Americans getting fatter

[buttmunch]

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Obesity rates continued to climb in the past year with 23 U.S. states reporting adults in their states are fatter now than they were a year ago, two advocacy groups said on Wednesday.

Obesity rates did not decrease in a single state last year, and the groups warned that the U.S. obesity epidemic must be addressed as lawmakers reform the nation's health system.

"Our health care costs have grown along with our waistlines," said Jeff Levi, executive director of Trust for America's health, which released the report along with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

He said the obesity epidemic is contributing to skyrocketing health costs, and said the problem has to be addressed at the highest levels of government.

Being overweight or obese raises the risk of heart disease, diabetes, some cancers, arthritis and other conditions.

The annual ranking of obesity rates in U.S. states found Mississippi continues to be the state with the fattest residents, with nearly a third of adults -- 32.5 percent -- considered obese. The state has topped the list for the past five years.

Three other states -- West Virginia, Alabama, and Tennessee -- now have obesity rates above 30 percent, they found.

Colorado has the thinnest residents, with an obesity rate of 18.9 -- the only state under 20 percent. Massachusetts is next, at 21.2 percent, followed by Connecticut, at 21.3.

Two-thirds of American adults are either obese or overweight, as defined by their body mass index or BMI.

BMI is equal to weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Someone with a BMI of 25 to 29 is classified as overweight; 30 and over is considered obese.

A person 5 feet-5 inches tall becomes overweight at 150 pounds (68 kg) and obese at 180 pounds (82 kg).

IMPACT OF ECONOMIC CRISIS

Although still rising, fewer states saw increases in obesity rates this year compared to last, in which 37 states saw gains.

"We're still getting fatter, but maybe a little more slowly than before," Dr. James Marks of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation said on a conference call.

"We are hopeful that policy changes some of the states are putting into place in their schools and communities are beginning to make a difference."

The groups warned that the economic crisis could exacerbate the obesity epidemic as rising food prices and shrinking family budgets make it more difficult to eat healthy foods.

Among U.S. children, obesity rates held steady, but at still alarmingly high levels, with 30 states reporting the percentage of obese or overweight children at above 30 percent.

A report last year found the U.S. childhood obesity epidemic leveled off this decade after surging for about 20 years, but a worrisome number of young people remain obese, risking serious health problems.

Obese children are more likely to be saddled with risk factors associated with heart disease and type 2 diabetes. They also are much more likely to be obese in adulthood.

The U.S. National Institutes of Health has an online BMI calculator at http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/.htt...0-0bffa24b39fd

Clearly this is Obama's fault.

[celeb_2006]

In 1991, no state had more than a 20 percent obesity rate. Today, the only state that doesn't is Colorado, at 18.9 percent.

I seriously don't understand this shyte.

At no point in our history have we been more informed about the causes of obesity, its dangers, and ways of dealing with it. We have the most advanced exercise routines developed, found the correct nutrients and diet for a healthy lifestyle, etc. etc. etc. Yet, people keep getting fatter and fatter. WTF. Do people not know stuffing yourself with junk and fast food makes you big?

Until Americans get a control on their portions, people will continue to get fatter. Portion control to me is the single biggest problem why people get fat and continue to get fat, and why so many lose the battle with the bulge repeatedly (Kirstie Alley, are you reading).

[buttmunch]

Good point. I always laugh the first time people visit the states because they generally feel like one portion in a restaurant of, just say, pasta would be enough for a family of four if you threw in a salad. People are pretty gluttony.

[Mrs P]

^ Whenever I go back to visit the states I sit in awe over how large a meal is at restaurants. Heh, my husband actually took a few photos to show some people back over here in the UK the first time he went to the states with me.

I think another big problem, aside from the insane portion sizes, is how expensive fresh food is at stores. When I was staying in the states for a little while this past year I had to stop buying fresh food. It was ridiculous how expensive it was in comparison to uber cheap ready-made frozen meals. The quality of the fresh food wasn't the greatest too. Eating out is also so cheap.

