According to Dr. Thomas R. Friesen, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average American consumes 250 calories per day more than just two decades ago. He also noted that the rising obesity rate is the single greatest contributor to a national epidemic of diabetes. Over 60% of the population of North America is overweight - 30% is obese. There is an urgent need for information and education regarding the simple principle that food and drink must be consumed first for their nutritional value and second for satisfying the palate. Poor and uninformed choices in diet are resulting in an obesity epidemic with the costly consequence of chronic disease.

According to a 2006 study entitled "The Cost of Obesity", obese Americans spend 42% more on health care than normal weight Americans. Most of the excess spending is alotted to prescription drugs needed to manage obesity-related conditions. Medical spending on obesity-related conditions is estimated to have reached $147 billion per year in 2008 in the U.S.

Studies of international populations such as the Japanese show that their lifestyle and eating habits are associated with longevity. A main component of the Japanese diet is tea. World wide, tea is the most widely consumed beverage per capita aside from water.

Green, oolong and black teas all come from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. What sets green tea apart from the other two varieties is the fact that green tea leaves are steamed, whereas the black and oolong tea leaves are fermented. Green tea is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly EGCG which is a very powerful antioxidant. The fermentation process for black and oolong teas causes much of the EGCG to be oxidized therefore these teas are not nearly as effective in preventing and fighting various diseases. Black tea has 3-10% polyphenols while green tea has 30-40%. Green tea has been found to increase metabolism, literally help burn fat, increase exercise endurance and nourish the body in a healthy and natural way.

Of the 2.5 million metric tons of dried tea manufactured only 20% is green tea. Green tea is consumed primarily in China, Japan, and a few countries in North Africa and the Middle East. According to the American Tea Association the consumption of tea in the United States falls sixth after water, soft drinks, coffee, beer and milk. A study, conducted at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, showed that energy intake from sweetened drinks in the United States increased 135 percent between about 1977 and 2001.

An average can of soft drink yields 200 calories and an average super-sized drink at a fast food restaurant yields 400 calories. The nutritional value of a soft drink is little to none.

A cup of green tea contains 50-150 mg. of polyphenols including 20-35mg. of EGCG. In a study published in the November 2004 issue of Mutation Research, EGCG's protective antioxidant affects against several carcinogens were found to be 120% stronger than those of vitamin C. There are 0 calories in a cup of green tea. According to research reported in the American Journal of Nutrition, green tea speeds up the rate your body burns cellular energy by up to 40%. A cup of green tea without sugar can burn 25 calories per cup. If the average person were to drink five cups of green tea a day they would burn an extra 70-80 calories.

One pound of fat is equivalent to approximately 3500 calories. In order to lose one pound per week a person would have to maintain a calorie deficit of 500 calories per day below their normal set point - the set point being the amount of calories consumed where a person neither loses or gains. If you simply subtract the 2 soft drinks from your diet each day and add in the green tea you almost have your 500 calorie deficit taken care of. Of course it would be wise to add to this a sound nutritional program including natural foods and a reasonable and enjoyable exercise regimen that one could keep up daily for at least 30 minutes per day.

The true cost of obesity is

• chronic illness
• time missed from work
• poor productivity at work
  
• stress on the health care system
• less disposable income as more income is needed for prescription drugs
• higher health care premiums
  
• poorer quality of life

The cure for the obesity epidemic is simple, not easy, however, it is also not easy to be chronically ill.