Blog Resurrection: A MUST-SEE DISPLAY THIS WEEKEND IN KANSAS CITY

I’m resurrecting my blog (it’s been too long), mostly inspired by a MUST-SEE exhibit that will change your life. If you are waiting for that one special moment to move you so much to start living healthier, then this is your answer. (If this ISN’T your answer, I don’t know if there is one...)
 
The Body Worlds exhibit at Union Station in downtown Kansas City is extremely moving. The exhibit takes you from the conception of life through childhood into adulthood and eventually to death. Body Worlds examines how each lifestyle choice you make greatly impacts the process of aging. The series of cadavers on display show off the importance of having a healthy diet, getting adequate sleep, managing of stress appropriately, and daily exercise.
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The two most impactful displays are of the “Smoker’s Leg” and what a lean person looks like on the inside compared to an obese person. The “Smoker’s Leg” was much like the appearance of a diabetic leg. Loss of lower leg function, hardened circulatory pathways and a black appearance.

Seeing a slice out of a lean person was fascinating. You could see the outlines of the organs along with minimal subcutaneous fat. In the obese figure, the subcutaneous fat was incredible and the inner organs weren’t even visible because of the extraordinary amount of visceral fat. It’s amazing to me that organs even survive surrounded by the hard, yellowish fat.

So if you haven’t checked out the Body Worlds exhibit at Union Station, GO THIS WEEKEND! I felt immediately affected by the displays. It has motivated me to continue to learn and understand how your lifestyle needs to evolve over your lifetime to optimize your longevity and enjoyment of this life.

Sidenote: For those who might be squeamish to seeing another person's “inners”, the displays are masterfully done in a way that is not intimidating and promotes learning.

Top center: Smoker's Leg

Bottom left: Lean person on left, obese person on right. Where are the obese person's organs? They are hidden by visceral fat, limiting their normal function.

Bottom right: Obese leg on top, lean leg on bottom. Note: "Big-boned" does not exist, as you can see both bones in each photo is about the same size.