With the rise in food prices, the substitution of some foods for others and the increase in people who buy processed products and leave aside healthy products and, consequently, obesity also increases in the Spanish population, as some studies show, the nutritionist Flavia Baridon, gives us the keys to understand why these "bad habits" continue to be carried out.
Obesity is caused by an "emotional, genetic base, when there is also a hormonal imbalance, etc. but it is not directly related to the economic", she tells La Voz. "Economic precariousness is not directly related to obesity", she confirms. Since "the increase in prices is in all foods", she adds.
Sometimes there is a "feeling of spending less buying processed products", therefore, "people end up making greater use of them", she says. The reality is that "it doesn't end up being like that", she emphasizes. "Then the money is wasted on those unhealthy foods", she makes clear.
"Sometimes there is a feeling of spending less buying processed products, but "it doesn't end up being like that"
"Although not in all cases, the rise in prices are excuses", she adds. She recalls that "obesity comes from more than 30 years ago." And she continues to insist on the "harmful effects" of these foods "when we buy processed foods we are paying for fats, sugar, palm oil, refined flours, etc.".
The nutritionist offers the keys to lead a "good diet" without having to spend a lot of money and to replace processed foods. An alternative is to buy "legumes, vegetables and fruits, but that are seasonal products." In addition to "sweet potatoes, potatoes, etc.", products with which to make "simple, economical and healthy preparations", she points out.
With respect to fish, a somewhat more expensive and less accessible food for all budgets, to obtain that source of Omega 3 that "meat does not provide", a good substitute are "nuts such as chia seeds", Baridón highlights.
A panorama with foods that for her "does not condition in the economic", since "before in Lanzarote, sixty years ago everything was more precarious, there was less money and there were not so many problems of obesity in the population", she says. In addition, on the island "it is easier to have access to certain foods" since "many people plant them", she acknowledges.
"Many people with good purchasing power who come to the consultation, spend a lot of money on processed and unhealthy products"
Therefore, eating healthy would be a matter of "habit", as she relates: "Many people with good purchasing power who come to the consultation, spend a lot of money on processed and unhealthy products, instead of investing it in another type of food", she concludes.
In addition, obesity is also something that the little ones suffer. 40% of children suffer from obesity in Spain, four out of ten are overweight. Why is that?. Baridón explains why. "It is a matter of bad habits, often on the part of the parents" since "we transmit our customs to them".
As an alternative, "many natural sweeteners such as dates, bananas, apple compotes and fruit can be used to make cakes, truffles, cookies, ice cream and all kinds of sweets but in a healthy way", she advises. "I have patients who have children and practically do not know sugar and sweets", she adds.
Lack of time, anxiety or boredom, three notable factors
"Lack of time is an important factor that makes it difficult to find time to cook", the nutritionist acknowledges. A solution would be to "make a meal plan and make simple meals", she advises.
"It is very important to organize yourself, either due to lack of time or accessibility" that you have to do the shopping, she says. In addition, anxiety is another of the notable factors to have a greater probability of leading a bad diet "emotional conflicts lead us to eat badly", she assures.
"Boredom", is also a condition for us to start having a "bad relationship with food", she says. We must try to identify the reasons why we have those bad habits. "We have to observe what the body asks us and know if we can really have some addiction to sugar, which usually happens when we cannot stop eating or avoid sweets", she adds.
"Those who have never worried about the diseases generated by obesity, do not continue to give it importance"
Having bad eating habits and not taking care of yourself increases the risk of suffering from cardiovascular, kidney, liver, respiratory problems and cancer. Something that, according to the nutritionist, does not seem to "worry the population from the beginning." Of the people who come to the consultation in Lanzarote, "those who have never worried about the diseases generated by obesity, do not continue to give it importance", she assures. "Prevention is not usually applied to have a better quality of life", she adds.
