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F …as in Fat

by bhealthy on July 7, 2009

 

 

 

For the past two consecutive years, 48% of the States in America saw a rise in obesity. Not one state in the U.S.A had any decrease in the rate of obesity as of August 2008. After reading the Trust for America’s Health 5th Annual “F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America” report, I couldn’t help but share the information found through this CDC survey and my thoughts as well. 

In every single state except Colorado, at least 20% of adults are obese. If this wasn’t alarming enough, 44.4% of children in Mississippi are obese. In case that did not “hit home”, this indicates nearly half of all the children in that state are obese!

I live in the 16th most obese state in America, North Carolina, which had obesity rates rise for the 3rd year in a row. Approximately 9% of North Carolinians have Type 2 Diabetes, a disease directly associated with obesity.

 

The future of America depends on the health of our country, which unfortunately has a society that is more concerned with the death of alleged child-molesting, cosmetic-enhanced Pop-stars and adultery-committing NFL players than it is with solving the obesity epidemic or economic crisis for that matter.

 

Our health care costs have been increasing due to this obesity epidemic and even though communities have started taking action, the country’s response has been close to nothing. While acknowledgement of the issue is wide-spread, implementation of helpful policies and programs are lacking. Some of these beneficial programs include:

  • - Ensuring every adult and child has access to coverage for preventive medical services, including nutrition and obesity counseling and screening for obesity-related diseases, such as type 2 diabetes
  • - Increasing the number of programs available in communities, schools, and childcare settings that help make nutritious foods more affordable and accessible and provide safe and healthy places for people to engage in physical activity; and
  • - Screenings for Body Mass Index of children and adolescents. Twenty states have passed requirements for body mass index (BMI) screenings of children and adolescents or have passed legislation requiring other forms of weight-related assessments in schools. Five years ago, only four states had passed screening requirements. BMI is a basic guideline for how healthy your weight is based on your height & age.

 

Are you overweight? Do you know what your BMI is?
Check out the chart below to find out…
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You can also calculate it more specifically here: http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-cholesterol/bmicalc.jsp and use these guidelines from The American Diabetic Association’s Categories for Body Mass Index (BMI):

Category = BMI

  • Underweight = <18.5
  • Normal weight = 18.5-24.9
  • Overweight = 25-29.9
  • Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater

 

The F as in Fat report is a follow up analysis of a survey done by the CDC. For more information , you can visit this link

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  • http://livinghealthyintherealworld.wordpress.com Sagan

    Scary, isn’t it? Thanks for linking to the report.

  • http://broccolihut.wordpress.com Caroline

    It really is tragic that despite so many valiant efforts, our country is still getting fatter. It disappoints me so much to live in the 2nd most obese state, Alabama. I hope the future is more promising.

  • http://www.insideiamdancing.wordpress.com insideiamdancing

    That’s really scary- and yet, at the sime time, the diet industry/mass of fad diets around has grown tremendously over the years. I wonder how many people who are obese are so in part to the influx of bizarre diet/health messages we get? I also wonder how the economy has affected this- partly due to the cost (partly misconceptions) about healthier food options (ie, compare what’s on the McDonalds $1 menu to the cost of a McDonalds salad) but partly due to the impact stress has on eating/exercise habits.

  • http://runsrests.blogspot.com/ Mia {runs and rests}

    Scary and sad. I wish we had the answers but I am hopeful that things get better.

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  • http://www.feedbetweenthelines.blogspot.com Caitlin

    Nice (and necessary) post. The more we put this info out there, the better off everyone will be. Sometimes (well actually all the time) I wonder why this isn’t on the top of all the news media and primetime journalism shows? We are a little bassackwards as a nation aren’t we?

  • http://sarawithanhishealthy.wordpress.com Sarah W.

    My BMI is 25, it has improved from 27 a few months ago but I’m still “overweight”. Working on that! Sitting pretty at 144 down from a high this year of 152 which on my 5’4 frame is heavy!

    The BMI charts aren’t the most accurate, because if you lift weights and have a decent amount of muscle on you, you will weigh more, thus increasing your BMI.

    What matters MORE are your measurements, ESPECIALLY in the abdominal area. But BMI is a good measurement for the average american – just not for body builders or athletes with muscle :-p

  • laurendiana

    My BMI is like 19-20. woohoo! ha ha. I haven’t been weighing, but that is my guess.
    I think when we were at PSU it was like 24.

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