Jack Sprat's wife calls kettle black…
hey wait…that's not how the story goes. Here is the real nursery rhyme as I remember it:
Jack Sprat could eat no fat
His wife could eat no lean
And so betwixt the two of them
They licked the platter clean
But, did you know that the real story behind this nursery rhyme has a drastically different meaning?
Check this out…
Origin to words of Jack Sprat can be found in British History!
The Jack Sprat alluded to in this English poem is reputed to be King Charles I (1625-1649) and Henrietta Maria, his Queen (1609-1669). Apparently, when King Charles (Jack Sprat) declared war on Spain, parliament refused to finance him (leaving him lean!) So his wife imposed an illegal war tax (to get some fat!) after the angered King (Jack Sprat) dissolved Parliament.
Wow! Digging into the real meaning of that rhyme was fun. What wasn't so fun was finding out the underlying meaning of an otherwise innocent child's poem. Kind of put's a different spin on how I feel about Jack Sprat and his wife.
What does the real meaning of the Jack Sprat nursery rhyme and this article on obesity have to do with one another?
Well, it has to do with me! Yes…me calling the kettle black!
Keep reading and you'll see that I was just like ole' King Charles and Queen Henrietta. How you ask?
Well…I was covering up the reality with a fairy tale…read on my friends I am baring it all today!
What is & what causes obesity?
I was shocked when I took a BMI test. That stands for body mass index. It measures the percentage of fat to your overall body mass.(The link provided here is the calculator, go there and measure your body mass now).
I know I'm overweight, but I was shocked and horrified to read the results of that test…I am obese!
I have been kidding myself by comparing my body to others I see when I am out and about….(I'm still reeling)….
I used to think that there were overweight people, fat people and then really obese people. After taking this test and finding the truth…I needed to get more educated.
I thought I'd share what I found with you.
The most important thing to realize is that obesity occurs when a person consumes more calories than their body burns off for energy.
The cause of the imbalance is different from one person to the next.
Mine may result from environmental factors, while yours might be psychological and Mary Jane's could be from genetics.
Let's look at what each one of these factors mean to our health.
Genetic Factors
If you have ever noticed obesity runs within families. Ever spent the day at the park and observed a large family gathering? The siblings and parents usually will be close in weight and size.
This is what supports scientists' theory of genetics.
Environmental Factors
This factor is where I found my culprit…environmental. I used to think being "stout" was in my genes. After all, my grandma, great grandma, my mom and sisters all battle their weight. Shall we say we…have meat on our bones.
What I found was that genetics might be a part of my problem, but not all of it.
Lifestyle behavior, food choices and physical activity (or the lack of) all play a part in our problem.
If we continually eat high fatty foods and sit on our butts all day long, we are going to be prone to being obese.
We can not change our genetic makeup, but we can change our behavior, food choices and get up and move it. By doing this we can shed those pounds and more importantly, keep them off!
Psychological Factors
The way we think can and does affect how we eat. Some of us are suffering from binge eating disorder.
If you fall into that category, you feel that you have no control over your eating. You eat big quantities of food in a short amount of time. Then you feel guilty and shameless.
There are two types of binge eating, one is anorexia nervosa and the other is bulimia. Both are characterized by depression and low self esteem.
If you fall into this category you likely will have a harder time losing weight than others who do not binge.
But, all is not lost, there is hope and with the right support, you can lose your weight, manage and control your eating habits and maintain a healthy normal life again.
Other Causes of Obesity
Some of us suffer from health issues like hypothyroidism, Cushing's Syndrome, depression, and some neurological disorders.
Some medications like steroids and antidepressants have been known to cause weight gain. Even some birth control pills will pack on the weight.
With these causes though, only your doctor can determine the underlying cause and help you come up with a plan that is right for you.
A few health risks associated with obesity
If we don't sit up and take notice, look it right in the eye…obesity can lead us down a very scary road. By ignoring our condition, we will be just like Jack Sprat…spreading a fairy tale and living a lie.
Being this overweight can cause diseases and medical conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.
I didn't know that obesity is even linked to some forms of cancer. Cancers like breast, cervical, uterine and ovarian cancer.
Other diseases linked to obesity include:
- Gallbladder disease and gallstones
- Liver disease
- Osteoarthritis
- Gout
- Pulmonary problems including sleep apnea
- Irregular menstrual periods and infertility
Whether you are a little overweight or morbidly obese, take action today, get your "5 Tips for Vibrant Good Health Overnight", my free gift to you! Do something to start reversing this condition.
I am no longer calling the kettle black. I've made some changes to my diet and sleep habits. Today, I am adding a few good products to my vitamin regimen that will help me with my food choices, too.
Depending on your situation and overall health you can put together a plan to help you in your journey to eliminate obesity from your life, too. Start today on your journey to vibrant good health!
Here to Serve,
Carla J Gardiner
p.s. we love hearing from you. remember, sharing is caring….
