42 m a s s a g e & b o d y w o r k j u l y / a u g u s t 2 0 1 8
At this point, we could discuss how a culture that fetishizes
food affects the standard American diet, and how political
influence in the food industry exerts power over what kinds
of food are made available and affordable. We could compare
the nutritional value of what we eat today to what our parents
ate. Or we could look at what is currently understood about
the genes that influence the hormones, which then influence
other processes to make this a repeating pattern. But these
discussions go beyond the scope of this article. Interested
readers can pursue these topics with the provided resources.
An abbreviated version is this: a combination of factors, which
include genetics, high-calorie diets, and sedentary lifestyles,
leads to metabolic changes that promote the storage of excess
nutrition in fat cells. This situation is difficult to reverse for many
reasons, and it can have a negative impact on general health.
COMPLICATIONS
Not all people who are overweight are unhealthy, but there is a
statistical link between obesity and the risk of certain complications.
People who are obese have a four times greater risk of mortality
related to heart attack or stroke than the general population, and
a two times greater risk of developing cancer, especially breast,
colon, lung, gallbladder, prostate, or endometrial cancer.
Other conditions that are seen more frequently in this group
include: hypertension, gallstones, asthma, cellulitis, atherosclerosis,
nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, hypoventilation syndrome, boils,
cardiomyopathy, gastroesophageal reflux disorder, polycystic
ovaries, joint pain, varicose veins, sleep apnea, pregnancy-induced
hypertension, or depression.
All these disorders, and the medications clients may use to
treat them, have repercussions for massage therapy. As with
all our clients, we need to gather a thorough health history
to be sure our intervention is safe. Of special note here are
sleep apnea (lack of good quality sleep changes metabolism
and promotes weight gain, so there's a vicious circle); boils and
cellulitis (skin problems are potentially infectious and carry
cautions for massage therapy); and joint pain (joint pain brings
a lot of people to massage therapists, so this is something we
can anticipate). Finally, depression and isolation are important
factors in the quality of life of people who live with obesity.
ACCOMMODATIONS IN MASSAGE THERAPY
Human beings crave welcomed, safe, nonsexual touch. Without it,
we cannot thrive. Sometimes, we may try to replace the vital "food"
of healthy touch on our outer skin with the snug, safe, sated feeling
of filling up with literal food—an internal hug, if you will—and this
habit, among several other factors, leads to problems. People who
are overweight and obese often feel isolated, ostracized, and touch-
Resources
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