foodconsumer.org

Obesity in the U.S. -- A perfect storm

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:44:00 +0000

By Sheilah DowneyAs childhood obesity numbers continue to swell to button-popping proportions, scientists predicted the "perfect storm" that has brewed the overweight epidemic facing America's

Janet w.

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:13:14 +0000

The gist of Michael Pollan's book, "In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto" as inscribed on the front cover says it all: Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.

The problem today is too much of what we buy and eat today is not food.

Frank E.

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:19:46 +0000

I'm always amazed watching 300lb+ people at the checkout line with baskets full of sugared soda, chips, cookies, candy, etc. And mostly likely diabetic or heading that way. I don't mind paying extra for health care but not for people who could care less about their own health.

Mcgee

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:21:07 +0000

"I'm a level 5 vegan, I won't eat anything that casts a shadow."

But really though, I would eat hamburgers for Breakfast lunch and dinner if i could.

Joe Marcucilli

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:22:05 +0000

We need to lower the cost of fish,vegetables,and fruit so lower income families can afford it.We need to place more pressure on fast food restaurants to promote a more vegetarian type of menu, and we need to lessen the proportions of food we eat.

Ali

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:33:09 +0000

Let's face it mom and/or dads. We control the purse string. When going to the grocery store, read the labels. Check food content. It is also revealed on that piece of paper connected to the food item. It may take longer to shop, but it means responsible shopping, caring for your family.
Tilapia is on sale all the time - $3.99 a lb. Salmon is on sale as well. clip coupons. There is no excuse for not eating healthy. But don't forget to splurge once in awhile!

Jordan Boehler

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:35:26 +0000

The strongest correlates here seem to be the obsession with safety and the convenience of recent technology; Many Americans have become fat screen-addicted wimps.
If it was the age of television that bred the ADD issue in todays children, one might say it was the age of video game that's intensifying this 'crisis' of obesity...

Does anyone remember playing outside as a kid, [in the words of the late Carlin,] "Diggin' a hole with a a stick"?
Why might one feel that this activity would be classified as autistic in today's America?

In a convenient, consistently logged-on America, one need not be fit.

karen c

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:35:42 +0000

With so many obese adults who think that being a two hundred pound woman is the norm, what else can we expect. My 140lb 5'4" friend (hardly skin and bones herself) went to a ten fifteen year high school reunion and was the slimmest of all of the women. After the event some of the women asked her if she was ill because she was so slight...Our perception needs an adjustment before we can see obesity as a death sentence for our kids

vorganos

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:40:44 +0000

ok america herez the solution to obesity... ready eat less and move more... simple right unfortunatly no because we like to make excuses about how we r big boned and have thyroid problems.... oh stop smoking 2... oh and dont do drugs and stay in school fool.. like mr T use to say

GedneyGram

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:43:38 +0000

Well, what can we do? The free market is at work here, right? And heaven forbid the the evil government try to interfere!! Not blaming conservative views here, but here is an example of the free market not working to the country's need to have healthy future citizens.

phyllis n.

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:47:37 +0000

The future as shown in the move Wall-E is coming true: we will soon become too fat to walk.

One factor is our high fructose corn syrup diet. Watch the move King Korn.

Another factor: we are living in a nation going downhill, and eating gives us comfort.

ali

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:54:31 +0000

Excuses..excuses..excuses. You all are talking about the information age, the videos, informational commercials that 'lead' us to binge. That's all b.s.
Computers, videos, the conveniences of technology -- all this is fabulous.
Get some exercise and eat the right foods. Pack your kid's lunch if what's in the cafeteria is junk. That's what I do for my tween.

Stop blaming computers, videos, and all that stuff for obesity. That's b.s. and just a bunch of excuses.

Buy a trampoline for your yard and watch the kids come in flocks. Let your kids stay outside and play. The kids in our neighborhood are called in the outside by their mom/s because they want them to do stuff in the house. The poor kids cry to stay outside.

The problem is dysfunctional parenting amoung all socio economic status groups...that's truly the heart of problem. Stop blaming it on things/objects...

Lamont Cranston

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:59:58 +0000

Eliminate all government subsidy for hamburgers, from cattle ranching to the purchase; tax breaks to ranchers, water prices, all the public money that makes cheap burgers possible.
Simply have a hamburger reflect the cost of production.
Let the price of a burger quintuple, and suddenly the fruit and veggies will look much more appealing.

