Where There’s a Will There’s a ‘Weigh’
Everyone has their demons and I certainly have mine: the Devil himself, diets and donuts. Don’t get me wrong. These things do plague me, but I have always preferred counting my blessings over calories. Nonetheless, the issue of food and weight has weighed heavily on me (no pun intended) my entire life. And as promised last week, this week I intend to explore those promises, profits and pitfalls in the walloping world of weight loss.
So much has changed since the ‘70s when my mind first got mesmerized by this mind-blowing mayhem. I remember chowing down on those chewy chocolates called “AYDS” that promised to disintegrate your desire for deliciousness. What I don’t remember is ever losing a single pound regardless of my constant consumption of these tasty morsels. Alas, the “candy” originally marketed as a “reducing plan” was discontinued in the late 1980s because of the unfortunate association with the AIDS epidemic. But this was not the end of an era. It was only the beginning.
Shortly thereafter came the fascination with fenfluramine, also known as “fen-phen,” an FDA-approved pill promising appetite suppression. I personally thought this was the Holy Grail for halting hunger that landed me in weight-loss wonderland. I found myself many pounds down with energy extraordinaire, and a new lease on life. But to my dismay, it didn’t last long. This remarkable remedy was recalled, but paved the path for other such solutions for slimming as Qsymia, Meridia and back to the old familiar phentermine. Mind you, there since has been a mass myriad of mainstream modalities that promise the perishing of our excess poundage. Today’s pharmaceutical focus for defeating the flab now lies in a new, emergent market of meds. Mounjaro and Ozempic are the newest white knights in the quest for a more whittled waistline.
Long gone are the highly harked hallmarks for appetite atonement. The diet deluge and calorie-crushing campaigns of keto, cabbage soup and even colonics gave “weigh” to the gains of today’s GLP-1 injections and a selection of surgeries. The cost to the consumer is considerable, yet the profits from the patents are plenty. This massive market is experiencing substantial growth, fueled by increasing rates of obesity and a rising awareness of health-related issues. The U.S. market alone is projected to reach $305.30 billion by the year 2030. Now that’s a lot of DOUGH!
I’ve made no secret of my passion – and plight – regarding my perpetual poundage and the dilemma of decades of dieting. No wonder there is such a barrage of books on this incessant subject. Honestly, I have even considered penning my own pilgrimage through a painful plight of weighty perplexities. Who coined the fitting phrase: “Diet = Die with a t?” Last week, the doctor said I still have a bit more tread on these tired old tires. I’m not dead yet, but I’m dying to know what’s ahead in my journey against junk food and making headway toward a hale and hearty healthier me!
Branna (McCarty) Shores believes that “HOME is where your story begins.” A Noblesville native and proud graduate of NHS and Purdue University, she is a professional speaker, advocate for mental health and work / family balance and retired social worker. Branna is the mother of two grown daughters, six precious grandchildren and wife of one brave husband! Her passions include singing, writing and sharing the lighter side of life through lessons learned, both personally and professionally. She can be contacted at branna18@gmail.com