Overweight Americans More Now Than Ever

(CBS)  Just as the holidays have arrived, a federal survey says the country’s weight problem is worse than ever with more than 60 percent of Americans overweight.

CBS 2’s Paul Moniz sheds some light on the disturbing trend.

The Centers For Disease Control is sounding an alarm. It says Americans are now fatter than they have ever been, the heaviest since the government starting keeping records. Despite billions of dollars spent on diet aides, America’s waistline keeps growing.

Americans can’t stop eating. That’s the conclusion of a federal survey that estimates 6 in 10 Americans are overweight, more than 1 in 4 obese. The conclusion: too many of us consume too much and exercise too little.

Some chronic overeaters admit that they are generally lazy and spend too much time sitting around and eating their goodies instead of walking.

The findings, part of the 1999 National Health and Nutrition Examination survey measured the height and weight of more than 1600 people over 20. Results show 61% of Americans are overweight, 35% moderately overweight and 26% obese. That’s up slightly from the last survey.

Obesity specialist Dr. Lou Arone, of the Weill Cornell Medical Center and author of ‘Weigh Less Live Longer’ says huge portion sizes are an insidious culprit. "We’re being supersized into obesity," he says. "People are eating more and more food because that’s the better business model."

Extra pounds put you at risk for heart disease, sleep apnea and a host of other conditions, including diabetes which is skyrocketing, especially among children.

Doctors say even a short walk every day can keep your weight in check. But you also need to watch those low fat foods, they are loaded with calories. For instance, if you ate a small package of Snackwells cookies you’d consume 210 calories, that’s more than a chocolate covered ice cream bar. By comparison, an orange has just 60 calories.

Bottom line, a calorie is a calorie wherever it comes from.

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