America -- A Weightier Nation by the Day

[hm0504]

Interesting CNN graphic on America's expanding waistlines:
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/fit.nation/obesity.map/

[hm0504]

Interesting CNN graphic on America's expanding waistlines:
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/fit.nation/obesity.map/

[nudenwv]

yes! obesity in the mountain state is at an all time high. mainly due to the fact in our area there is no recreation. the city is pretty poor due to the steel mill being sold so much and they have cut so much the county is loosing money. when i was growing up if you were inside on a nice sunny day you got hollard at. you don't see adults let alone kids outdoors today. i blame this on electronic games and air conditioning. but hey,look at me. i'm on the computer and it's nice out. hey wait a minute - i'm NUDE! inactivity has become a way of life.

[Croydon]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by nudenwv:
yes! obesity in the mountain state is at an all time high. mainly due to the fact in our area there is no recreation. the city is pretty poor due to the steel mill being sold so much and they have cut so much the county is loosing money. when i was growing up if you were inside on a nice sunny day you got hollard at. you don't see adults let alone kids outdoors today. i blame this on electronic games and air conditioning. but hey,look at me. i'm on the computer and it's nice out. hey wait a minute - i'm NUDE! inactivity has become a way of life. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Your above statement is exactly why Americans are fat. Blame everything and make excuses for being fat but never assert some responsibility.

I have no idea what steel mills not being in the town have to do with anything. Lack of recreation? I find that hard to believe. One living in the mountain states can pick up running, hiking, biking, joining a gym. If none of these appeal to them, get involve in something physical that they enjoy.

Yes we live in a country of technology. Yes, we have more things to distract us (i.e. tv, video games, computers). To assert blame on that for being fat is lazy.

At the end of the day, YOUR choices led to the extra lbs. I have a computer, I have tv and other things to distract. I even have a job where I work about 9-10hrs/day.

Why am I not fat? This morning I got up at 6AM, got to my gym at 6:30 and did 45 min of cardio and weights. In addition, I ate sensibly. That is my weekly routine. On weekends, I am lazy and eat what I want. This is how I have maintained my fit body.

No matter how busy our lives may be, it isn't going to kill us to put in some exercise and eat a little less.

Don't blame the TV, don't blame McD (we all know that stuff is bad), don't blame the restaurants for the large portions, don't blame fact that you work long hours. Being fit and healthy is a personal choice.

Many Americans are fat, lazy and totally oblivious to how fat they are

In 15yrs, the obesity rate among kids will be 50%.

Today's generation of young kids will be the first to die before their parents

[nudeM]

True, there are electronics that entertain our minds and T.V. to entertain our interests, but those are just excuses. People have to take their own responsibilities and find ways to stay slim and trim on their own. It's easy to place blame, but one must use their own judgement for their own diet and exercise programs. http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/smoking.gif

[fred950]

Sorry, I don't place any faith in 'obeseity' reports that use the BMI as the basis. BMI is nothing more than the ratio of hieght to weight. Period. It makes NO distinction between bone mass, fat or muscle. Junk science at its worst.
While I don't doubt the increasingly inert lifestyles and job duties play a part, I would like to see the chart using body fat percentages. According to BMI, Brett Favre is obese. Randy Moss is obese. Hulk Hogan is mobidly obese. See my point? The real reason 'obeseity' is up is the deffinition of 'obeseity' changed.

[MJ_KC]

According to the National Institutes of Health BMI calculator, I have a BMI of 24.6 which is at the upper end of normal. I could still stand to lose at least 5 pounds, after losing a little over 10. I would feel even better if I could take off just a little more.

The calculation shows that I would have to weigh almost 200 pounds to be considered obese. I would feel absolutely miserable if I weighed that much.

[Croydon]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by fred950:
Sorry, I don't place any faith in 'obeseity' reports that use the BMI as the basis. BMI is nothing more than the ratio of hieght to weight. Period. It makes NO distinction between bone mass, fat or muscle. Junk science at its worst.
While I don't doubt the increasingly inert lifestyles and job duties play a part, I would like to see the chart using body fat percentages. According to BMI, Brett Favre is obese. Randy Moss is obese. Hulk Hogan is mobidly obese. See my point? The real reason 'obeseity' is up is the deffinition of 'obeseity' changed. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
We are not talking about BMI are we?

The topic is about obesity epidemic in America. The many studies that have come out and continue come out is showing that obesity is becoming a huge problem in America.

The problem became more apparent to me when I moved. I recently moved to Washington DC. I was living in NYC before. In NYC, I see fat people daily but it was never an overwhelming thing as many NYers are not fat. NYers walk walk walk walk. Walking 50 blocks to NYers is nothing.

In addition, I consider NYC very different from the rest of the US. I wouldn't consider NYC "middle america".