I believe the lack of general exercise makes a difference too. I'm not necessarily talking about going to the gym or for a jog, but just walking. In the UK I am always walking to stores, the pub, for the hell of it, etc. In the US I would be taking a car because the infrastructure of many places ignores the needs of pedestrians. Also, it's just the norm. Instead of walking eight minutes up the road to go to a friends house like I do now, I would be driving there in the US. Add the huge distance you have to travel most places in the US, it's no wonder people are programmed to use their car to even go to the quickie store .3 miles down the road. The average car owner in America spends 500 to 1,000 hours per year behind the wheel. That's equivalent of between one and two full-time university semesters.

[Chilly Willy]

Gonna go get myself some Hägen Dasz...

[WhateverLolaWants]

There's two types of cheap food...produce and junk. Give 'Joe Walmart' the choice between an apple and a box of Kraft Mac dinner, he'll choose the Kraft Mac.

Thus we will probably be the only country in the history of the world to get fatter as we get poorer.

[WhoAmI]

They get fat, and then blame the restaurants and grocery stores for having so much food.

Self-control and will-power have become dirty words. It's easier to blame someone or something else (the corn syrup did it! my metabolism is slow! I can't afford fresh food!). You can lose weight while eating corn syrup, canned/frozen vegetables, and avoiding going out to eat at these pig trough restaurants. Weight Watchers works. Calories in/out works.

I've been hypothyroid (Hashimoto's thyroiditis = no thyroid) since I was 18. I managed to stay slim by watching what I eat and not using "I have a glandular problem" as an excuse. Get on the fucking scale and adjust your food intake/exercise based on what it says.

It's true: nothing tastes as good as being thin feels.

Both my sister and I had eating disorders as teenagers and beat them with therapy.

You can make excuses, or you can be normal weight.

Rant over.

[crumpet]

Originally Posted by celeb_2006

I seriously don't understand this shyte.

At no point in our history have we been more informed about the causes of obesity, its dangers, and ways of dealing with it. We have the most advanced exercise routines developed, found the correct nutrients and diet for a healthy lifestyle, etc. etc. etc. Yet, people keep getting fatter and fatter. WTF. Do people not know stuffing yourself with junk and fast food makes you big?

Until Americans get a control on their portions, people will continue to get fatter. Portion control to me is the single biggest problem why people get fat and continue to get fat, and why so many lose the battle with the bulge repeatedly (Kirstie Alley, are you reading).

I think that as more and more people get fat it is actually less stigmatized. Obesity and it's resulting illnesses (acute and chronic) are a huge strain on the healthcare system, moreso than smokers because there are more obese people than regular smokers. But people still aren't as quick to villify overweight people because most of them are overweight themselves or close to someone who is. If I hear one more person say "The average woman is a a size 14" I will fucking scream. Yes, the average woman is also 5 ft 5 or something so that means the average person is overweight. It is only 'normal' in the sense that it is commonplace, not normal in the sense that it is healthy. I also want to punch everyone who acts like the only alternative to being a porker is to be 'anorexic' or to 'starve' themselves.

I think the biggest culprits are:

Portion control: portions are waaaay too big and most of us aren't educated about what an acceptable portion size is.

Sedentary lifestyles: a terrible circle because once you get fat you get slow and your energy decreases so you are less likely to want to engage in any physical exerting activity.

Fast food: no explanation needed, except that it isn't the food itself but the fact that it is consumed too frequently and by too many people who are already overweight and inactive.

Difficulty delaying gratification: When people try to lose weight, they give up when their muscles initially get sore from exercise or when giving up that 20 oz latte and Big Macs for 2 weeks hasn't resulted in a 30 lb weight loss. It seems hopless and useless, but of course it takes a long time to reprogram your metabolism and burn off 40 lbs of fat from your body. It didn't get there overnight..........

Being 'too busy' to eat better or exercise sufficiently: Probably the biggest bs excuse there is. Everyone is just oh so busy, but they manage to watch Amercian Idol and Oprah even though they 'don't have time' to work up a sweat. And no, chasing after your 2 yr old isn't sufficient. If it was you'd be thinner by now. The fact is people will always have other things to do when trying to avoid something they don't find pleasant.

