Listening

Many diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes are often caused by obesity. People are told to eat low-calorie foods, but the real solution is not just what you eat, it’s how much you eat and how you think. One evening, while watching television, I saw a program showing “healthy cooking.” The meals looked delicious, but even three “low-calorie” servings added up to 1,800 kcal! In countries like the U.S., TV is full of food commercials and pills claiming to help you lose fat. But losing weight requires more than avoiding unhealthy food or advertisements. The key is to change our mental environment — our thoughts and emotions. If we constantly feel anxious or worried, we may use food to comfort ourselves. If we focus on failure, we may eat to distract ourselves. So the true root of obesity and “lifestyle diseases” may actually be our thoughts. If we shift our focus toward sports, music, reading, or other positive activities, we can train both our mind and body. This mental shift helps us lose weight, gain health, and live a happier life. And the best part? We can start today.