Now, living in DC. I am reminded DAILY how bad obesity is in America. I see more than enough obese people every day. I sometimes find myself dropping my jaw in shock and shake my head in disbelief at the size of some I see. It is absolutely amazing to see how badly people let themselves go. I can not fathom it.

[nacktman]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by fred950:
Sorry, I don't place any faith in 'obeseity' reports that use the BMI as the basis. BMI is nothing more than the ratio of hieght to weight. Period. It makes NO distinction between bone mass, fat or muscle. Junk science at its worst.
While I don't doubt the increasingly inert lifestyles and job duties play a part, I would like to see the chart using body fat percentages. According to BMI, Brett Favre is obese. Randy Moss is obese. Hulk Hogan is mobidly obese. See my point? The real reason 'obeseity' is up is the deffinition of 'obeseity' changed. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Here, here! http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/applause.gif

BMI is nothing but a marketing technique for gyms, diet pills and supplements and other aspects of the multi-billion dollar a year "weight loss" industry that has been adopted by the insurance industry to further deny benefits.

While being obese is not a good thing by any means the ever changing definition is insane.

Weight loss is simple folks. It takes 10 calories per day per pound to maintain the human body, period. This applies to any "weight".

To reduce "weight" and maintain that reduction the pituitary gland has to be reprogrammed ... and that my friends is where the 'simple' part of weight loss runs afoul of the bodie's 'survival mode' and which leads to little to no loss and even to weight gain.

The problem is people want to lose the weight 'overnight' and the body says "No Way, Jose". Remember that 10 calorie thingy now.

A 250 pound person needs 2500 calories a day and their body will get them rest assured. Where it gets them is another question. Any calories over the 2500 will be stored as adipose tissue for energy reserves for times of famine (a hold over from evolution - and weight increases in the late fall and early winter, and no it's not just the holidays either, it's another hold over from evolution so that we could survive during the winter when food was scarce).

To reduce their weight the person only has to reduce their calorie intake (and yes activity helps a whole heckuva lot but is not required - at first, which is a good thing because some cannot be active until some weight has been lost and they can begin to be active and increase their activity as the lose more weight), the body well get the rest it needs until it realizes it doesn't need as much as the weight has begun to drop and will continue to drop until it has reprogrammed itself to the new mass parameters.

But prior to that internal realization the body will fight to maintain its current mass especially if the calorie intake is severely reduced at the start because the body equates this with scarcity of fuel and begins to store virtually all calories upon intake only using the bare minimal number of calories it can to sustain itself until it has reprogrammed itself with the new parameters ... which means it needs more calories due to the INCREASED weight it put on to thwart starvation.

That is why a 250 pound person should not begin any 'diet' of 1200 calories because they are doomed to failure from the start. A 2000 calorie daily intake would be better as the 500 calorie difference will be made up by the reserves in the body and the body will not fight a 500 calorie difference like it would a 1300 calorie difference. When one has reached the level of a 200 pound person then a decrease to 1500 calories and an increase in activity will increase the reduction and in less time until they reach the weight range they wish to maintain ... and yes I mean "weight range" as it will float between a high and a low average.

Another thing ... all those "lose up to 15 pounds in two days" diets out there, they work all right, they make you sh*t out the "up to 15 pounds" of partially digested and undigested food you and I have in our intestinal tract at any given moment, but you haven't lost any bodyweight in doing so.

Also, I have found that those 'beautiful people' obessed with other's obesity are in fact the 'sicker' of the two with more health problems as well as serious mental and social skills problems.

[usmc1]

Men who carry all that extra weight around their girth are displaying an indicator of early mortality. It really is that simple.

Now you can kvetch all you want about how obesity is measured but if you're lugging around a bunch of fat, it is going to kill you earlier than you would normally die. I see a lot of denial in some of the things written here. The simple and obvious truth is that one knows when one is carrying too much fat.

If a medical condition is not the problem, then one merely has to exercise (brisk walking is one of the best) eat properly, no more than a fist sized serving and no more than three servings (items) at any one meal, and emphasize at least five of those daily servings be fresh (not canned or processed) fruits and veggies.

You'll lose weight, feel better and live a healthier longer life.

Or you can continue to swill beer or soft drinks, suck on cigarettes, lard-*** around on the sofa watching re-runs of Raymond while stuffing yourself with fast foods and processed foods and wonder how you developed diabetes, jaundice, high-blood pressure, clogged arteries, or peripheral artery disease, macular degeneration, osteoarthritis, hemorrhoids, erectile dysfunction, dyspepsia, and slowing mental faculties to name just a few of the diseases and conditions brought on or exacerbated by obesity.