Nancy

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 17:07:36 +0000

This problem could take us down as a country. It's that serious. Overweight and obese people are costing all of us. One of the shocking things to me is that of the overweight and obese people I know most of them do not even acknowledge that they are overweight! They are huge but it has become such the norm. Those that do realize they are too fat always have some excuse. They say they have a thyroid problem (very few actually do) or that it's hereditary or it's because of their job, etc., etc., etc. ad naseum. Look at a school yearbook from the 70's and look at school yearbooks today if you really want a shock. There is a website that showed portion sizes (with calories) from the 70's vs now. It's no wonder people are fat. Everything is supersized and not just at fast food restaurants. Parents are supersizing the portions at home.

Lucien Desar

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 17:27:03 +0000

It's very easy to stay in shape. Eat less and exercise more. It's not complicated but it does involve work for 30-40 minutes a day. I don't think it's the responsibility of the government to ensure it's citizen's are not fat. Everyone should take their own personal responsibility for their bodies and to ensure their children learn likewise.

Ken

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:19:18 +0000

GedneyGram, what in the world does conservatives vs. liberal have to do with being fat! It's called "personal responsibility"! Obviously you don't accept all you should, because it's easier for you to blame conservatives.

and Ali....!!! What are you talking about by saying "read the label"?!?! If something has a label, other than Un-breaded frozen fish, DON'T BOTHER PICKING IT UP!!! Labels come on boxes, bags & cans, not on God's food!

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:55:06 +0000

Individuals can do our part, but there is a public policy part too. Like subsidies for junk food farm products. Everyone getting more obese is good business for Big Food and Big Pharm. More of the government is devoted to those, than is devoted to mopping up the consequences. Vote Ron Paul.

b

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 01:10:26 +0000

The next stage is destabilization. This time the subverter does not care about your ideas and the patterns of your consumption, whether you eat junk food and get fat and flabby doesn’t matter anymore. This time — and it takes only from two to five years to destabilize a nation — what matters is essentials. Economy, foreign relations, defense systems. And you can see quite clearly that in some areas, in such sensitive areas as defense and economy, the influence of Marxist-Leninist ideas in the United States is absolutely fantastic. I could never believe it fourteen years ago when I landed in this part of the world that the process would go that fast. Yuri Bezmenov, Demoralization of America

Kellie Glass RD, LD

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 13:44:33 +0000

As a Registered Dietitian, I am a firm believer that healthy nutrition starts at home. It is up to parents to make healthy choices and lead active lifestyles. In my book, "How to Eat Fried Chicken and Be Thin Too" I address the 4 most important components to an overall healthy lifestyle. If anyone is interested in more information, the book can be found on Amazon.com or at Strategic Book Publishing

Scott

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:16:32 +0000

One way to improve diets is with the guide "Healthy Highways."
This is the second edition of the popular healthy eating guide from best- selling food writers Nikki & David Goldbeck. This new edition has 1000 new listings for a total of 2800 – all verified. Exclusive local driving directions guide you to each listing.
cool stuff also at healthyhighways.com

Rick Osbourne

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:09:30 +0000

Here's a systematic, low budget, and documentable solution. Start young (pre-school or kindergarten), help all kids learn to physically pull their own weight (do pull ups). Once mastered, help them to maintain the ability through graduation. Grads who can physically pull their own weight are naturally immunized against obesity for life as long as they maintain the ability. Tell Arne Duncan!

Zatapa

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:22:23 +0000

What people in America don't seem to realise is that the problems are not only related to the changes in lifestyle that have taken place the past decade(s). It all starts at the food industry. The US Government actively campaign against obesity while at the same time supporting producers of unhealthy GM seeds, crops and food additives (e.g. Monsanto). That's where the greater part of diseases start.

rapid4me

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:22:48 +0000

I haven't been to your site for quite a long period of time and at last visited it! Needless to say, you are good at what you do, I always read all your articles with pleasure. With the numerous blogs, forums and social sites, it is not always easy to find really worthy info! Thanks!

Soft

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:54:27 +0000

Problems of obesity in the United States. It is really important. It is a pity that many hesitate to talk about it in the ear!

Soft

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:55:47 +0000

Problems of obesity in the United States. It is really important. It is a pity that many hesitate to talk about it in the ear!

online pharmacy canada

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 15:07:42 +0000

really useful info. Thanks

Orkut Scraps

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 11:22:17 +0000

Data from the NHANES surveys (1976-1980 and 2003-2006) show that the prevalence of obesity has increased for children of 2-5 years, prevalence increased from 5.0% to 12.4% for people 6-11 years, prevalence increased from 6.5% to 17.0% and for those aged 12-19 years, prevalence increased from 5.0% to 17.6%

Hollywood Wallpapers

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:59:52 +0000

The prevalence of adults in the U.S. who are obese remains high, with about one third of obese adults in 2007-2008, although new data suggest that the rate of increase of obesity in the U.S. in recent decades may be slowing, according to a study appearing in the Jan. 20 issue of JAMA. The study was published early online because of its importance in public health