We're fat and getting fatter!

[AliceInWonderland]

U.S. waistlines continue to grow

WASHINGTON (AP) -- 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 is 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.

"Quick fixes and limited government programs have failed to stem the tide," said Dr. Jeff Levi, executive director of the trust, in explaining the rise.

Health officials warn that the 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- eet 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.

The 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.

"I don't want to discount the personal choice aspect of this, but there are health issues and there are health costs involved," Collins said.

The report says those health costs 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.


*According to a report from the Trust for America's Health, the ovesity rate increased in 31 states compared with last year. Mississippe has the highest obesity rate at 29.5%; Colorado's 16.9% is the lowest.


Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/08/29....ap/index.html

can i just snicker a little at this sad, but scary article; I mean WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WIT US!?!

[SVZ]

•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

This is such bullshit. The only people they aren't blaming are the people who eat 4000 calories a day and wonder why they're fat.

[AliceInWonderland]

omg you're sooooooooooooo right!!!!!! PPL just don't get it sometimes; its not a magic solution and its hard work, but you only live once so i could never go through life w/ such discomfort and low quality of life! *pulls hair out*!!!

eat right, excercise, sleep well, everything in moderation; it just doesn't get any simpler!

[Sojiita]

What is wrong with people?..Disgusting!!!!! *takes another bite of double-cheeseburger*









-yes I just scarfed down a huge fast food meal..but it is all I am eating today so that will help..a little..-

[Grimmlok]

[AliceInWonderland]

well...i see someone ^ fucked up on their little ole' diet and now they're taking it out on all us anorexic bitches!

[celeb_2006]

Well hot damn, maybe the grocery stores should stop charging such extravagant prices for their foods! I try to buy reasonably healthy foods, chicken breasts, milk/cereal, water, veggies, etc. etc., and it's like 60, 70 bucks a pop! And that's only for a few days! What's the point when it's cheaper and easier to eat mcdonalds instead!

Ha ha ha ha

[dakodas]

Where is that donut???

[Tati]

Well hot damn, maybe the grocery stores should stop charging such extravagant prices for their foods! I try to buy reasonably healthy foods, chicken breasts, milk/cereal, water, veggies, etc. etc., and it's like 60, 70 bucks a pop! And that's only for a few days! What's the point when it's cheaper and easier to eat mcdonalds instead!

I agree that unhealthy food can tend to be the cheapest. (Maybe not fast food, but grocery store crap like Kraft Dinner, Ramen noodles, etc.) I have found that if you look outside the grocery store, the reverse can be true, however. Farmers' Markets offer wonderfully inexpensive produce in season, and it's all fresh and local as well. I stock up and freeze/can everything I can. I can get fresh baked whole wheat bread at a nearby independent bakery for 75 cents a loaf. And small ethnic or specialty areas - like a Chinatown or, in Toronto, an area called Kensington Market, similarly offer insanely cheap produce, meat, cheese, bulk dry goods, etc. Plus, as AO has said in the past, you can always buy a bag of pasta with some sauce and some frozen veggies for next to nothing. There are ways to eat healthfully on a tight budget - maybe not gourmet, but healthy for sure.

[buttmunch]

Find a farmer's market (yes, I know, not everyone has one but still) or stop going to the most convenient place, which may be the priciest. I end up walking well out of my way to get fresh, cheap produce and good meat and I have a healthy food budget as a result, as well as being in better shape from all that walking. And quite frankly, food portions are part of the problem. You don't need more than one piece of chicken and fish, combined with two or more fresh or frozen veg in reasonable portions. A meal like this does not cost much, nor does fruit, especially when you buy produce in season.

[travelbug]

Well, here's the thing. In our city, the Farmer's Market is about 30 minutes away from where I live. That's a gallon and a half of gas. So about $5 in gas just to get there. Sort of negates any savings from the grocery store. Plus, for some reason the farmers around here charge the same as the grocery stores (well, at least Super Walmart where I shop). On the way back from Walmart a few weeks ago I stopped at a roadside produce stand. Corn was 25 cents/ear (same as Walmart), a watermelon was $5 (same as Walmart).

Truthfully, the only people who shop at the farmer's markets around here are people who have the luxury of the time to do it. For most, it's a quaint little yuppie thing to do on Saturday morning. And the farmers know it, they jack up the prices as high as, if not higher than the grocery stores.

[buttmunch]

Hmmm...perhaps grow our own veg? That way, we'd also know exactly how fresh and un-chemicalized it would be. Of course, I'd have to move to the burbs or similar to do that and that is NOT going to happen.

[Grimmlok]

Having your own vegetable garden is a great way to ensure you get fresh, great tasting food. We had one growing up.. tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs, etc..

[AliceInWonderland]

mmmmm yeah i'd love to grow my own food; i don't trust anything anymore including the shit found in our foods, but like i'd trust the Los Angeles dirt to grow that garden even if i did have a yard! but seriously; i have been trying to ween myself off any sodium-overloaded processed foods; they're a curse on society! and to all you rebels out there; being healthy and organic is a great way to stick it to the docs and pharamcutical companies who make billions of dollars off of our fat wrecked bodies! ( i don't mean to sound like Tom Thumb) but i am trying to be more "natural" and vitamin oriented bla bla bla...gawd im such a hippie in disguise sometimes...