It is very simple, get off your *** and walk briskly for a mile or two each day and eat properly. You do not need gyms, equipment, or expensive or fad diets and food plans. You do not need to be body perfect or the model of self-discipline, and you may not develop a body like a Greek statue, but you will feel better.

Anything less than that and you need to be told and understand that you are committing systematic suicide. Or as me old granny used to say, "that fellow is just a diggin' his grave with a fork!"

[walter05]

I want to address a few issues raised.

1) The issue of the BMI. The link http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/healthy_weight.html will connect you with the Harvard School of Nutrition. It discusses the weight epidemic. It also discusses the BMI and the issue about athletes. It says that the BMI is an approximation.

The BMI is one measurement. Height, weight, and waist size also matter too as Harvard points out. The bottom line is that one may use these and/or any measurements to get an approximation of status.

2) The page lists some of the health consequences of being fat. It is clear that if one wants to be healthy and live a long time, having a healthy weight is an advantage.

3) I used to weigh close to 300 lbs. and I am 5'8". I took the weight off and have kept it off for four years. I now weigh 158 lbs. I would not mind weighing less.

I am working to improve health over time and any adjustments will be minor and slow. I am committed to continuing to work to improve my body and health. I will always attempt to find healthy ways to improve my health and work to be better.

Nactman, USMC1, and Croydon are correct on one simple fat. If you want to have a healthy weight, you must eat fewer calories and burn more. You also need to take a gradual approach. This way you can retrain your body that you have abused to help you rather than fight you.

4) You can blame the media, health clubs, measurements, etc. Take you clothes off, if you are wearing any and look in the mirror. Your naked body will show you if you are fat or not.

5) Anyone who wants to have a healthy weight only needs to do a few simple things. Stop pretending you are not fat and that your being fat may kill you, stop blaming others, take responsibility for your own health, commit to a gradual approach, eat fewer calories and a well balanced diet, and exercise more.

[DoctorSurferDude]

Obesity is a SERIOUS epidemic in America. Everybody knows that cigarettes and alcohol do harm and cause disease. But what has become almost invisible due to it's commonality is weight. And if you asked some health professionals, myself included, they would say that obesity is likely the largest insult to America's health, surpassing the damage of cigarettes or alcohol. Diabetes Type 2 is going to be a world of pain, and the epidemic is only at it's beginning. Obesity is the #1 underlying cause of Diabetes Type 2.

BMI is a calculation, an index. It places a person into a range, and while it's not 100%, it's certainly a useful tool.

The "Normal" range is not exactly a narrow target. The normal range of weight varies between 25 and 50 lbs. depending on height. So if you want to think of it in terms of a bell curve.....the big hump in the middle SHOULD be the range of normal. But not in this country...

Nearly 65% of Americans are either overweight or obese. Nearly 25% of America falls into the obese category, which is beyond overweight and roughly anything over 190 for somebody 5'9".

We not only live in a country of overeating, we live in a country of excuses, so the common excuse is that the scaling is off. But...consider this. If a bell curve is random, then those who are above a median point should match those below. As mentioned above, 65% of Americans sit above the normal range. When you compare that with the 2% who sit below the range of normal, then it becomes obvious we are dealing with a very heavily right-skewed bell curve.

Who is to blame? Ah yes...the blame game. The answer is simple... Everybody is responsible for themselves and their children. It is something we do to ourselves....and the only cure is to control what we are doing. If you are overweight, please please make an effort to change the patterns of eating. Consider it on par with the importance of quitting smoking or moderating drinking.

Here is an interesting article that highlights American consumerism in the food department.... Portion Distortion (http://www.mealsmatter.org/EatingForHealth/Topics/article.aspx?articleId=53)

And if you are wondering where you weigh in....

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e9/Body_mass_index_chart.svg/400px-Body_mass_index_chart.svg.png

[MrTruth]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Obesity is a SERIOUS epidemic in America. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

The question is why is obesity such a SERIOUS epidemic in America? I have researched answers to this question and have found some answers that most people do NOT want to hear. One of the main answers that I have found is that people do abuse food and use it as a pacifer for depression and unrealized expectations. Our nation is a nation of consumers. We are influenced by what we see around us and are easily influenced to believe in a world that is a fantasyland. This world includes people who are always thin, young, beautiful, wealthy, have a beautiful house, car, spouse, children, etc. People are influenced to believe that if only they spend more, then they will be happy. However, the reality is that money can NOT buy happiness. Happiness comes from within and is based upon a person's character. Notice that I am NOT talking about the basic necessities of life. I am talking about that which goes well beyond this. When people compare themselves to what they see as being normal or successful on television, they find themselves to be vastly inadequate. Thsi can lead to depression and the desire to rebel against the false images by smoking, excessive drinking, excessive eating, and other harmful habits. People, for the most part know that what they are doing is harmful to their health and that their bad habits will shorten their life. However, they either simple do not think about this or do not care and most definitely do not want to be nagged about it.

