This blows my mind...

[Steff]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060829/ap_on_..._state_rankings

 

 

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.

[Brian]

It may just be my mind frame, but I don't understand why some people are content with not working out or taking care of themselves. I'm FAR from the perfect looking human, but I maintain my weight and stay active.

Than there are some people who need to be educated. I see overweight people at the gym. They walk in, pedal on a bike for 10 minutes, than leave and go to McDonalds.

Edited August 29, 2006 by Brian

[Steff]

It may just be my mind frame, but I don't understand why some people are content with not working out or taking care of themselves. I'm FAR from the perfect looking human, but I maintain my weight and stay active.

Than there are some people who need to be educated. I see overweight people at the gym. They walk in, pedal on a bike for 10 minutes, than leave and go to McDonalds.

 

 

I just went to Wendy's to pick up some lunch. I got a plain grilled chicken filet and a small chili and barely got them both down. The woman in front of me got a double cheesburger with bacon, a biggie size fry and drink, and a frosty. I would explode if I ate all that food.

[AssHatSoxFan]

I just went to Wendy's to pick up some lunch. I got a plain grilled chicken filet and a small chili and barely got them both down. The woman in front of me got a double cheesburger with bacon, a biggie size fry and drink, and a frosty. I would explode if I ate all that food.

but you know what she was smart a got a diet drink i bet

[southsideirish71]

I just went to Wendy's to pick up some lunch. I got a plain grilled chicken filet and a small chili and barely got them both down. The woman in front of me got a double cheesburger with bacon, a biggie size fry and drink, and a frosty. I would explode if I ate all that food.

 

 

She probably had a diet coke also, because she is watching her weight.

 

Its real simple, and its hard for most people to understand. There is a proper amount of calories that your body is meant to run on for your body type/activity level. If you go over that, your body turns it into long term storage. Putting it on is very easy for most people, just eat more calorie wise than you are supposed to take in on a daily basis and sure enough with no activity you will put it on. However the amount of energy to burn that same weight put on is magnified a bunch. When you exercise in a good cardio range after say 20 minutes, your body then mines that storage and turns it into simple forms of glucose to run your system. Anything less than that and your body just uses what is in the blood supply.

 

So the lady chows that all down, drinks her diet coke and feels freshed that she didnt go over, and then walks at night for 10 minutes barely breaking a sweat and then gets confused that her exercise program isnt taking off the pounds.

[southsider2k5]

I just went to Wendy's to pick up some lunch. I got a plain grilled chicken filet and a small chili and barely got them both down. The woman in front of me got a double cheesburger with bacon, a biggie size fry and drink, and a frosty. I would explode if I ate all that food.

 

I would die of starvation if I ate that little of a lunch

[Iwritecode]

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

 

My company does this. The only problem is that I already drive an hour south to get to work. The gym they offer free membership to is another 15 minutes south. Not even considering the cost of gas, I wouldn't make it home until 7 PM or later. Yet they don't have anything to do with the YMCA that is 5 minutes away from my house...

 

_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.

 

I agree with this. Half of my neighborhood doesn't even have sidewalks. Just a gravel shoulder and a small drainage ditch.

[jasonxctf]

its sad. America is full of fat-asses.

 

that was one of the biggest shockers I saw when I traveled overseas. The food portions are smaller and people are much slimmer.

[Rowand44]

Obese is the way to go.

[Iwritecode]

It may just be my mind frame, but I don't understand why some people are content with not working out or taking care of themselves. I'm FAR from the perfect looking human, but I maintain my weight and stay active.

 

 

Two big reasons:

 

1. time

2. money

 

I don't have enough of either.

[Steff]

Two big reasons:

 

1. time

2. money

 

I don't have enough of either.

 

 

At your age it takes 30 minutes 3 times a week max. Actually, anything more than nothing is something.

 

Play with your kids outsidde a bit more.

 

It's free.

[LowerCaseRepublican]

I wake up at 5 am (I usually used to wake up at 6 for work) and get in an hour/hour and a half of exercise before showering/getting ready for work every day during the week and 8 am on Saturday. I get to work a bit early to get some stuff done with the extra time which works out both professionally and keeping my body together. Plus, my job allows us two hours after school in the weight room if we want to use it during the school week.

 

It's amazing some of the stuff I hear though when I'm eating fruit, drinking water and having a wheat bread sandwich with fresh meat/veggies as if it is something completely out there.

[GoodAsGould]

Right now im young(20) and I dont exercise and eat as much as I want and it has worked out for me. Im about 6'4 and weigh around 190ish. But if I ever begin to get fat... I think or at least I hope id make the neccesary changes in my life whether it be dieting or exercise or both to slim back down.

[DBAHO]

I have to say, just all of the advertising you guys have over there for Fast Food is just absolutely crazy.

 

And then you have so many people going through the drive - thru at these joints, because they're too lazy to get out of their cars just to get their food.

[Capn12]

Agree totally. I have spent parts of about 4 weeks this year over in the UK, and a couple things struck me while there...

 

#1) Fast food just doesnt exist in the glutton that it does here in the States. This country has made it WAY too easy for people to be lazy f***s, drive their car through a fast food drive through, get their order of cholesterol and calories supreme sized, with a F'n Diet Coke...cause that makes em feel better about what they ate.

#2) Portions overseas, well lets just say that you aren't going to have that sinking feeling in your stomach because you ate enough sausage to feed a small apartment complex. And it works once you are used to it!

 

I'll admit, I don't exercise worth a damn...BUT...right now my metabolism combined with the scaled back intake of food keeps me at about 180 lbs at age 29, the same size I've been for years.

[Jake]

I have to say, just all of the advertising you guys have over there for Fast Food is just absolutely crazy.

 

And then you have so many people going through the drive - thru at these joints, because they're too lazy to get out of their cars just to get their food.

 

haha never even thought of that. So many fat people would slim down just because their lazy asses would skip meals if there was no drive thru. That would be a good way to cut back.

[GoodAsGould]

Idonno about the portions of food argument... Whenever I go over-seas they seem to be actually bigger there than what I normally recieve at home.....