What is ONE SIZE Healthier?

 Americans are not only saving time by eating at fast food chains, but they are becoming ONE SIZE bigger. With the world expanding on drive-thrus and double cheeseburgers, what can we expect but to find that obesity is on the rise. Health insurance organizations might be turning their backs, but society is making a change.  The Whisk and Spoon is proud to be a part of that change, and they are fighting for a healthier tomorrow with battalions of healthy food choices.  Not only does The Whisk and Spoon help save time, but also helps you get ONE SIZE healthier.          

The focus of this article is to empower busy working women that there are solutions available to tackle this problem.  That there is not one size fits all, no one pill is better than the other and that in order for us to be healthy; we need acknowledge that the solution is not simple.  That the solution to obesity it is complex, but that there are achievable milestones to a healthy lifestyle! 

According to the American Dietetic Association in 2005, obesity is not a disease.  However, it is important to note, nationally obesity is not recognized and accepted as a disease by a majority of health insurance organizations.  Wow!  No matter how much we diet, or that Philadelphia is ranked as one of the fattier cities in the USA, obesity is still not accepted as a medical condition.  We as a society still need to defend how we got fat, and that we need to independently fight off the associated illnesses of obesity without the support of our medical insurance companies.  How can we turn this negative into a positive, and make strides to be a healthier society while acknowledging that obesity is a serious, yet treatable illness?  The solution is simple; The Whisk and Spoon offers nutritious and healthy food options as a substitution to other fatty foods.  They also offer Medical Nutritional Therapy programs in concert with local professionals and organization.

It is about working women and men, working together with the medical community and insurance companies, to become proactive and to acknowledge what we do not know.  In this, we become empowered.  Here are some of the wise words from Tom Spain that most of us can definitely agree with:

 “The big surprise, and the big dilemma, is the complexity of the problem, (obesity).  One researcher told me early on: If you are going to deal with the subject, you have to honor the complexity... I have since learned this is a social phenomenon, an emotional phenomenon, a genetic phenomenon, it is a food supply phenomena. It is such a vast subject that is way beyond the reach of medicine or weight loss programs...it is just huge.”

In response to the challenge that a filmmaker has to take an issue and make it clear and simple, but this topic is far from being either.  Tom Spain answered, "It's a matter of balance, between getting a clear view on something we know about, and then suggesting there are things we don't know.  Much of this story is about things we don't yet know."   Check out PBS for Tom’s documentary FAT:  What they are not tell us.  

The prevalence of obesity is among all ages in the United States, and not just a Philadelphian problem.  Therefore, there is a need, nationwide, for the health organizations to find a solution. The 3 main reasons that the treatment of obesity through Medical Nutrition Therapy is not dominant is due to the argument of obesity is a disease and that, there is not enough scientific evidence to support the efficaciousness of medical nutrition therapy for obese treatment, and the cost effectiveness of the obesity treatment compared to other treatment options (1) (2).  Therefore, health insurances still look at obesity as a choice of the person to become overweight.

Medical Nutrition Therapy is a successful recognized tool used to manage diabetes, and the effectiveness in the management and maintenance of this disease.  Following this regiment, patients with type II diabetes have been proven to successfully lose weight, and learn to lead healthy and productive lifestyles.  A person diagnosed with obesity could receive medical nutrition therapy for that particular disease, and achieve a positive out-come. There is an aspect of this disease that is strongly correlated with the person’s relationship with food (2).  

One way is to insist that reimbursement needs to be covered by the majority of health insurance companies.  This will allow studies to be done by creditable researchers and universities in order to discover, and obtain more significant data showing the positive outcomes of this methodology and other holistic approaches to the elimination of obesity.  

How can a chef cook without food? How can a therapist address food issues and work with patients to overcome food obsession or compulsive behavior?  What about dietitians who cannot “prove’ to doctors and obese individuals to show their Medical Nutrition Therapy to obesity treatment works, because there is not enough evidence and ‘scientific’ data for health insurance companies to give reimbursement!

There are some insurance companies that will cover obesity. However, they are minimal; the criterion is strict for participation in their reimbursement programs and milestones for some individuals - unachievable. Through food education, behavioral modification, and physical activity wellness program can be successful (3).

The cost effectiveness of Medical Nutrition Therapy compared to other obesity treatments is due to lack of data for health insurance industry to endorse a best treatment regime. The amount of money spent on obesity and the amount of weight lost at the end needs to be maintained for the duration of  2 years, and needs to be seen as cost effective according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The study that was done to determine if medical or surgical treatments were more cost effective showed that at this time surgical treatments for obesity is the best choice(1).

What is available now?  You can do this – you can become one size healthier!  You just do not get to be reimbursed through your insurance company.   If you are a mid to large company, your organization may develop a policy that might be considered by the insurance carriers.  At the end of the day there are is a solution.  The Whisk and Spoon can provide you with the best of the best in food, and offers excellent programs in Medial Nutrition Therapy. 

If you are interested in learning more about our programs, please contact us on 215.545. 0354.   Visit our website WWW.WHISKANDSPOON.COM or email  info@whiskandspoon.com.  

About the Whisk and Spoon, LLC.  This company is dedicated to providing quality meals using, when possible, local or products produced in the US before sourcing abroad.   We work with other local PA Preferred vendors, like ourselves, to provide nutritious and healthy dinners as well as tweaking our menu to accommodate serious but common, food conditions such as celiac, rena, heart healthy or weight management solutions for our clients.  The Whisk and Spoon takes care to work with qualified individuals in the medical community throughout our local counties.  We strongly feel by connecting socially and locally we can create a strong and united community. 

We understand the demands of the everyday working woman and man, and that is why we are here to not only save you time, but to help you live a healthier lifestyle.  Sign up today at the Whisk and Spoon to find more about corporate specials, lunch & learn series, school fundraising opportunities and nutritious newsletters. http://www.whiskandspoon.com