[nudenwv]

croydon: thanks for your input. the steel mill generated a lot to tax dollars that went back into the county. since the county lost revenue from them the parks and recreation dept. was cut. out of two public pools only one is in use and maintained by donated money. the community center is also operating on a donated budget. there you could swim,go to excersise room,play rahcet ball and basketball. they operate on limited hours dring the day. <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Croydon:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by nudenwv:
yes! obesity in the mountain state is at an all time high. mainly due to the fact in our area there is no recreation. the city is pretty poor due to the steel mill being sold so much and they have cut so much the county is loosing money. when i was growing up if you were inside on a nice sunny day you got hollard at. you don't see adults let alone kids outdoors today. i blame this on electronic games and air conditioning. but hey,look at me. i'm on the computer and it's nice out. hey wait a minute - i'm NUDE! inactivity has become a way of life. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Your above statement is exactly why Americans are fat. Blame everything and make excuses for being fat but never assert some responsibility.

I have no idea what steel mills not being in the town have to do with anything. Lack of recreation? I find that hard to believe. One living in the mountain states can pick up running, hiking, biking, joining a gym. If none of these appeal to them, get involve in something physical that they enjoy.

Yes we live in a country of technology. Yes, we have more things to distract us (i.e. tv, video games, computers). To assert blame on that for being fat is lazy.

At the end of the day, YOUR choices led to the extra lbs. I have a computer, I have tv and other things to distract. I even have a job where I work about 9-10hrs/day.

Why am I not fat? This morning I got up at 6AM, got to my gym at 6:30 and did 45 min of cardio and weights. In addition, I ate sensibly. That is my weekly routine. On weekends, I am lazy and eat what I want. This is how I have maintained my fit body.

No matter how busy our lives may be, it isn't going to kill us to put in some exercise and eat a little less.

Don't blame the TV, don't blame McD (we all know that stuff is bad), don't blame the restaurants for the large portions, don't blame fact that you work long hours. Being fit and healthy is a personal choice.

Many Americans are fat, lazy and totally oblivious to how fat they are

In 15yrs, the obesity rate among kids will be 50%.

Today's generation of young kids will be the first to die before their parents </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

[MrTruth]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">the steel mill generated a lot to tax dollars that went back into the county. since the county lost revenue from them the parks and recreation dept. was cut. out of two public pools only one is in use and maintained by donated money. the community center is also operating on a donated budget. there you could swim,go to excersise room,play rahcet ball and basketball. they operate on limited hours dring the day. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

This is an example of what I was referring to above when I referenced depression as a major factor of obesity. This town is a economically distressed community that is declining rather then growing. It is the exact opposite of what a growing and successful community is all about. As a result, people become depressed and use food as a means to abuse themselves. You can also be certain that the incidences of tobacco, alcohol, and drug abuse have also increased.

[MJ_KC]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by MrTruth:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">the steel mill generated a lot to tax dollars that went back into the county. since the county lost revenue from them the parks and recreation dept. was cut. out of two public pools only one is in use and maintained by donated money. the community center is also operating on a donated budget. there you could swim,go to excersise room,play rahcet ball and basketball. they operate on limited hours dring the day. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

This is an example of what I was referring to above when I referenced depression as a major factor of obesity. This town is a economically distressed community that is declining rather then growing. It is the exact opposite of what a growing and successful community is all about. As a result, people become depressed and use food as a means to abuse themselves. You can also be certain that the incidences of tobacco, alcohol, and drug abuse have also increased. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
People will tend to do self destructive things when they feel that they are no longer able to control their own future in any meaningful way. Loss of hope is a very bad thing for a person's health.

[MrTruth]

Just as an aside to this topic. For those who remember the Cu Chi Tunnels in Vietnam, it was hard enough, if not impossible for a Western sized man to squeeze into those tunnels. As anyone who has been there might recall, Western men are physically much larger then Vietnamese men. With the current obesity epidemic in America, any future enemy will use our physical size against us and we might be up against another enemy that will build an extensive series of tunnels that oversized American men will not be able to fit into.

[Fuzzy Nuts]

My wife and I, who are both Canadian often visiit various areas of the U.S. on holidays as we visit various naturist resorts. We cant help noticing that there are far too many over-weight Americans. Canada has its fair share also but not in the ratio of the States.
One of the reasons might be the extremely large servings served in restaurants. It has got so bad that rather then leave half a plate of food untouched my wife and I usually share an entree and just ask for an additional plate.
I guess I remember having to sit for a long time as I child looking at unwanted food on my plate. We were taught to clean-up our plates or we didn't leave the table. And if the wait was to long a reddened butt helped speed up the process! I think I would have a
really red butt if I had to eat all the food that was served to me on my plate in the average American resaturant.

