Who Else Is Being Affected?

In all my posts, all I've written about is how America's obesity epidemic is affecting obese Americans and the government. It's true that the fact that obesity is causing many diseases and illnesses is important, but other factors are worth mentioning as well. I've failed to think about other players in this issue. "Obesity exacts a tremendous toll on society, by elevating disease rates and skyrocketing health care costs -- at a tremendous burden to taxpayers." Exactly. What about the taxpayers? They have to pay more and more taxes to contribute to programs and plans concocted to better America's health.

Obese people presently are experiencing diabetes, heart problems, and asthma and may be painful and hard to endure. But what if lives are shortened nautrally? "The rising rates of obesity among virtually every segment of the U.S. population threaten to make our youngest generation the first in American history to live shorter lives than their parents." In the future, will people still be able to live to 100 years old? What about 80? We'd be lucky to even be able to live to 60 perhaps. It'll be history replayed all over again. What, with other nature problems such as global warming, what will become of the human race?

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4597180

Choices

I'm beginning to think that resolving obesity has become more and more confusing and hectic. In some articles, I see kudos to the government for taking some sort of action; and in some others, I see people accusing the government of being apathetic and not caring at all.

An article I read today did just that. People were saying that the government's "dithering" on obesity. I don't believe that the government is all at fault. "Departments have been slow to react to the worsening problem, and efforts to work with the food industry to change the way unhealthy products are marketed have failed, according to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC)."

Trying to get food markets to change their products is just like asking them to throw away their money. Changing their fatty food products to healthy, unpleasable products will simply destroy their businesses. They have to please their consumers.

And plus, it also depends on people's willpower. If they are determined to shed off those pounds, they will do it. All that stuff about not being to help it, or that their need to stuff themselves is uncontrollable, are all excuses. You can't just blame the government or businesses for being "slow" and apathetic about it. It's human nature to put yourself first and that's just what businesses are doing. They want more money and in their minds, the only way to do so is to sell food products that people will buy. Honestly now, if you walk into a deli and you see a delicious Entenmann's cake and then next to it is a bland, whole grain loaf of bread, which one would you choose?

http://news.aol.co.uk/bigstorynews/government-dithering-on-obesity/article/20070125052309990017

Okay, So What?

I came across this diet blog today and there was one blog discussing a New York Times article regarding the government's actions in interfering with America's obesity problem.

"Should the government intervene to force a national slimming, or is obesity a product of personal choice and responspibility? The New York Times explores the issues:

'In what is shaping up to be the great American food fight, there are two increasingly discordant sides.

One insists that government must use its legislative power to slim down an increasingly obese nation. In this view, obesity, like smoking, has become a public health crisis and demands a public health solution. In state legislatures, anti-obesity advocates are pushing bills that would add sin taxes for sodas, require calorie counts on restaurant menus and ban 'foods of minimum nutritional value' in schools (that means you, Sno-Kone).' "

Based on what I read, I came to realize that even if the government steps in and is willing to resolve United States' obesity epidemic, Americans may not. Some people feel that the government has no say as to what they eat. "Dane Carlson: 'I do not believe that government has any business regulating what I put into my body.'" That's true, but it's good that the government wants to help people improve their health.

Another person's response got me thinking as well. "Dana Cutolo: 'I learned that farmers are producing way more food than is needed to feed America, this is causing food proportions to grow, and many Americans to get fatter. I have also read that the government tells us to eat less of what is on the top of the food pyramid and more of what is on the bottom, such as fruits, vagetables, and bread products, how can we do that when more of the top is being produced.' " That is so true. How can we eat greens, fruits, and all those healthy-deemed foods when we are taunted and lured by sweets and fats?

http://www.diet-blog.com/archives/2003/11/11/can_government_stop_obesity.php

Biased Statistics

The government admitted that the statistics of deaths due to obesity are not accurate. "It is virtually official U.S. government policy that obesity kills 300,000 people every year." Looking at the research by the National Center for Health Statistics, obesity ranks as the second leading cause of deaths in America. But due to further research, the NCHS concluded that past statistics were false. They said that the deaths were "generated by statistics, not science." Deaths were just counted and a lot were just assumed to be caused by obesity. Keyword: Not proven. Assumed. "In other words, just because someone is obese and they die, it doesn’t necessarily follow that their obesity was the cause. The NCHS researchers point out that the populations analyzed to derive obesity deaths are biased..."

Although we now know that past statistics were false, it does not mean that obesity cannot cause deaths. It is proven by research from the medical field that obesity does indeed cause many health problems (some of which were discussed in previous blogs).

