Posted on 08/29/2006 10:12:56 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
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.
___
On the Net:
Trust for America's Health: http://healthyamericans.org
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov
The only state that experienced a decrease in the percentage of obese adults last year was Nevada.
--
Nevada?
Go figure.. with all the buffets...
Okay, now who do I sue over this outrage?
Come to think of it, I've never seen a fat Ronald McDonald.
Ah yes. "The government should... the government should... the government should..." Thomas Jefferson must be spinning in his grave.
well at least our poor are no longer starving
(although I hear it's euphoric)
Here is the CDC's Body Mass Index calculator:
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/adult_BMI/english_bmi_calculator/bmi_calculator.htm
Of course, any trend information is meaningless if you change the yardstick every couple of years...
Your article just made it on Rushes show.
Rush reading this now.
Undoubtedly it's time we made changes, eh? /sarc
The reason why obesity is down in NV is because so many 20-somethings have been moving into the LV area - it's just a thinner age demographic.
I still fit into the uniform tailored for me in Basic Training from 20+ years ago.
I favor the little hot apple pie thingys myself.
A man sits on a bench outside a branch of McDonalds on the Beirut coastline, Thursday, Aug. 24, 2006. A ceasefire after the 34-day Israeli-Hezbollah conflict has been in effect since Aug.14, 2006. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
"Obesity now exceeds 25 percent in 13 states, which should sound some serious alarm bells"
...which apparently will be mistaken for dinner bells.
Not a problem:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1691832/posts
And, even better...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/search?s=fat+stem&q=quick&m=any&o=score&SX=44f479aee9df9128363fee241d75645047f56a6d
Where can I buy a ticket?
Give it a few more years.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.