This is not true in Canadian restaurants - actually the servings are quite small as a rule.

[usmc1]

In the U.S. a cooked hamburger patty used to be about the circumference of a coffee mug, pressed about as thick as a blanket so all the grease would drain out and served on a similarly sized bun, dressed with lettuce and tomato and mustard or ketchup to taste .

Now they are as thick as a drunk's tongue, circumference of a coffee can, two to three patties to a sandwich garnished with cheese slices, and strips of bacon, on huge thick buns made essentially of refined flour, lard, and sugar, and laden with oil based dressings.

We're fat because we eat fat; huge mounds of fatty foods, at home, while out, at work, while driving and we do not exercise.

Back when those hamburgers were normal size, we also used push mowers instead of riding mowers to do our lawns, we raked and swept instead of blowing, we washed our own cars instead of drive throughs.

Folks, there is a visible connection between your body fat and the mounds of fat you eat and the exercise you do not get. It is not theory, it is demonstrable <STRIKE>fat</STRIKE> (oops, a Freudian typo) fact.

[Croydon]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Fuzzy Nuts:
We cant help noticing that there are far too many over-weight Americans. Canada has its fair share also but not in the ratio of the States.
One of the reasons might be the extremely large servings served in restaurants. It has got so bad that rather then leave half a plate of food untouched my wife and I usually share an entree and just ask for an additional plate.
</div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Great points fuzzy.

The obesity epidemic didn't become apparent to me until I moved to Washington, DC from NYC. I cannot tell you how surprise I get EVERYDAY at the amount of fat people I see. It is one thing to see someone who is maybe 10-20lbs overweight but I am seeing more and more people 60 and even 100lbs overweight. Sometimes my jaw just drop at the site. I ask myself the same question over and over: "How can someone allow themselves to get that large?"

You are right, food portions are large at American restaurants. I didn't realize how much food we get at restaurants until I went to Europe. At European restaurants, the portions are small. I recall the first time I went to a restaurant in London and lamenting at how small the portion was. I tell you, after eating the meal, I was satisfied. I wasn't full but I was satisfied.

I believe the reason why food portions are large in U.S. is because consumers demand it. Americans want to get their monies worth. If they are spending $10 on an entree, they want $10 worth of food.

In addition to portions, I think a lot of Americans don't know when enough is enough. When I eat, I eat until I am satisfied. When I get to the point of feeling full, I know I am done. Whatever is left on my plate can be eaten later or the next day. I think many Americans do not know when to say, "I am full." When they feel full, they continue eating.

[usmc1]

Portions. Simple things are seldom the easiest thing. A healthy portion is a portion the size of an individual's balled-up fist. One should eat no more than nine portions per day. Five of those portions should be fresh (not canned or processed) fruits and vegetables. One should include grains and nuts in those portions.

One should eliminate red, fatty meats and substitute fresh fish and the occasional bit of poultry. And if one can, one should substitute soy milk for dairy and eat several servings of different soy products through the week.

One should walk a least 1 to 2 brisk miles a day, takes stairs instead of elevators and develop a spiritual concept where one can find peace away from the daily turmoil and stress. Don't internalize stress, it makes you reach for the sugary and salty stuff!

Do those few simple things, and you will lose excess weight, feel better and start to be able to fulfill your human promise and potential.

One should brown bag rather than eating out every day. The tendency is finish your plate, right? And to eat the bread sticks or hot mini loafs, along with that huge salad drenched in creamy (oil based) dressings. Bingo, you've slammed 3,000 calories at one sitting, then you get back in the car, a filter your way back to work through traffic and the a-hole in the beamer yakking on the cell phone who cuts you off and then flips you the bird.

So when you get back to work and about two hours later when your butt is dragging you drag yourself to the machines and get a cup of joe, or diet soda and an extra large Snickers bar.

[Bob S.]

As for children's obesity epidemic, the problems are the usual, sedentary lifestyles such as watching too much TV and playing on the computer or game systems, lack of outside playing such as riding bikes, swimming, playing, and eating too much of the wrong kind of food such as fast food and junk food.

Now fast food is just more convenient, even if it is more expensive than making food at home from scratch or nearly from scratch. That involves parents who have time to make meals for their children. School lunches are sometimes not much better.

Children need to be able to eat better foods. In these days, it is possible for people to be considered obese and malnourished.

As for the sedentary lifestyle, part of the blame for children not allowed to just bike with their friends' homes or biking with their friends all over town is the fear of the boogey man aka the child predator. Children must stay closer to home and if they must go to their friend's house, they will be driven there.

