US obesity problem 'intensifies'

[HURAKAN]

US obesity problem 'intensifies'

Obesity rates in the US have surged over the last year, a report shows.

The Trust for America's Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found adult obesity rates rose in 23 of the 50 states, but fell in none.

In addition, the percentage of obese and overweight children is at or above 30% in 30 states.

The report warns widespread obesity is fuelling rates of chronic disease, and is responsible for a large, and growing chunk of domestic healthcare costs.

Obesity is linked to a range of health problems, including heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.

BODY MASS INDEX
# Calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height in metres squared Normal: 18.5 - 24.9
# Overweight: 25 - 29.9
# Obese: Above 30

Dr Jeff Levi, TFAH executive director, said: "Our health care costs have grown along with our waist lines.

"The obesity epidemic is a big contributor to the skyrocketing health care costs in the US.

"How are we going to compete with the rest of the world if our economy and workforce are weighed down by bad health?"

The US government has set a target of cutting obesity rates in all 50 states to 15% by next year.

However, the report said this target was certain to be missed.

Fattest state

For the fifth year in a row, Mississippi had the highest rate of adult obesity at 32.5%. Three other states - West Virginia, Alabama and Tennessee - also had adult obesity rates in excess of 30%.

In just one state - Colorado - was the adult obesity rate below 20%.

In 1991, no state had an adult obesity rate above 20%, and in 1980 the national average for adult obesity was 15%.

Mississippi also had the highest rate of obese and overweight children (ages 10 to 17) at 44.4%. Minnesota and Utah had the lowest rate at 23.1%.

Childhood obesity rates in the US have more than tripled since 1980.

The report warns that the current economic crisis could exacerbate the obesity epidemic by driving up food prices, particularly for nutritious foods.

In addition, it blames increased rates of depression, anxiety and stress for fuelling unhealthy living.

A recent analysis commissioned by TFAH found that the Baby Boomer generation has a higher rate of obesity compared with previous generations.

This suggests that the percentage of obese adults aged 65 and older could soon increase significantly.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/h ... 129184.stm

[Category 5]

its society's fault (and parents in denial as well) everything is jumbo sized in this country now. Drinks, food, clothes, (I'm normal weight and have to take in every pair of pants) Sadly being 400 pounds has become an acceptable part of society (medical conditions not included of course). Perhaps instead of helping the obese feel good about themselves we should be making them lose weight, even if it requires some harsh tactics. Its not discrimination, its a health hazard. I'd rather them shed some tears and feel a bit insulted and get better, then feel good about themselves and drop dead. Just my two cents.

[lurkey]

US obesity problem 'intensifies'
BODY MASS INDEX
# Calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height in metres squared Normal: 18.5 - 24.9
# Overweight: 25 - 29.9
# Obese: Above 30

pounds and inches, please

Question: does the obesity study take into account the problems with the BMI as a measurement of obesity? Because a lot of athletes are considered "overweight" due to amount of muscle mass. . .

[southerngale]

its society's fault (and parents in denial as well) everything is jumbo sized in this country now. Drinks, food, clothes, (I'm normal weight and have to take in every pair of pants) Sadly being 400 pounds has become an acceptable part of society (medical conditions not included of course). Perhaps instead of helping the obese feel good about themselves we should be making them lose weight, even if it requires some harsh tactics. Its not discrimination, its a health hazard. I'd rather them shed some tears and feel a bit insulted and get better, then feel good about themselves and drop dead. Just my two cents.

While I see the problem in everything being jumbo sized, etc., you still have the free will not to buy it. I drink A LOT, but it's usually diet or water. I drink milk, juice, and other stuff as well. But as for fast food... I very rarely eat it. I can't even remember the last time I ate anything at McDonald's or somewhere like that. And on those rare occasions that I'm stuck there for whatever reason and hungry, I'll get the grilled chicken sandwich. I just choose not to put that crap into my body. As for kids, if parents let their kids eat at McDonald's or Burger King every once in a while, no biggie. I think the problem is eating that type of food on a regular basis. Also, too many kids sit in front of the TV, watching it or playing video games, sit on the computer, etc. where 20 - 30 years ago, I think there was a lot less of that. Kids played video games back then and watched TV, but I think it's widely known that they also went outside and MOVED IT a lot more as well. Even outdoor activities have gotten lazier. Instead of a bike or a regular scooter, you see a lot more motorized scooters and stuff like that. They're fun, I get it. It just doesn't combine fun with exercise. Overall, kids are lazier and adults are lazier. I completely disagree that "we should be making them lose weight" though. I agree that they should, and I do think we should encourage it, but I disagree in taking harsh tactics to make it happen. It's still their choice. And where the kids are concerned, it would be wise for parents to limit TV, computer, and video game time and encourage more outdoor fun. And if you're going to play video games, Wii is a great choice. There are some games that actually have you sore the next day, especially when you first start out. After I play Wii Fit, I'm sweating like I just had a workout. Well, I did just have a workout.

