Bacon, Egg, and Cheese, Please!

I had the most amazing bacon and egg sandwich from a local place this past weekend. I have shied away from it for months since it was an overpriced version of something available in any New York street corner deli. This, however, was not just any sandwich and well worth the $6 + clogged arteries. The bacon from Portage Bay Cafe is worth it on its own; everything else is just a bonus.


Not actual sandwich.

Unfortunately for my psyche, I have also recently started watching the amazing documentary 'Weight of the Nation' put out by the CDC and NIH. The film addresses the obesity epidemic and ill health effects arising in its wake here in the great U.S. of A. The film in its entirety is long, but is nicely broken into 4 parts. It's incredibly informative and well done. Much of the information will not be completely new to most people, but to see it all strung together, to see the data, the numbers, the alarming effects of obesity on our bodies and health, on our children.... it is sure to astonish and floor even the well informed.

The Bogalusa Heart study featured in the film (which went on from 1972-2005) shed light on many aspects of the early development of coronary artery disease and hypertension. One of the most novel conclusions from this study, as the film states, is that the major causes and hallmarks of adult heart disease, (atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, hypertension, etc) begin in childhood. Documented anatomic changes occur by 5 to 8 years of age.

Translated, this means that a poor diet of fast food as a kid in conjunction with little exercise and other poor health habits WILL harm you later in life. It will, it does, you can see it very clearly presented in this film. The visuals speak for themselves.

Access to affordable healthy foods and education are part of the solution, ensuring that a majority of people in this country can provide a healthier life for themselves and their families. This is obviously a large and multifaceted issue, but ignoring it and not taking measures to make these options a reality is no longer an option. The economic costs alone are mounting and are unsustainable for the country on a whole. We need more conversations and smart, thinking minds coming up with solutions to this far-reaching problem. Start here--Watch it and spread the word!