"Obesity Related Diseases

- 80% of type II diabetes related to obesity
- 70% of Cardiovascular disease related to obesity
- 42% breast and colon cancer diagnosed among obese individuals
- 30% of gall bladder surgery related to obesity
- 26% of obese people having high blood pressure"

Obesity should still be dealt with and people should still continue to care for their health. We're stuck with one body for the rest of our lives; why not take good care of it?

[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,131296,00.html]

[http://www.annecollins.com/obesity/statistics-obesity.htm]

Bloomberg Takes It To NY State Schools

Since 1980, New York's obesity rate for children has raised from 5% to as much as 17.4%. We've learned that Mayor Bloomberg took a stand for the city to combat trans fat, but he also took a role in helping NY State schooling children as well. In 2002, he took a huge step to help the city's children. All schools now have "an executive chef, whole wheat bread, salad bars and little plastic bags of sliced New York state apples."

I'm not saying that school lunch is more appealing now, because it really isn't. It's just healthier now. Fries are no longer drenched with 4 gallons of oil, and cheeseburgers are made with layers of healthier skim-milk cheese. A lot of snack machines were replaced with healthier snacks. For example, in many elementary schools, ice cream machines were replaced with machines with whole wheat and baked chips. Soda machines were replaced with juice machines. Candy and gumball machines were replaced with those for gummys made from fruit juice. And many machines for protein and energy bars, and trail mixes were added. Even Murry Bergtraum began to sell pretzels and baked Lays chips a few years ago.

This act of replacing junk food with healthier food is yet another step for New York City to combat obesity. There is no longer a high amount of fat adding onto kids' weight in school.


http://money.cnn.com/2007/03/27/news/companies/kaiserchildren_tvads/?postversion=20070328099

http://www.healthdecisions.org/News/default.aspx?doc_id=112726

Mayor Bloomberg Steps In

Mayor Bloomberg probably is the first mayor of New York City to ever step in and take New York's health issues by the reigns. To start things off, he first banned smoking in public bars and restaurants that house more than 35 seats. And his most recent action was banning transaturated fat in restaurants and forcing restaurant chains, such as McDonald's and Burger King, to show calorie counts and to take on "a cutting-edge culinary technique called sous vide." Imagine yourself being the owner of a bar or a restaurant who's been forced to do the above mentioned, I'm pretty sure you'd be ticked. Come on, without all that artery-clotting trans fat, what's going to make your food taste good now? Even though many bar owners "threatened to pull him from office," Mayor Bloomberg paid no attention and continued to do what he felt was good for New York City. Kudos to you Mr. Bloomberg! He's still holding his office strong, regardless of all those threats.

I don't think what he did was wrong. A lot of politicians do things like under-the-table deeds just to keep their positions in office, but Mayor Bloomberg persisted in preventing obesity and creating a healthier New York City even when his position was threatened and endangered. New York City as a whole has taken a stride in preventing obesity once again.

text: [http://www.healthdecisions.org/News/default.aspx?doc_id=112726]

img: [http://www.mikepaulblog.com/blog/media/Trans%20Fat%20Free%20photo%20w%20kid%20with%20fork%20and%20knife.jpg]

Work It!

"The victory is not always to the swift, but to those who keep moving."

I have decided to dedicate one blog to explain the importance of incorporating physical activities into our lives. However, being an exercise freak isn't good either. It has to be just right. But other than a good amount of exercise, good nutrition is extremely important as well.

Many people don't exercise because (1) they are too lazy to, (2) they say they don't have time for it or (3) it's too strenuous. That's a bunch of excuses. If you set your heart to something, you and I both know that you will find a way to do it one way or another. For example, if you really wanted to see a movie, but the movie came out the day you had to work or something, I'm sure you'd think of some lame excuse to give to your boss to get time off. Same goes for exercise. There are no excuses. You just don't care and don't want to try.

I'll admit, getting started is the hardest stage to get over. Take a look at this chart and decide where you are exactly:



Like all other activities, it will take your body a while to adjust to exercising. You can't just expect to be able to bench 100lbs the first time you work out. You have to start little, like with 20 lbs first and then slowly increase the weight over time intervals. If you still feel like you're not ready, why not join a gym? Many gyms have free classes that come with membersip, where there's an instructor that leads a class in exercising. If you like dancing, there are cardio dancing classes. If you like swimming, there are water aerobic classes. And if you like biking, there are bike "spinning" classes. There are many, many wonderful activities that you'll find fun. As long as you know what you'll enjoy doing, you can incorporate that into exercise. Give yourself a chance and check it out.

The most important thing is that you're able to tell yourself that you're ready. Think about it, it is for your own benefit. You only get one body for the rest of your life, why not be good to it? You're the one living with it.

(http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/physical/starting/index.htm)