Whenever I’m in a mall or a crowd, I’m struck by how many people are overweight or even obese. Out of every five people, at least three seem to struggle with weight. What breaks my heart the most is seeing young kids—six or seven years old—already massively overweight. If trends continue, studies predict that 51% of the population could be obese by 2030.
It wasn’t always like this. In the 1950s, 60s, and early 70s, obesity was relatively rare, even in places like the U.S., Europe, and Australia. But now? Fast food chains are on every corner, and supermarkets are 80% filled with heavily processed foods that should come with warning labels. Even when you want to eat healthier, it’s tough, sometimes almost impossible, to swim against the tide.
Our struggle to resist sugary and fatty foods is rooted in evolution. Sugar and fat are energy-dense nutrients that gave our ancestors the calories needed to survive in harsh environments where food was scarce and unpredictable. But now, in an era of food abundance, they’re leading to overeating and chronic health issues.
Don’t be fooled by the clever marketing tactics of food manufacturers. Their priority isn’t your health—it’s profit. They jump on trends like “low-fat” or “sugar-free” and design labels to make you think their products are good for you, while sneaking in ingredients that make the food highly palatable and often addictive.
In Australia, we even have misleading “health-star ratings” slapped on food packaging. Sometimes you’ll find products loaded with sugar or unhealthy oils getting a five-star rating, which is mind-blowing.
Here’s how the cycle works: you want to eat healthier > manufacturers make their labels look healthy > you buy the product > you like it (thanks to added sugars or fats) > you buy more > they win, but you lose.
Changing your diet can feel overwhelming, but it’s not hopeless. It’s about small, manageable steps. Start by adding more whole foods to your meals—fresh veggies, whole grains, and legumes. As your gut microbiome rebalances, your cravings will begin to shift.
The first few weeks are the hardest, but as you persist, it becomes easier—and at some point, eating healthy will even be fun. Ask anyone who’s made the change, they’ll tell you the same.
I’ll share more tips and insights on this site and through social media, so stay tuned!
I’m a strong advocate for a primarily plant-based diet. It’s not just about personal health (although there’s plenty of research supporting the benefits), it’s also about the health of our planet. People who focus on whole, plant-based foods—like fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains—tend to live longer, healthier lives. The Mediterranean diet is a great example of this.
But beyond our own wellbeing, it’s about the welfare of animals. The suffering farm animals endure to provide cheap meat is heartbreaking, and the system itself is unsustainable. Most people aren’t indifferent to this cruelty—we’re just disconnected from the reality behind the meat on our plates.
Health—both in weight and overall wellbeing—should be the norm, not the exception. Can you imagine half the global population being obese by 2030?
We need to relearn what’s truly healthy. Take white bread, for example. Many people don’t even know why it’s so unhealthy. The common belief is that it’s just “empty calories,” but the problem goes deeper. White bread can contribute to chronic inflammation, which is linked to a host of diseases, including heart disease and diabetes. It also spikes insulin levels, telling your body to store fat. And yet, supermarket shelves are packed with it.
Many of us are short-sighted when it comes to food. We want to eat whatever we want—pizza, donuts, ice cream—and just stay slim. This obsession with calories feeds the false belief that being slim equals being healthy. We need to shift from worrying about “what makes me fat” to asking, “what keeps me healthy?”
Even slim people can be unhealthy on the inside, accumulating visceral fat and clogging arteries. That’s why the term TOFI (Thin Outside, Fat Inside) exists.
I’ve heard so many stories of people who are slim and regularly exercise but eat a poor diet—chips for dinner, fast food regularly—only to experience chest pains in their 40s and realise they need to make a change. We need to stop focusing on being skinny and start focusing on being healthy. When you prioritise health, your ideal weight will follow naturally.
I started my journey back in 2008 to tackle my own sluggishness. It began with small changes: cutting pasta, eating lighter dinners, and adding fish to my diet. Over time, I made more subtle adjustments, like swapping sugary snacks for healthier alternatives.
The key to long-term success is small, gradual changes. Big, sudden shifts often lead to feelings of deprivation, which trigger cravings. Start by adding good stuff—more fruits, whole grains, and healthy fats—and gradually reduce the unhealthy options.
When my husband and I moved in together, I did the same with his diet. Bit by bit, I replaced sugary snacks and white foods with better choices. Now, he makes healthy decisions without thinking because it’s part of his identity. That’s the power of small steps over time.