Bob S.

[usmc1]

News headline from last week, The majority of today's kids do not walk to school, they are bussed, car-pooled or taken by "mommy" or "daddy".

[walter05]

Fuzzy;

I go to Canada regularly. From what I have seen in restaurants in Calgary and the Greater Toronto area, portions in Canada are huge also.

It is important to remember some of the latest research is very helpful.

The Glycemic Index is important. One should have some carbohydrates every day. It does make a difference which ones. White bread is not better for you than cake. We should tend towards foods with low glycemic loads.

We should also get the right amount of fat and not too much. Healthy fats such as fish oils and olive oil are good for is in the right portions.

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/pyramids.html connects to the Harvard school of nutrition. Dr. Walter Willett has come up with a different food pyramid that is very helpful. His book "Eat, Drink, and be Healthy" is excellent. My family has used his guidance to change the way we eat.

Serving kids at home requires planning. Macaroni and cheese is high glycemic load with bad fat. Kids eating a lot of French fries, etc. are also getting the wrong foods. It is important to plan meals for the kids so that they will also learn to eat healthy.

Experiment with seasonings. It is possible to make healthy foods taste great. This is vital. Don't deprive yourself. Learn to enjoy healthy foods.

I currently spend 45 minutes on a treadmill six days a week and cover over 4.2 miles each day. I also do weight work four days a week at lunch. Healthy exercise is important for health also.

Instead of worrying about all of America, take the simple approach. Look at your naked body in the mirror. If you are too fat, decide to improve your health.

If your kids are fat, work with them to improve theirs also. (If you are fat, you are probably teaching them to be fat. I am amazed how someone who is over 100 lbs. over weight can blame restaurants for the fat kids.)

I have been there. Change is possible and you will feel great. Feel free to PM me if you want some private encouragement.

[shomymojo]

Well...just as I feared...the chart says I am still OBESE...5'11''...and 250 lbs...but of course...I am also..."Big Boned"...LOL...and all those years of playing sports and working out...with weights...( or was it that beer & pizza diet from college)...but the good news is..I gave up drinking beer 3 months ago..and have lost 25 lbs...and am now walking every morning on my treadmill..so I just might live after all...Cheers... http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/bonk.gif

[Croydon]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Bob S.:
As for children's obesity epidemic, the problems are the usual, sedentary lifestyles such as watching too much TV and playing on the computer or game systems, lack of outside playing such as riding bikes, swimming, playing, and eating too much of the wrong kind of food such as fast food and junk food.

Now fast food is just more convenient, even if it is more expensive than making food at home from scratch or nearly from scratch. That involves parents who have time to make meals for their children. School lunches are sometimes not much better.

Children need to be able to eat better foods. In these days, it is possible for people to be considered obese and malnourished.

As for the sedentary lifestyle, part of the blame for children not allowed to just bike with their friends' homes or biking with their friends all over town is the fear of the boogey man aka the child predator. Children must stay closer to home and if they must go to their friend's house, they will be driven there.

Bob S. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Couldn't have agreed more. As someone who used to be an overweight child, growing up fat was quite difficult.

My parents were workaholics who were very focused on their careers. They both are in medicine and love their jobs. My mom is a nurse and my dad is a doctor. I recall a teen, going days without seeing my parents. I contribute my weight issue as a kid to lack of activities.

After school, I would spend evening with my nanny doing nothing but homework, tv, and video games.

Unfortunately, today's kids have parents who are so busy with work that they don't have someone to ensure they get physical activity and eat a healthy meal every day. Parents today work a lot and a lot are feeling guilty for not spending time with their children and being an active part of their lives. So what do they do? To rid themselves to guilt, they buy their kids all the electronic gadgets and video games. These kids then spend beautiful days and after school playing games and watching tv.

Being overweight as a kid is no easy life. In addition to health problems, an overweight kid has to deal with teasing and self esteem issues. What kind of life is that? I honestly can not understand how a parent can watch their kid suffer like that.

Thankfully for me, I lost the weight when I entered college. I became determined to lose weight and placed a lot of time and energy in making it happen. I also promised myself to NEVER EVER EVER allow myself to be fat again. I think this is why I am so dedicated to working out and careful about weight. I never want to have to go through the hell and embarassment of being a fat person.

Like many people who lost a lot of weight, there is always a fear that you may gain weight again. I guess my fear explains my aversion towards overweight people.

[walter05]

Croydon;

Congratulations on your accomplishment. Not only do you feel better about yourself, but also you probably will do so for a long healthy life.

[MoonShadow]

Yes, congratulations to you Croydon.

However, of all people who should have compassion for overweight people, I would think you would rather than an aversion to them. You have been there, done that and yet cannot have any compassion?

