Adult Obesity Continues Growing Trend!
American adults continue to grow around the waistline. The bottom line about obesity in the United States is that this condition expanded in 31 states of the union in 2006. This fact is provided from the fourth annual report “F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America, 2007.”
The State of Mississippi topped the list for the highest rate of obesity in the country for the third year in a row. In fact, it became the first state to reach an obesity rate of over 30% (at 30.6%). Colorado was named the leanest state again this year but did have an adult obesity increase from 16.9 to 17.6 percent. Twenty-two states experienced an increase for the last 2 years in a row. No state showed a decrease. In 1991, none of the states exceeded a 20% obesity rate.
A new public survey also featured in the report found that 85% of Americans believe that obesity is a national epidemic and that may point to something positive according to Jeff Levi, Executive Director of the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH), the publisher of the report.
“There has been a breakthrough in terms of drawing attention to the obesity epidemic. Now we need a breakthrough in terms of policies and results,” said Levi. “Poor nutrition and physical inactivity are robbing America of our health and productivity.”
Lack of exercise is certainly one of the leading causes of the increased size of Americans. According to the report, 22% of American adults report that they do not engage in any physical activity. Mississippi has the highest rate of inactivity at 31.6%, and Minnesota had the lowest rate of inactivity at 15.4%.
As for what to do about it, 81% of people surveyed said that the government should get involved and take a role in addressing this obesity problem. Majorities strongly support government working on proposals to expand education programs about healthy living, providing low-cost access to exercise programs and reducing the marketing of unhealthy food.
States with the highest obesity trend:
- Mississippi**
- West Virginia*
- Alabama
- Louisiana
- South Carolina**, Tennessee*
- Kentucky**
- Arkansas
- Indiana, Michigan*, Oklahoma**
- Missouri**, Texas
- Georgia
- Ohio**
- Alaska
- North Carolina**
- Nebraska**
- North Dakota
- Iowa, South Dakota**
- Wisconsin**
- Pennsylvania, Virginia*
- Illinois, Maryland**
- Kansas*
- Minnesota
- Delaware**
- Oregon**
- Idaho, Washington**
- Maine*
- Florida**
- Wyoming**
- California
- Nevada*
- New Hampshire**, New York
- Washington D.C., New Jersey**
- New Mexico**
- Arizona
- Utah
- Montana
- Rhode Island**
- Connecticut**, Hawaii*
- Vermont
- Massachusetts**
- Colorado*.
While the government gets to work on this plan, which 81% of people think is necessary, most Americans might start with a good old fashioned “push back from the table.” Eating less and exercising more might be the key slenderizing program most people really need.
NOTE: States with a statistically significant increase for one year get one (*) and those with a significant increase for 2 years running get (**).
There’s no doubt in my mind that this is a “big problem!”
But waiting for the government to do something about solving it is just unrealistic. “It ain’t gonna happen!”
In America, we don’t learn how the body works and what it needs to be healthy in a simple, comprehensible way. There is little, if any public education about nutrition or how physical activity, sleep and stress management are the four fundamental factors in good physical health!
And even if the government tried to take action on handling this situation, it would be a waste of time and money. Why?
Because our health is a personal issue. Learning what it takes to have a healthy body and incorporating those activities into our lives can only work if it is done on our own self-determinism!
The current conventional healthcare model uses drugs and surgery as the “solution” to physical problems. That works in emergency situations, but sucks for improving and maintaining good health.
Obesity isn’t the only health epidemic these days. And the basic source of these problems is the absence of honest information about what’s really needed for vibrant health plus all the misleading, false and confusing data that exists right now.
The solution right now is having good, easy to understand information about nutrition, exercise, good sleep and stress management that individuals can actually USE to take charge of their own bodies and health.
It’s our body. We’ll make the most progress when we are individually empowered to make rational decisions about our own health!
Sincerely,
B. B. Martin
Editor
http://www.improving-health-and-energy.com