[twitchy2.0]

Originally Posted by crumpet

I think that as more and more people get fat it is actually less stigmatized.

Not only is it less stigmatized, but perceptions of normalcy become skewed. I keep hearing things like, "Ugh. He's too skinny. I like my men with a little more meat on their bones." said in regard to someone with a perfectly healthy weight. It's like the image anorexics have of themselves but in reverse.

[Ravenna]

A woman I know has a husband with two obese friends. Recently while visiting, she witnessed their child eating 6 corn dogs in one sitting. She is already obese with type 2 diabetes at the age of 11. I doubt this type of people are going to think, 'I really wish we could afford those salad greens...' I've never bought the excuse that healthful foods are more expensive than junk foods. I think it has more to do with the type of foods people prefer to eat, and corn dogs are not cheaper than vegetables anyway. People aren't drinking pop and eating potato chips, ice cream, Twinkies and M&Ms because of the lack of cheaper alternatives. I believe it is more people's tastes and portions (as well as being sedentary) that is getting them into trouble.

[MohandasKGanja]

1. There is less stigma over being overweight. What's the name of that group, National Association for Fat Acceptance?

2. Fatty, high-calorie foods are, as far as I can see, a lot cheaper than healthy, low-fat foods. And store longer. Bananas only keep for a few days. A twinkie, which costs marginally less than a banana (per unit), will keep for months and months. Healthy items on fast-food menus are almost always more expensive, which dissuades people from choosing them if cost is a factor.

3. People don't exercise, and don't know which exercises burn the most calories or build muscle tissue.

4. Portions at many restaurants are huge -- it's a big competitive draw between restaurants to see who slops the most stuff on your plate. My wife and I almost never eat the full portion. We almost always take half of it home to eat it later. Unfortunately, I don't think a lot of people do that.

[NicoleWasHere]

Originally Posted by Ravenna

A woman I know has a husband with two obese friends. Recently while visiting, she witnessed their child eating 6 corn dogs in one sitting. She is already obese with type 2 diabetes at the age of 11. I doubt this type of people are going to think, 'I really wish we could afford those salad greens...' I've never bought the excuse that healthful foods are more expensive than junk foods. I think it has more to do with the type of foods people prefer to eat, and corn dogs are not cheaper than vegetables anyway. People aren't drinking pop and eating potato chips, ice cream, Twinkies and M&Ms because of the lack of cheaper alternatives. I believe it is more people's tastes and portions (as well as being sedentary) that is getting them into trouble.

Good Lord!

[WhateverLolaWants]

Yeah, I recently saw a family like that at a buffet. Nightmares...

I guess I have little sympathy because I am close to several people who are predisposed to be 'larger' by nature, but they eat normal portions and healthy (within reason..I wouldn't call them brown rice and veg addicts) and they look very nice...healthy.

Then there are those in my aquaintance that not only eat waaaay too much (Going out to dinner, they ALL get an appetizer...then a full sized american helping of whatever, eat all of it, don't bring it home, and then a dessert. UNREAL) And they wonder why they're huge...or praise certain recent ad campaignes which speak to people like those I have mentioned formerly as 'presenting a more attainable body image'.

I want to scream in that, acknowledging that some people are larger by nature, people are taking it as a pat on the back and a blessing to be over 400 lbs.

I recently had to start getting back into shape after gaining a few more lbs than I wanted (20) and some of the aforementioned aquaintances were just scathing about it...joking that I was anorexic because I wanted to go from 135 back down to 120.

Being in Georgia I see them loading up at the store...boxes and boxes of mac and cheese, frozen breaded chicken patties, canned spaghetti...then washing it all down with a HUGE flat of sodas.

And yes, its all cheap. You can eat really cheap that way. But you know what else is cheap? Veggies. Fruit. Rice. Water. Most of all, meals prepared by YOU without preservatives and that generate leftovers for another meal's worth of consumption.

Thats part of it to...the desire to skip cooking altogether, just microwave it all...instant gratification. All those preserved food are laden with sodium...fats...Grabbing happymeals is 'cheap.'

