foodconsumer.org: Obesity:  America’s New Health Obsession

Obesity:  America’s New Health Obsession
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admin on 10/10/2009 18:15:00
 
By Rachel  Stockton
“Barbara”, a  forty-something art history instructor at a large university,
says that her  doctor is “diplomatic” and doesn’t tell her that she needs
to lose weight.  “I probably could stand to lose at least  50 pounds, but [her
doctor] is gracious and doesn’t dwell on that.  We both know that the trouble
I’m having  with my knee as well as the fact that I’m borderline diabetic
has to do with the  fact that I need to lose weight.  She doesn’t insult my
intelligence my emphasizing that every time I come  in.”
Barbara’s  doctor isn’t alone; a CDC survey in 2005 revealed that only 40%
of obese  patients are told by their physicians that they need to lose weight.
According to  pundits around the nation, we are at the cusp of a national health
crisis  because 30% of our population is obese.  Chronic diseases, as well as
numerous cancers thrive on obesity, and the  current health care dilemma can, at
least in part, be attributed to the high  cost of being overweight.
Some  metropolitan areas have tried ratifying legislation that will help
citizens  become more knowledgeable about their food choices.  New York requires
fast food restaurants  to clearly display nutritional information next to their
menus.  The Los Angeles City Council approved a  moratorium on new fast food
restaurants in one of the most economically  depressed areas of the city, as a
way to counteract the fact that minorities are  more likely to be overweight and
obese, compared to high income  constituents.
The jury is  still out on whether or not any of this will actually work, as far
as  encouraging the public to eat healthier fare.  Some critics of the LA
legislation claim  that the problem isn’t the per capita number of fast food
chains in the poorer  areas that are the problem, but rather the lack of markets
providing fresh  fruits, vegetables and other health food options.