[nacktman]

One must remember that 'overweight' is a relative term and cannot be applied as a blanket.

Yes, excess weight is not 'healthy' - but what is 'excess weight'. Weight can and does vary widely among people who ARE healthy.

Yes, losing and maintaining the loss of 'excess weight' is a great thing - but how this is accomplished can be more detrimental to one's health than the excess weight.

No one wants to be "fat" however, genetics, lifestyle and choices made all play a role.

Like all things human, obesity begins in the brain and is controlled there (see my post earlier on this thread).

There have been some wonderful ideas and methods for a healthy and/or healthier lifestyle put forth on this thread ... and there are much more. However the tone and wording of some posts have the negative rather than the positive affect upon reading them and the effect of this is to make those needing support and encouragement to feel pressured and nagged as well as looked down upon.

I stated earlier that most of the "beautiful people" (either through good genes or having worked at it), I have met are less healthy, both in mind and in body, than those I have met that are the "not-so-beautiful people". So, there is a trade off and that trade off is primarily in the brain (there is that brain thing again), as the perceptions of what is and is not obese are formed by at times very warped ideas and ideals. Also some of those who have "worked at" being one of the "beautiful people" have in fact killed themselves and are not aware of it with forcing the body to do things it doesn't want to do ... chronic cardiac and pulmonary problems are actually higher among the "beautiful people" than among the "not-so-beautiful people", so are chronic metabolic disorders. Not to mention instances of mental disorders ranging from mild 'aversion(s)' to severe mental illness to insanity are all higher in the 'beautiful people". Betcha they don't tell you that in the "beautiful people" handbook.

Lose excess weight for yourself and your health not for any idea or ideal others have for you, and stop the weight loss at what is comfortable for you and the optimum for your health - it is not as the insurance company charts indicate either. If you use those you will be woefully UNDERWEIGHT and more likely develop those health problems I mentioned above.

[Croydon]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by MoonShadow:
Yes, congratulations to you Croydon.

However, of all people who should have compassion for overweight people, I would think you would rather than an aversion to them. You have been there, done that and yet cannot have any compassion? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
You are right Moon. Of all people, I should have compassion for ovweight people, but I don't. I am unsure what I feel towards fat people. I can say that when I see an obese person on the street, I shake my head in disbelief because I can not understand how can someone live like that. A part of me feels badly for them because I can understand the difficulty but another part me feel is disgusted. Disgusted because I don't understand why a fat person must live that way and why he/she isn't addressing the problem.

When it comes to fat children, I feel anger. Anger at them and anger at the parents.

I realize that it is wrong of me to feel the way that I do.

Like a lot of former overweight/obese person may tell you, YOU NEVER forget your fat days and for a lot of us, we sometimes see ourselves as fat. Even though I lost the weight and in good shape, I sometimes feel like I am that fat kid I used to be. In fact, I REFUSE to go to nude beach or resort if I am not in my best shape. Despite being thin, I am still self conscious about my body. It is feeling that will never go away b/c you never forget how life used to be.

I realize my aversion towards fat people has a lot to do with my issues of being fat in my youth. I may be projecting that hatred and self loathing onto others.

It still stands that I don't understand why people allow themselves to live that way. Why children are so overweight. Do you know the current generation of kids will be the first to die before their parents?

[Journeyman]

Many children are overweight because their parent(s) is/are too busy to be able to prepare meals that are nutritious and healthy, and/or the lunches being provided by schools are high in fat, sugar & carbs and are unhealthy foods in general.

Kids can't be blamed for imitating the bad eating habits their parents or older siblings have. They cannot buy their own, more nutritious foods, 'cos they don't have the income (or knowledge) to do so.

I do advocate compassion, especially for children who find themselves at an unhealthy weight. Adults in the same boat? I don't know.

I think that research is still being done to understand how there are metabolic and genetic influences on weight, and perhaps the person simply has no control over persistent poundage.

[nacktman]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> Do you know the current generation will be the first to die before their parents? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

That is not exactly true.
Every generation since the dawn of man has had a higher mortality rate among its youth than its adults until the "Greatest Generation" when the numbers evened out to a degree ... remember that was only 90 years ago there were thousands of generations before that were not so 'evened' out and the "Baby Boomer" generation is the only generation of which we can trace fully that reversed the trend. But the reversal has not been sustained.

Until the 20th century premature mortality among humans was extremely high with at times less than a third of those born reaching ten years of age before death and a full grown adult in their prime was a fifteen year old and was really beating the odds to make it to twenty (Granted this was 30,000 odd years ago or so).
Even 500 years ago in parts of Europe only 4 of 10 made it to ten years old in other parts it was still close to only 3 of 10, and a fifteen year old was still considered an adult in their prime,but by then if one did not die from wounds in the constant warfare of the era one could expect to live to about 35 or so. Remember there are always exceptions ... Ellenor of Aquitaine (mother to Richard III aka The Lion Heart and to Prince John of Robin Hood fame as well as Henry her eldest), lived to be better than 80 years old in the early middle ages.

