternatives will be less effective so they do not want to change it if it already working. 

3. Retailers spend less money- Retailers tend to spend less money on products that are more harmful. For an example mattress companies add chemical flame retardants because it is inexpensive. Instead of using wool as their alternative flame retardant they use the chemical because of the price and because wool takes more time produce.  


These three reasons are horrible excuses for not focusing on chemical exposures. If we really focused on how chemical exposures affect our health and our future children then we could not only save lives but money as well. The Public Health Institute mentions in the California Environmental Health Tracking Program how "the reduction of preventable environmental hazards in California alone could save $254 million annually, $10-13 billion over the lifetime of all children born within a single year, and each year prevent or alleviate asthma in 280,000 children, 120 new cases of pediatric cancer, and the development of neurobehavioral disorders in 1,800 children". If we paid more attention to chemical exposures then it could be the start of a healthy lifestyle for everyone including retailers. 

Comments

  1. ALI AL AQEELIFebruary 12, 2018 at 10:26 PM

    I believe that we need to change our focus, instead of focusing on the chemicals and the harmful effect on the bodies, we need to focus on the laws and the regulations that led to the present high level of chemicals in our environment. If the laws and regulation control the release of chemicals and examine the release chemicals by time we better environment and better health.

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