INTRODUCTION

There has been much discussion of late about the role of obesity in driving Covid-19 hospitalizations. The UK government has taken this further by rolling out the first elements of an anti-obesity strategy [1]. In this blog we outline why traditional weight-loss strategies have been too simplistic, and have therefore largely failed. We also explain how RENDLE drives lifestyle improvement in a holistic, structured, and data-driven manner, addressing the underlying issues that lead to obesity and chronic conditions.

There is a widely-held misconception that obesity is just the result of sedentary behavior, poor nutrition and a lack of exercise. The implication is that obese people are often lazy or lack willpower and they just need to go on a diet and move more. If this were true, only a tiny percentage of the population would be obese. A misrepresentation of this complex problem not only hinders efforts to address obesity properly, it also is counterproductive, and can lead to people feeling “fat shamed”, or worse, facing discrimination [2].

TRADITIONAL WEIGHT-LOSS PROGRAMS AND STRATEGIES HAVE LARGELY FAILED

In 1980 about 15% of US adults were obese. By 2020, this number has risen to at least 43% of the US population [3a]. During the same period the weight loss industry grew substantially – every year we bought more slimming products, put ourselves on more diets and bought more gym memberships and exercise equipment. Yet, as the statistics show, far from losing weight, we have become fatter and fatter. Three-quarters of US adults are now either overweight or obese.

Traditional weight loss programs, which tend to focus on “dieting” and “moving more” have not produced much long-term success. In fact, in a study by UCLA, 83% of participants in weight loss programs weighed more 2 years after finishing their diet than before they started the diet [4].

POOR SLEEP, HIGH LEVELS STRESS AND UNHAPPINESS ARE LINKED TO WEIGHT GAIN

Helping those suffering with obesity requires a deeper understanding of the lifestyle factors that prevent people from:

 a)  losing weight to begin with, or

 b)  keeping the lost weight off

The latest science shows that poor quality of sleep, and high levels of stress and unhappiness are directly linked to sedentary behavior, obesity and chronic conditions [5]. In other words: when deficiencies in sleep, stress management or happiness are present, exercising and healthy eating become an uphill battle, which often results in obesity. Our own data at RENDLE confirms these findings.

It is therefore important that people have a better understanding of what it means to lead a healthy lifestyle. The first step is to provide people with education on how to make daily choices that will improve the quality of their sleep, improve their stress management skills and increase their understanding of the factors that contribute to happiness (and unhappiness).

The next step is to help people make improvements in these areas. As they make progress with sleep, stress, happiness and mindfulness, improvements in exercise and nutrition will become more sustainable. These improvements form the basis for successful weight management.

A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE LEADS TO A HEALTHY WEIGHT

Obesity is a problem that affects everyone, from all walks of life. The best way to tackle it, is to shift the focus towards leading a healthy lifestyle that is also sustainable. If we help all people become healthier, even just a little bit, we will:

a)    help the 43% who are suffering from obesity to overcome it

b)    help prevent the remaining 57%  from becoming obese

A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE IS THE RIGHT WAY TO TACKLE OBESITY

Passively waiting for people to become severely obese, then telling them to lose weight is a costly approach that has not proven to be very effective. Leading a healthy lifestyle is something everybody needs to do. In fact, people who are not overweight and lead an unhealthy lifestyle are also at high risk of developing illnesses. Leading a healthy lifestyle is therefore critically important regardless of someone’s weight.

SLEEP, STRESS, HAPPINESS, EXERCISE AND NUTRITION ARE ALL LINKED

Improving sleep, working on stress management, maintaining a positive outlook, progressing an exercise routine and eating healthily are all part of a healthy routine. If we fail or underperform in one aspect, it negatively impacts other areas. And this can lead to a downward spiral.

IMPROVING LIFESTYLE IN A HOLISTIC AND PERSONALIZED MANNER

Every person has different strengths and weaknesses in each area of lifestyle. This is why it’s essential to address lifestyle improvement in a holistic and personalized manner. One size does not fit all. For example, two people can suffer from poor sleep, but the underlying causes can vary from person to person. RENDLE helps each person identify their own obstacles to lifestyle improvement and the steps they need to overcome them. 

We would like to remind you that everybody experiences difficulties at one time or another. We hope you feel inspired to improve your weekly routine so you can sleep well, manage your stress better, stay positive and happy and meet or exceed the minimum guidelines for exercise and nutrition. Thank you for your time.

We wish you true wealth.

Sources and references:

[1] Tackling obesity: empowering adults and children to live healthier lives (Tackling obesity: government strategy) - The Department of Health and Social Care, July 2020

[2] Weight Discrimination: A Socially Acceptable Injustice - Obesity Action Coalition, July 2008

[3a] Obesity and Overweight statistics - National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, August 2020

[3b] Adult Obesity Facts - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, August 2020

[4] Dieting does not work, UCLA researchers report, Newsroom - University of California, Los Angeles, April 2007

[5] Poor sleep, high stress and unhappiness lead to obesity and chronic conditions – RENDLE, June 2019

About RENDLE:

RENDLE helps organizations drive lifestyle improvements in a structured, data-driven manner. Our methodology guarantees populations will improve their sleep, stress management, happiness, exercise and nutrition while reducing back pain, smoking and other costly conditions. For more details about how we can help your organization improve contact us.