Patriot

We are losing the battle of the bulge, even though oil prices are high. Even Lance Armstrong, ,with all of his inspiration can't stop us from eating ourselves to death. Here's a story I copied off the news.



Report: America's Waistline Continues to Grow
Tuesday, August 29, 2006


WASHINGTON — The gravy train — make that the sausage, biscuits and gravy train — just kept on rolling in most of America last year, with 31 states showing an increase in obesity.

Mississippi continued to lead the way. An estimated 29.5 percent of adults there are considered obese. That's an increase of 1.1 percentage points when compared with last year's report, which is compiled by Trust for America's Health, an advocacy group that promotes increased funding for public health programs.

Meanwhile, Colorado remains the leanest state. About 16.9 percent of its adults are considered obese. That mark was also up slightly from last year's report, but not enough to be considered statistically significant.

The only state that experienced a decrease in the percentage of obese adults last year was Nevada.

"Obesity now exceeds 25 percent in 13 states, which should sound some serious alarm bells," said Dr. Jeff Levi, executive director of the advocacy group.

Health officials warn that a high incidence of obesity in a particular state doesn't mean it treats the issue less seriously than others. States have different challenges to contend with when it comes to obesity, said Dr. Janet Collins of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.


"Populations are not equal in terms of experiencing these health problems," Collins said. "Low-income populations tend to experience all the health problems we worry about at greater rates."

Indeed, the five states with the highest obesity rates — Mississippi, Alabama, West Virginia, Louisiana and Kentucky — exhibit much higher rates of poverty than the national norm.

Meanwhile, the five states with the lowest obesity have less poverty. They are Colorado, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont.

The leanest states shouldn't take a whole lot of comfort in their ranking, though, said Dr. Jeffrey Koplan, a former CDC director.

"This epidemic is a nationwide epidemic. Some some states are higher, some populations have it higher, but the trend has been up in every state, the trend has been up for every ethnic group, the trend has been up for rich and poor," Koplan said.

The group's estimate of obesity rates is based on a three-year average, 2003-2005. The data comes from an annual random sampling of adults via the telephone. The information is designed to help the government measure behavioral risks among adults.

The government equates obesity with a body mass index, or BMI, of at least 30. Someone who is 5-feet-4 would have to weigh 175 pounds to reach that threshold.

The index is calculated by dividing a person's weight in pounds by his height in inches, squared, and multiplying that total by 703. For some people, particularly athletes who exercise a great deal, the BMI index could show them as being obese when in fact they are in excellent physical condition.

Trust for America's Health made scores of recommendations for reducing obesity. For example:

-- Employers should offer their workers benefits that help them stay healthy, such as nutrition counseling and subsidized health club memberships.

-- The government should mandate routine screenings that measure the fitness of Medicaid beneficiaries, plus subsidize or reimburse them for participating in exercise and fitness programs.

_At the local level, governments should approve zoning and land use laws that give people more chances to walk or bike to the store or to work. Local governments also should set aside more funding for sidewalks.

The group also makes recommendations for individuals. But the recommendations that people eat well and exercise are known to Americans. And clearly, many just don't care to follow.

Collins said tobacco use is another area that could be labeled a personal choice, but government agencies have taken many steps to provide people with the environment and information they need to help them make their choices. The same should be done with obesity.

Levi said that a lot of the things that the government tells people to do about their weight aren't realistic, which makes obesity a societal problem, not just a personal problem.

"If we're urging people to walk more, and their streets are not safe, that's an unrealistic expectation," Levi said. "If we're urging people to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, and they don't have access to a supermarket or the cost is beyond their capacity, then we're not asking them to take responsibility for something they have control over."

The report says the health costs associated with obesity are in the billions of dollars annually. Citing a 2004 report, the advocacy group said $5.6 billion could be saved when it comes to treating heart disease if just one-tenth of Americans began a regular walking program.

efrobert

I graduated High School in 1985. I looked through my year book last year before my 20 yr reunion. There were one or two fat kids in my class. Today, Fat kids seem to be the norm, I went to a high school basketball game last year at a school where a friend teaches, I couldn't believe the % of fat teenagers compaired to 20 years ago.

Sprocket Man

Go Hawaii!

What the article doesn't mention is that more than 50% of Hawaii's residents are of Asian descent, and Asians are more genetically predisposed to be leaner than non-Asians (as a whole - individual results may vary )

Pedal Wench

The government subsidizes farmers producing high fructose corn syrup, but don't help out the apple farmers, or broccoli growers. Go figure.

TomM

I wouldn't say "we are losing". They are losing.

mayukawa

Maybe they should start taxing unhealthy foods like tobacco...

jimples

As somebody with a BMI of 29.1, I must say...

nothing beats a cycling jersey with its pockets full of thick hickory-smoked bacon!

note: I have never actually carried thick hickory-smoked bacon on a ride.