[HURAKAN]

I agree with you guys. Education starts at home and usually the kids looks exactly like the parents. We need less TV and games and more outdoor activities. I'm the assistant couch of a little league baseball team and that's one way to keep kids from being at home doing nothing except eating. Also, even if you do exercises you need to see what you eat. You may burn 3000 calories per day but if u eat 4000, then you are going to gain weight.

Unfortunately we live in a society where most parents don't have the time to have their kids in outdoor activities because they need to work to bring food to the table and pay the bills. I think that's one of the main problem.

[Category 5]

its society's fault (and parents in denial as well) everything is jumbo sized in this country now. Drinks, food, clothes, (I'm normal weight and have to take in every pair of pants) Sadly being 400 pounds has become an acceptable part of society (medical conditions not included of course). Perhaps instead of helping the obese feel good about themselves we should be making them lose weight, even if it requires some harsh tactics. Its not discrimination, its a health hazard. I'd rather them shed some tears and feel a bit insulted and get better, then feel good about themselves and drop dead. Just my two cents.

While I see the problem in everything being jumbo sized, etc., you still have the free will not to buy it. I drink A LOT, but it's usually diet or water. I drink milk, juice, and other stuff as well. But as for fast food... I very rarely eat it. I can't even remember the last time I ate anything at McDonald's or somewhere like that. And on those rare occasions that I'm stuck there for whatever reason and hungry, I'll get the grilled chicken sandwich. I just choose not to put that crap into my body. As for kids, if parents let their kids eat at McDonald's or Burger King every once in a while, no biggie. I think the problem is eating that type of food on a regular basis. Also, too many kids sit in front of the TV, watching it or playing video games, sit on the computer, etc. where 20 - 30 years ago, I think there was a lot less of that. Kids played video games back then and watched TV, but I think it's widely known that they also went outside and MOVED IT a lot more as well. Even outdoor activities have gotten lazier. Instead of a bike or a regular scooter, you see a lot more motorized scooters and stuff like that. They're fun, I get it. It just doesn't combine fun with exercise. Overall, kids are lazier and adults are lazier. I completely disagree that "we should be making them lose weight" though. I agree that they should, and I do think we should encourage it, but I disagree in taking harsh tactics to make it happen. It's still their choice. And where the kids are concerned, it would be wise for parents to limit TV, computer, and video game time and encourage more outdoor fun. And if you're going to play video games, Wii is a great choice. There are some games that actually have you sore the next day, especially when you first start out. After I play Wii Fit, I'm sweating like I just had a workout. Well, I did just have a workout.

Sadly children are being raised by the internet now, but I'd love to see these statistics if parents threw their kids outside on a regular basis.

I eat a little more than I should, but I balance it out with exercise.

As for everything being jumbo sized, when a medium soda cup can hold nearly two bottles of beer something is wrong.

[Cyclenall]

To be honest, the only hope now is for science to override the obesity problem in counties like the US instead of society taking action and going the old fashion way of losing weight. I just can't see a turnaround the way it's going now. I've been watching documentaries about this over the decade that talk about change and it's not showing despite efforts to try. The type of technology and science I'm talking about is not that lousy nonsense available today, but further down into the future that is much more "advanced" (such as turning off a gene that contributes to adding body weight to a human).

I still encourage people to choose to eat and live healthy.

[gtalum]

There's no major scientific breakthrough needed. It's a simple set of equations:

Calories In > Calories Out : Gain Weight
Calories In = Calories Out : Maintain
Calories In < Calories Out : Lose Weight

I'm going to write a book and sell it on eBay: The Shut Your Pie-Hole and Get on a Treadmill Miracle Diet!

Halting farm subsidies would go a long way towards helping the US obesity epidemic. Way too much food has High Fructose Corn Syrup in it because it's basically free due to farm subsidies. HFCS is bad stuff.

[lurkey]

There's no major scientific breakthrough needed. It's a simple set of equations:

Calories In > Calories Out : Gain Weight
Calories In = Calories Out : Maintain
Calories In < Calories Out : Lose Weight

I'm going to write a book and sell it on eBay: The Shut Your Pie-Hole and Get on a Treadmill Miracle Diet!

Halting farm subsidies would go a long way towards helping the US obesity epidemic. Way too much food has High Fructose Corn Syrup in it because it's basically free due to farm subsidies. HFCS is bad stuff.

and because of the tariffs on sugar, cause sugar to be more expensive......

The reason HFCS is bad stuff is while it mimics the taste of sugar, the body doesn't recognize it as sugar. Yes, soft drinks are bad for you, but not b/c of sugar (it does NOT contain sugar -- look at ingredients of Coke and Pepsi cans and compare it to say Jones Soda, Pepsi Throwback, or "Passover" Coke, folks ... sorry pet peeve here, no one bothers to read the friggin' ingredients), but because of the HFCS . .. HFCS has the sweetness and calories of sugar, but doesn't turn off the metabolic need for sugar. . .so you keep eating and drinking. . a metabolic disconnect, so to speak.. .

and they put this crap in everything, including bread, sweets, drinks, ketchup. ..

[Ptarmigan]

Sugar in coke is better than corn syrup.