July 18, 2008

Bigger Fatter America

Obesity is based on the body mass index, a calculation using height and weight. A 5-foot, 9-inch adult who weighs 203 pounds would have a BMI of 30, which is considered the threshold for obesity. Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee lead the nation when it comes to obesity.

The CDC put the adult obesity rate at 34 percent in 2005 and 2006. I wonder when Peolosi will declare it a crises...

A study, published in the July 17, 2008 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine made headlines seeming to state that a low-carbohydrate is the best for health. The Dr. Robert C. and Veronica Atkins Research Foundation funded the study

So whats to do? The price of food going up will help, I guess. Higher gas prices means not driving and walking and bike riding more? Still obesity is rampant among the poor, chances are their habits will not change.

Tax breaks for the fit? Higher premiums for the not-so-fit? Government food centers that carefully administer the right amount of calories and exercise in some kind of a fat internment camp? Re-instate the draft for anyone over 34 BMI? Fine any restaurant or grocery store that sells unhealthy stuff? Make obesity a hate crime against ones self? Liposuction machines sold retail with a good instructional video? Public shunning? Asking religious leaders to tend to the issue? A nationwide reality show with prizes? Government checks to all citizens to use on fitness equipment?

3 comments:

keeka said...

Living in SoCal it is the weirdest. You get the superfit people and the obese people. But I did notice that the area I live in, the surrounding cities and our own, are more into healthy living and fitness. I would say the percentage of obese people would be about 35 percent. I did notice when we were on vacation that certain small towns seem to have more of the obesity problems, they are also the more rural areas which I guess unless you are a farmer that works hard all day, there isn't much to do but eat! I feel especially for the kids that we saw, they were mostly hanging around the fast food restaurants and munching on fries and soda...gee you think that could ba part of the problem?

Tina said...

I wonder how it would impact all restaurants if they had to show calorie counts & fat grams?

I wonder if they would scale back on the use of mayo in favor of mustard & vinegar or something...

Hmmm.

ronnwaters said...

Soon, you'll have to get a receipt when you go to the bathroom....