UmneyDurak

You are not a real cyclist then!
Loosing weight is freaken Hard! I ride bike 10-12 hours a week. I'm 5'9 and still hovering around 166-170 pounds. Started at 175.

MikeR

START Taxing? More than 50% of the cigeratte cost goes to the government now.

phantomcow2

I am blessed with a fast metabolism. I was always insecure about my narrowness, until I went to France for vacation and a family visit. Then I discovered, its all fat .

slvoid

I wouldn't say "they are losing" either. They are gaining...

badkarma

BMI is pure garbage - it counts fat and muscle mass the same. I have a BMI of 25.1, but if I stopped cycling and lost weight due to all the muscle mass I have in my legs, my BMI would drop, and then somehow I'd be considered in "better" shape.

Eatadonut

Actually, the issue is with sugar tariffs to protect american sugar farmers. If they would drop that BS, we'd A) have cheaper sugar and B) have products made with real sugar (which triggers the body's insulin response normally) instead of HFCS (which turns you into a fatty).

BMI of 26.4. I used to be overweight. I'd consider myself pretty in shape now. When I was weightlifting, my BMI was ~35. My roommate is as tall as I am, has almost the same body fat % as I, and yet has a 21.7 BMI.

catatonic

Mmmm, a cooked hamburger patty, some thick hickory smoked bacon, some pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, and sriracha sauce, on a kaiser bun....I would stick that in my jersey pockets

capejohn

I came across some kids playing baseball on tv last week. I originally thought I might be one of Disney movies with so many fat kids playing. It was the Little League qualifiers.

There was a time where the fat kids stood out. Now it's the slim fit kid. The sad part is that most parents don't even know their kids are fat.

hubs

Isn't smoking the appetite suppressant that kept us thin all those years?

CyLowe97

One huge reason is parents no longer feel free to let their kids go out and explore the world on their own, as many of us did from dawn till dusk during summers and after school. Hovering parents watching over their precious Brittneys, Austins, and Dakotas, stiffle the creative nature of play by having kids sign up for way too many organized activities, as they feel this will keep them off the mean suburban streets that are supposedly full of crime and kidnap (which is a bunch of bunk that our massive media presence has reenforced with saturation of JonBenet-type stories).

Do kids go out and just "play" anymore? Do kids walk or ride their bikes to school anymore, or does mommy have to ferry them one at a time in their armored SUV to insure the safe passage to education land? Man, we learned so much about taking care of ourselves and watching out for our friends just from getting to school and playing after school alone. Unfortunately, this is not as prevalent with today's kids.

There are other factors (e.g., too much access to electronics (TV, computers, video games) that are stationary in nature), but not getting to be "kids" in the old fashioned way is a huge factor.

Maybe I'm just an old curmudgeon at the ripe old age of 33....

DataJunkie

166-170 is the high end of a normal weight for 5'9"
I am also 5'9" with a medium build (at least I think it is medium).
I started at 202 june 05 and am now at 159. Ride a little harder and eat a little less. That is exactly how I did it.
200-250 miles a week and you will not be able to keep the weight on.

Pedal Wench

My BMI is 21. When I'm out on a century, I don't want to have to pay $3.00 for a Snicker's Bar because someone else can't control themselves.

NoRacer

Wouldn't that be ironic! Trade-off one evil for another.

capejohn

Odd how only suburban people fear their kids will be kidnapped or talked into running away to meet a cyber pedophile in a park. (by the way, the number is close enough that it is legitimate to say the 100% of the pedophiles on the net are talking to cops, tv producers and each other).

City kids become street wise from their peers. City kids keep each other in shape playing ball, riding and generally running around. The burb kids really don't get much aerobic work, riding the SUV to the movies, or the Beemer to piano practice and McDonnalds.

CyLowe97

This varies by city. A recent story in Chicago illuminated how many south side parents are afraid to let their kids out of the house at all due to gang activity, so they get stuck doing nothing and being bored.

In my bucolic suburb, we do let the kids out to run around. The parents around my age on our street have been doing our best to keep an eye on our neighbors kids and vice versa, while letting the kids feel free. Kind of like when we were little when everybody's parents were respected and we as kids knew not to push the boundaries or our parents would find out our nefarious doings. Not hovering, but just aware. It's a good feeling.

caligurl

no way!? that's just WRONG!!!! (and so government!)

caligurl

i swear i'm the only person who GAINED weight after taking up cycling! i ride a ton! (over 8,000 miles last year....) but i've steadily climbed UP the scale over the last year... year and half, too! and now to try to lose that excess 5-6 pounds is really HARD! because for whatever reason... i've lost my analness about eating good on weekends (weekdays i'm still anal! lol!)

caligurl

it makes me SO sad to see fat kids! just sitting in a mall... or sam's.... or anywhere and watch the people.... so many are fat and WAY too many fat kids! and what are they eating? french fries.... soda..... hamburgers.... etc etc etc....

but that's the parent's fault.... not the kids...