And the obesity rate prior to the 20th century was pretty much nil but that did not mean they were any more healthy, in most cases less so.

The need for a high birth rate higher than the mortality rate was what contributed the the high mortality rate the most for women which in turn raised the mortality rate as fewer women because of death in childbirth meant less children and less chance for continued human existence. However good ol' Ma Nature stepped in and set up a female to male birth ratio in which out of every 100 births at least 52 are female (some areas it is higher) this ratio has held for the thousands of years man has walked the planet. Even today the Earth's total population is 52% female and 48% male.

But even this doesn't change the cruel fact that in parts of the world today it is still an average of 4 of 10 making it to their tenth birthday.

[walter05]

Nactman;

More boys are born than girls. http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/fs050614.htm will connect to CDC statistics that show this.

The higher mortality rates of males over females is why by adulthood, females outnumber males.

Croydon;

It is important to feel pride in what you accomplished. But don't hate what you were. If you don't acknowledge that you were overweight, you can't take pride in overcoming it.

I will admit to feeling sadness when I see very overweight people. I feel sad that another human being will probably be sicker and die younger. However, I don't hate them.

I don't smoke. I choose not be around anyone who smokes while they are smoking. Even while the person is not smoking, the smoke breath and smoke clothes are offensive to me. However, I don't HATE the smoker.

Some of the smartest and friendliest people I know are smokers, fat, or both. I am sad about the consequences of their behavior. However, that does not prevent me from acknowledging their other qualities and admiring them as people.

I am impressed with what you have accomplished. However, I sense a lot of self-loathing at what you were. You need to let go of that. You were a wonderful person when you were fat. You have accomplished a lot in reaching a healthier weight. You should be proud of what you have accomplished.

When you are really proud of yourself and admire yourself, you love yourself. When you love yourself, you will not feel the hate.

[DoctorSurferDude]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by nacktman:
One must remember that 'overweight' is a relative term and cannot be applied as a blanket.
</div></BLOCKQUOTE>

That is true....it is however a clinical term. Although....clinically it's a "PC" term.

There are many body builders, etc. who if you calculate their BMI will fall into the overweight category...although they are completely healthy.

The problem is if you use terms like fat, out of shape, pudgy, thick...people don't respond well. So we stick to "overweight", although I wouldn't even worry about calculating a BMI on a guy or girl who's biceps are the size of my brain.

[nacktman]

Walter, the CDC numbers are for the USA alone and more male children are born in the USA (currently it was not always the case). The natural ratio is 52 to 48 female to male and it holds true in the rest of the world.

So, Doc, you wouldn't calculate my BMI because I have 21" biceps, hummm?! http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/eusa_dance.gif

[hm0504]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by nacktman:
Walter, the CDC numbers are for the USA alone and more male children are born in the USA (currently it was not always the case). The natural ratio is 52 to 48 female to male and it holds true in the rest of the world.

So, Doc, you wouldn't calculate my BMI because I have 21" biceps, hummm?! http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/eusa_dance.gif </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I thought it was a higher proportion of males than females born:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_ratio

[nacktman]

Albinus the 'ratio of 105' is misleading and if you looked at the two charts on the wiki-page (and do not trust wikipedia as far as you can throw it, BTW), you would see that that number doesn't hold up even on their on page.

One can always parse the numbers into individual contexts i.e., countries, racial groups, culture, etc. and 'show' a higher birth rate of either gender and do the same with life expectancy of each gender to justify why more females than males are living as adults ... but the fact remains that out of every hundred people alive today in any age grouping (when taking the entire human population in to the accounting), 52 are female and 48 are male.

The biggest fallacy of the 'Life expectancy' argument is that it forgets that until the 20th century males if not killed by acts of violence as a rule lived longer than females (again there are always exceptions).
Remember at the time of 'discovery' of the "new world" a female was considered an old maid at 15 whereas a male was considered in the prime of life at 15 ... because the female had a life expectancy of 0 to maybe 10 more years on average depending on how many children she had with the odds she would die in childbirth at better than 60% and the male had 0 to about 20 or so more years life expectancy depending on earlier death by violence.

Both male and female were/are subject to premature death by violence and by violence I mean; war, famine, disease, overburdening toils and other such things as to contravene in their existence. What is truly funny is that for all our 'advances' those same said 'acts of violence' are still our bane to this day. For the females out there, they still have the extra risk of death during childbirth just as they always have, even today (though greatly reduced in some areas - not so reduced in other areas).