I'm not saying my kids never have chef boyardee ravioli at my house. We do about once a week during the summer, even. All things in moderation, but cooking your own meals, you control what goes in, you know what everything is, and anyone who made it through at least most of their public schooling at least knows too many preservatives and too much fat is bad for you.

But the quickness of speedy meals, the convenience, the tiny lettering of the ingredients...allows us to skip even thinking about it.

I feed three children and two adults Breakfast and dinner for 100$ a week. When we had two and we had less money, I did t for 60$ a week. I also feed myself lunch on that; hubby has a different budget for work food, 40$ a week, which means he brings his lunch about twice and eats out three times with his work friends.

No one in my family is obese or even close to fat. No one starves, either. There are so many fat people because they are broke enough not to have chefs like Oprah does, who can make healthy food taste good enough for them to want to eat it, and they are too lazy to do it themselves.

[celeb_2006]

Originally Posted by crumpet

I think that as more and more people get fat it is actually less stigmatized. Obesity and it's resulting illnesses (acute and chronic) are a huge strain on the healthcare system, moreso than smokers because there are more obese people than regular smokers. But people still aren't as quick to villify overweight people because most of them are overweight themselves or close to someone who is. If I hear one more person say "The average woman is a a size 14" I will fucking scream. Yes, the average woman is also 5 ft 5 or something so that means the average person is overweight. It is only 'normal' in the sense that it is commonplace, not normal in the sense that it is healthy. I also want to punch everyone who acts like the only alternative to being a porker is to be 'anorexic' or to 'starve' themselves.

I think the biggest culprits are:

Portion control: portions are waaaay too big and most of us aren't educated about what an acceptable portion size is.

Sedentary lifestyles: a terrible circle because once you get fat you get slow and your energy decreases so you are less likely to want to engage in any physical exerting activity.

Fast food: no explanation needed, except that it isn't the food itself but the fact that it is consumed too frequently and by too many people who are already overweight and inactive.

Difficulty delaying gratification: When people try to lose weight, they give up when their muscles initially get sore from exercise or when giving up that 20 oz latte and Big Macs for 2 weeks hasn't resulted in a 30 lb weight loss. It seems hopless and useless, but of course it takes a long time to reprogram your metabolism and burn off 40 lbs of fat from your body. It didn't get there overnight..........

Being 'too busy' to eat better or exercise sufficiently: Probably the biggest bs excuse there is. Everyone is just oh so busy, but they manage to watch Amercian Idol and Oprah even though they 'don't have time' to work up a sweat. And no, chasing after your 2 yr old isn't sufficient. If it was you'd be thinner by now. The fact is people will always have other things to do when trying to avoid something they don't find pleasant.

I agree it is ridiculous.

I'm all for tolerance but there has to be a line drawn somewhere. It's like smoking, obesity is clearly linked to a variety of deadly illnesses and diseases and whatnot. Shouldn't it be a priority for each person to be as healthy as they can be relatively speaking? I understand not all of us are at 5% body fat or have the time to work out 8 hours a day like these deluded celebs. And we all have that little bit of excess shape and weight. But that doesn't excuse us stuffing our faces 6 times a day and becoming so overweight it becomes not only a liability to us, but also our family and our healthcare system.

And yet I still see the restaurant and food industry pushing, pushing, pushing, 24/7, the message that more is better, bigger portions are a given. The other day I went to Taco Bell to try a volcano meal box my friends were raving about. I could only eat one taco and a burrito and couldn't eat the other taco and the cinnamon twists. Back in my heftier days, I'd wolf that down and eat maybe an extra double decker taco.

Also, we all need to slow the f**k down. Our society has conditioned itself to rush everything, rush work, rush TO work, do this and do that, we are so wired to do everything fast and instant gratification (thanks in no part to the internet) that we even eat fast. And we all know that when we stuff our faces really fast, our brain does not get the message that it is satisified until at least 20 minutes or so after eating. That's why we overeat. Slow down, take extra time to chew and enjoy your food.

[MoodyJenny86]

Well, the rest of America can keep getting fatter.

I don't plan on joining the obesity epidemic anytime soon.