Americans Are Still Getting Fatter

(CBS/AP)  Loosen the belt buckle another notch, America: Obesity rates continued their climb in 31 states last year. No state showed a decline.

Mississippi became the first state to crack the 30 percent barrier for adult residents considered to be obese. West Virginia and Alabama are just slightly behind, according to the Trust for America's Health, a research group that focuses on disease prevention.

Colorado continued its reign as the leanest state in the nation with an obesity rate projected at 17.6 percent.

This year's report, for the first time, looked at obesity rates among children ages 10 to 17. The District of Columbia had the highest percentage — 22.8 percent. Utah had the lowest percentage of obese youth — 8.5 percent.

Officials at the Trust for America's Health advocate for the government to play a larger role in preventing obesity. People who are overweight are at an increased risk for diabetes, heart problems and other chronic diseases that contribute to greater health care costs.

"It's one of those issues where everyone believes this is an epidemic, but it's not getting the level of political and policymaker attention that it ought to," said Jeffrey Levi, the organization's executive director. "As every candidate for president talks about health care reform and controlling health care cost costs, if we don't hone in on this issue, none of their proposals are going to be affordable."

At the same time, many believe weight is a personal choice and responsibility. Levi doesn't dispute that notion, but he said society can help people make good choices.

"If we want kids to eat healthier food, we have to invest the money for school nutrition programs so that school lunches are healthier," he said. "If we want people to be more physically active, then there have to be safe places to be active. That's not just a class issue. We've designed suburban communities where there are no sidewalks for anybody to go out and take a walk."

To measure obesity rates, Trust for America's Health compares data from 2003-2005 with 2004-2006. It combines data from three years to improve the accuracy of projections. The data come from a survey of height and weight taken over the telephone by state health departments.

Generally, anyone with a body mass index greater than 30 is considered obese. The index is a ratio that takes into account height and weight. The overweight range is 25 to 29.9. Normal is 18.5 to 24.9. People with a large amount of lean muscle mass, such as athletes, can show a large body mass index without having an unhealthy level of fat.

The results of their survey are included in the report, "F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing in America," which is available on the organization's Web site, healthyamericans.org

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[michellem99-2009]

I fee; this is a hot issue...I was called bean poll, as I was so thin..People were so rude years ago to my face..their remark was *don''t you eat anything*..Yes..I could not put wt on..then menopause at 37..now can''t lost wt. I don''t over eat and it is not my meds. I am 52 amd legally blind..I have to eat what I can afford and that means the lowest priceded heatable food for the mic...

[weareone2]

Health fanatics will be a drain on society...they will outlive their share of social security and cause an increase in the population by their longevity. And guess what, they will still end up dead in the end. Seriously we all know morbid obesity is a bad thing but some of you, holier then thou health nuts, are just downright cruel and should be ashamed.

Eat, drink and be merry!! Cheers.


Posted by GrammaWhamma at 01:42 AM : Aug 28, 2007

GrammaWhamma, I''m what you would call a "health nut", who keeps down my weight because I would rather be healthy than sick. But I don''t put down those who have a problem with overweight. I have my own areas of imperfection, as we all do. I wish you well.

[slim1h2o]

Maybe if some of you fat people would stay from the shmorgisboards, fast food, and the sugar shacks, known as doughnut shops, you''d might lose a little weight.

I love it in this country, you call a fat person, fatty, holy heel breaks out. Yet, call a person thats under weight, skinny, or make fun of them in any way, Weeellllll thats perfectly OK

Bullcrap, this country is out of whack, keep eating fattys.............LOL

[michellem99-2009]

Hello,Gramma, I love yer post..I told it the best I could...I will say some are mean to those who different than them. I don''t care the holier than ye. It is partly the stuff that is put in the foods one eats..I can''t read them big fancy words much less try to say spell them. I do know it are things that get yer body hooked. If they use growth hormones etc...they best shut that pie hole as the food makers are the blame...I buy what I can...I do not have the means to over eat..I have make due I have mic my food ,buy made up. I have been posting along time...

[texas468]

tax the types of foods they eat.
Posted by bogusbones at 06:32 PM : Aug 27, 2007

I think that would be a great idea - tax junk food. They put a tax on Cigarettes and Alcohol, and those two things kill people, right? Evidently, the high-calorie junk food is posing a health risk as well. Tax these food items, and make vegetables, fruits, etc. less expensive for the consumer - and help the farmers and ranchers as well! Nutritious food have gotten unbelievable expensive for the lower and middle classes, and fast-fix have become an inferior alternative. Also, smaller portions!!!! :O)

[oleander8]

"Americans Are Still Getting Fatter"

...and enjoying it more!

[grammawhamma]

Health fanatics will be a drain on society...they will outlive their share of social security and cause an increase in the population by their longevity. And guess what, they will still end up dead in the end. Seriously we all know morbid obesity is a bad thing but some of you, holier then thou health nuts, are just downright cruel and should be ashamed.

Eat, drink and be merry!! Cheers.

[brianbwb-2009]

In these "modern" times, it is not so much the amount, as the hidden ingredients, we give our beef and chickens steroids to make them bigger and fatter, these substances then enter our food chain. We lace almost everything with corn syrup and sugar, so these burn for energy first, instead of fat.

In fact, I believe a study would probably show that Americans are not necessarily eating more food, but are ingesting more unnatural additives in the foods they eat, but no one will do such a study, or release the results of such, as they would step on too many toes.

[weareone2]

I suspect that some, maybe much, overeating is the result of a craving for food caused by a lack of micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) in our food. Even fresh fruits and vegetables have been bred for looks and longetivity on the shelf.

[michellem99-2009]

Educate your self...I can''t cook due to blindness and multi handicaps..I have to get what I can afford and microwave..Educate by shutting that pie hole..been to the store and seen the price of food..I aint rich..for get the food bank..they give junks and they don''t allow the blind in..that they told my sighted room mate..I have one meal ..

..I am poor..so yer attacks those you don''t aprove of..Telling us..what to ..extersise when some with handicaps..can''t very well...get real , bogusbones you may be just the arse that has of the things you said it yer post...I am 52.