Obesity solution

Above: Evening Standard front page, 13/10/11. Obesity is an increasingly worrying problem in England and earlier articles in the Evening Standard have reported that the NHS will fall apart within five years solely because of weight of this issue. 

Islam has the solutions to all the worlds problems. And they're easy solutions. As Muslims, we have been trying to explain the benefits of Islamic life for a long time but people only listen when a crisis overcomes them, and even then, few listen. There are many more crises approaching the western world, whatever crises you think the West is suffering from is nothing compared to what is to come. This article isn't about scaring people but an article written in hope that enough people, who have a sense of social responsibility, might be able to save their country. 

Before I list the simple solutions to our obesity problems, I want to make it clear the issue we are facing is only symptom of great unhappiness within society, just as much as the drug problem is. So this article is not just about get people thin but solving are far wider problem. 

So here are the solutions:

Drink water before eating. We tend not to eat of hunger but boredom, stress or otherwise to engage our minds. Drinking water reduces that need. 

Fill your self with one third water, one third food and leave the remaining third empty. Muahmmad, the Prophet of Islam, peace be upon him, taught that this is necessary to let the spirit breath. Some may find this easy to understand, but for those not accustomed to concentrating on what makes them happy and what does not, you should realise that eating too much makes you feel dull, drowns your spirit, looses your connection to a deep sense of happiness and.... that will do for now. 

As I mentioned before, there is a deeper issue here and that is people are not happy. They are overeating to fill a void in their lives. The main issue is that people are trying to find happiness through material needs. They  will never find happiness that way. The stress in trying to achieve happiness through materialism itself pushes you into eating too much. Islam offers happiness in all its facets, from community life, fun things to do, giving you purpose and showing you true happiness by shining light on a real spiritual path. 

Continuing with my list, the final thing I would like to suggest is that it is also good to fast for a month, once a year. It takes a month to reset habits, in particular our binging habits, gives our bodies a chance to detox and even improves our taste buds so that we stop enjoying junk food so much. By fasting, I mean not eating or drinking from morning to evening (for countries near the north pole, for example, where sunset may only come after a few months, they should fast for 12 hours). 

Fasting may sound difficult, but it is very easy, even enjoyable, if you do as part of a community. This one of the many benefits of being part of the great and international Muslim family. Of course, this Muslim brotherhood and sisterhood is not exclusive, feel free not to be Muslim and fast with Muslims if you find it useful. Muslims will begin fasting in the morning as a family and often break their fast with the whole community, young and old, at the mosque. As you can imagine, loosing weight this way can be quite enjoyable!