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Study: 88% Metabolically Unhealthy
Graphic: Average American Health Stats
Introduction
A 2018 study showed that 88% of Americans were METABOLICALLY UNHEALTHY.
I’m not great at math but I think that leaves only 12%, or 1 out of 8 as metabolically healthy people. That’s astounding when you think about it, but it’s not a surprise.
And the study was from 2018… before the lockdowns and ‘sheltering in place’ rules.
More recent studies have shown that the average person has gained weight since the COVID19 restrictions were implemented. I’m going to go out on a limb and assume that the weight gained is not lean muscle mass (on average) … so it’s not a stretch to assume that the metabolic health in America is even worse today than it was 3 years ago.
NHANES Data: Average American
Next I want to add additional evidence of the decline in health, the graph (below) shows the poor health of the average American.
Special thanks to THE @TedNaiman for sharing this revealing graphic in a tweet about the latest NHANES Data.
This graphic is HORRIBLE news… it is not however ‘new news’.
When reviewing the data below, you should know that these are averages for adults over 20.
This graphic shows that the average person is over-weight, over-fat, pre-diabetic, and very insulin resistant. Which means the average American is likely to have a host of medical problems, if not now… in the future.
Look at the ‘Mean’ numbers beside each of the metrics, literally every one of them is indicative of poor metabolic health…. EVERY ONE!
I’d cringe and take corrective action if any of these numbers were ‘mine’.
The Fasting Glucose, A1c and Fasting Insulin are screaming… metabolic syndrome, but really… all the numbers do. And these are the “mean” health numbers for the average US adult over twenty years old.
Steve Notes:
1) Prediabetic or Diabetic:
Based on the recommendations by the Medical Industry, the Fasting Glucose and A1c numbers in the graphic are prediabetic numbers, but in my opinion if you do not maintain TRULY normal blood sugars, you have abnormal blood sugars.
Our bodies were designed to maintain a tight blood sugar range… for a reason. If our blood sugars rise too high, more insulin is secreted. If our blood sugars drop too low, the body produces glucose. It’s a beautiful thing… until decades of chronic abuse damage our body’s ability to function properly.
We also know that elevated blood sugars (even chronic slightly elevated blood sugars, can cause harm. I cover this and more in this post, “My Blood Sugar Targets And Why”. My goals are to be sub 100 mg/dl (@ 5.5 mmol/l) as much as possible.
Point Being: If you do not maintain truly normal blood sugars then you are abnormal … or diabetic. Many people I know think they are ‘just fine’ with a prediabetes diagnosis. They think they are not causing their bodies harm… they are misinformed.
Regardless, diagnosed as diabetic or prediabetic, if you have chronic elevated blood sugars… you are causing harm to your cells and your organs.
2) Average is not Normal:
Once upon a time, before all of the highly processed foods loaded with sugar, soy, gluten and veggie oils came on the scene, say a couple of hundred years ago, ‘average’ may have indeed been ‘normal’ —— but that hasn’t been true for some time.
These ‘average’ numbers in the graphic above show that ‘average’ should not be a goal or target. That ship has sailed, these are averages of the ab-normal. They are the averages that include the 88% who are metabolically unhealthy.
I’m a 60 year old, ‘diabetic’ and if any of these numbers were mine, I’d take a serious re-evaluation of my diet and lifestyle… as the Great Jeff Lebowski says, “this aggression will not stand, man.” :)
Sadly, these numbers have probably GOTTEN WORSE … as these numbers are before the weight gains of the past two years with restrictive measures associated with COVID19.
Better Than Average
Compared with the average American over 20, I’m above average!!! … and I’m a 60 year old, who had a diabetes diagnosis 12 years ago! 💪 😎
The declining health trend worldwide, is making the average person more susceptible to disease… including viruses. It’s never been more obvious, if you are paying attention, that people in general need to improve their health and fitness!!
I was once a Big Food, Big Pharma and Medical Industry ‘cash cow’.
I paid my hard earned money:
for foods that made me sick
for drugs that only treated symptoms
for Medical Industry advice and services that did not heal.
I rejected the Medical Industry advice to ‘carb up and shoot up’, not long thereafter I weaned off Big Pharma’s drugs… and it all began when I stopped eating Big Food’s products. I gave up the cereals, breads, pastas, cakes, cookies, etc and even some high carb ‘real foods’ such as potatoes and rice.
I’m never going back to the way I use to eat, play … or live. I hope you will join me in improving your health and fitness. ❤
You can start today! … read and heed this page, “A Meal Plan You Can Live With”.