Waistlines continue to grow in U.S.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press Writer

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.

"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 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.

"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.

___

On the Net:

Trust for America's Health: http://healthyamericans.org

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov

[hockeygal 0]

mmmmmmm..... biscuits and gravy......

[dalegg 143]

_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 only place most people are going to start walking to is McDonald's. Maybe we should make them pay for the sidewalks.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

mmmmmmm..... biscuits and gravy......

oh no....

[hockeygal 0]

eek!

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.

I realize there is a lot more to it than personal choice, but one of the reasons I got excited by the biscuits is that I usually have fruit and yogurt and a hard boiled egg for breakfast! And I go to the gym regularly.

On the flip side, I also got a deal at the gym due to where I work, and I have access to inexpensive fruits and veggies. Makes the personal choice thing a lot easier.

[Ban Hammer 13,342]

[one...two...tree 2,762]

eek!

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.

I realize there is a lot more to it than personal choice, but one of the reasons I got excited by the biscuits is that I usually have fruit and yogurt and a hard boiled egg for breakfast! And I go to the gym regularly.

On the flip side, I also got a deal at the gym due to where I work, and I have access to inexpensive fruits and veggies. Makes the personal choice thing a lot easier.

Oh, I love biscuits and gravy as much as the next person - God played a cruel joke when He decided to make everything that's bad for us taste so good. Just like Heroin - I hear the stuff feels marvelous, but the side effects convince me to stay away.

[Arazia 0]

There are a lot of reasons for obesity. I'm overweight myself and it has little to do with scarfing down mcdonalds. If I eat there, it's generally a salad and diet coke. If you look at my entire family, we are all overweight, and a good deal of it has to do with genetics. There is also a number of medical conditions which can cause obesity.

For instance, my mother went on a diet when she was my age and got down to an 'acceptable' weight of 145lbs for her height. This caused her a lot of medical problems. Her doctor actually told her that she'd lost -too- much weight and to get herself up to around 180lbs (which is clinically overweight) and stay there.

I just wish people would think before they judge people. Overweight doesn't mean you're lazy or a slob or anything of that nature, and it makes it worse when the whole world is laughing at us as if we're the butt of some sort of sick joke.

[Ban Hammer 13,342]

Oh, I love biscuits and gravy as much as the next person - God played a cruel joke when He decided to make everything that's bad for us taste so good. Just like Heroin - I hear the stuff feels marvelous, but the side effects convince me to stay away.

everything i like is illegal, immoral, or fattening

[one...two...tree 2,762]

There are a lot of reasons for obesity. I'm overweight myself and it has little to do with scarfing down mcdonalds. If I eat there, it's generally a salad and diet coke. If you look at my entire family, we are all overweight, and a good deal of it has to do with genetics. There is also a number of medical conditions which can cause obesity.

For instance, my mother went on a diet when she was my age and got down to an 'acceptable' weight of 145lbs for her height. This caused her a lot of medical problems. Her doctor actually told her that she'd lost -too- much weight and to get herself up to around 180lbs (which is clinically overweight) and stay there.

I just wish people would think before they judge people. Overweight doesn't mean you're lazy or a slob or anything of that nature, and it makes it worse when the whole world is laughing at us as if we're the butt of some sort of sick joke.

Coming from a family of 5 skinny boys, I'm the only 'thick' one and I've gone up and down with my weight throughout my life. But I do know that genetics only play a part in someone's overall weight. Gaining fat only comes from eating more calories than you burn - there's no way around that fact. The public joking and scorn is because we have an obesity epidemic in this country due to our poor diets and sedentary lifestyles, and some people are quite comfortable with making that lifestyle choice.

[dalegg 143]

[garya505 2]

There are a lot of reasons for obesity. I'm overweight myself and it has little to do with scarfing down mcdonalds. If I eat there, it's generally a salad and diet coke. If you look at my entire family, we are all overweight, and a good deal of it has to do with genetics. There is also a number of medical conditions which can cause obesity.

For instance, my mother went on a diet when she was my age and got down to an 'acceptable' weight of 145lbs for her height. This caused her a lot of medical problems. Her doctor actually told her that she'd lost -too- much weight and to get herself up to around 180lbs (which is clinically overweight) and stay there.

I just wish people would think before they judge people. Overweight doesn't mean you're lazy or a slob or anything of that nature, and it makes it worse when the whole world is laughing at us as if we're the butt of some sort of sick joke.

Oh, here we go again!

[Arazia 0]

There are a lot of reasons for obesity. I'm overweight myself and it has little to do with scarfing down mcdonalds. If I eat there, it's generally a salad and diet coke. If you look at my entire family, we are all overweight, and a good deal of it has to do with genetics. There is also a number of medical conditions which can cause obesity.

For instance, my mother went on a diet when she was my age and got down to an 'acceptable' weight of 145lbs for her height. This caused her a lot of medical problems. Her doctor actually told her that she'd lost -too- much weight and to get herself up to around 180lbs (which is clinically overweight) and stay there.

I just wish people would think before they judge people. Overweight doesn't mean you're lazy or a slob or anything of that nature, and it makes it worse when the whole world is laughing at us as if we're the butt of some sort of sick joke.

Oh, here we go again!

Well, excuse me for having a difference of opinion.

[no name 1]

But I do know that genetics only play a part in someone's overall weight. Gaining fat only comes from eating more calories than you burn - there's no way around that fact.

Yep. Genetics are worldwide & you don't see half as many fat people in walking cities (NYC, Chicago, etc) or in Europe. My fiance can't even fit in American clothes, they're all WAY too big.

Laziness sucks!

[anca 0]

But I do know that genetics only play a part in someone's overall weight. Gaining fat only comes from eating more calories than you burn - there's no way around that fact.

Yep. Genetics are worldwide & you don't see half as many fat people in walking cities (NYC, Chicago, etc) or in Europe. My fiance can't even fit in American clothes, they're all WAY too big.

Laziness sucks!

you are right. I'm from Europe 5'5 and 120 pounds.I'm my home country I was considered a medium, in usa I'm a small, sometimes an xsmall. in my home country people walk a lot, to work, supermarkets etc and there is not so many pleces where they sell fastfood,a lot of people grow veggies and fruits in there backyard so they can have acces to healty stuff all the time.the first really overweight person that I've seen was in NY.