Obesity Prevention: Start with our Youth.

Blog Post 5

With obesity levels on the rise, what is being done to help prevent it...and reverse it?  There are many programs and policy changes that are being created to help combat obesity, most specifically targeting children.  If we can keep our kids living healthy lifestyles, they are more likely to stay healthy and fit past their adolescence and help our country become a, well, thinner nation.

Michelle Obama has created a program called "Let's Move." The "Let's Move" campaign is a community oriented program that aims to educate parents and kids alike on the various factors that lead to obesity.  It helps schools, families and communicate know the tools that help in creating better diets and a more active lifestyle (Move, 2010).  Under the website's Eat Healthy tab, it reiterates the importance of a healthy food pyramid and allows moms and kids to print out their own food pyramid and plan their next week's meals accordingly. "Let's Move" has also created a program called the HealthierUS Schools Challenge Program. Teaming up with many of the nation's schools, the program helps to create a meal plan with decreased levels of sugar, more whole grains, and double the amount of produce served to the students.  "Let's Move" also provides families and schools a list of physical activities that they can do in their spare time.  Some things as simple as taking a family walk after dinner (Move, 2010). 

Another program that will continue to be implemented upon Jerry Brown's entrance as California's governor is the Governor's Fitness Challenge.  Starting in 2006, the program had only 10,000 student participants, but the last numbers in 2010 had reached over 1.3 million.  The Governor's Fitness Challenge is a challenge posed to students across the state t be active for 30 to 60 minutes a day for three days a week. Since the initial start of the program, the schools that have adopted it have reported an increase in student attendance, more alert and engaged students, and higher test scores (Steinfeld, 2010).  The program has also teamed up with major companies such as Coca-Cola, 24-Hour Fitness and Kaiser Permanente to provide these schools with the tools they need to achieve success.  Things such as physical fitness centers and advertising materials aimed at a healthier and more active lifestyle (Steinfeld, 2010).

The video above shows one high schools new XArcade, a $50,000 "arcade" that combines the XBOX gaming console with games that promote physical activity.  Paid for by sponsors of the Governor's Fitness Challenge.

There are plenty of other programs out there similar to the one's that were mentioned here.  One can visit the "Let's Move" website or any other program that not only encourages this country's youth to eat healthy and stay active, but may even help with tips on how to gain sponsors who will assist in creating new physical activity programs or dietary plans in the cafeterias.  Obesity often starts at a young age, the prevalence rate is reversible.

References:

Obama, M. Let's Move. 2010. Retrieved from the Let's Move Website: http://www.letsmove.gov

Steinfeld, J. "Don't Quit on our Kids." The Vacaville Reporter 5 Dec 2010. C1. Print.

Obesity and Diabetes

Blog Post 4

There is a number of diseases that are caused by or related to obesity.  Many of them have dangerous health consequences such as death.  One of the most prevalent obesity-related diseases that we see today is diabetes.

Of the two types of diabetes, type 2 is the one associated with obesity.  Type 2 diabetes currently effects over seventeen million Americans, that's almost 7% of the country's population.  It is also estimated that over six million Americans also have the disease, but are unaware of it (OS, 2010).  Over the last decade diabetes has increased by forty percent, alongside the increase of obesity which has nearly doubled (Diabetic, 2010).  These staggering statistics show a correlation in the increase of both obesity and diabetes.  The facts continue to say that of the children born in the year 2000, one in three will eventually develop type 2 diabetes.

Ninety percent of people that are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are also diagnosed with obesity (Diabetic, 2010).  Obesity has been shown in some ways, to cause diabetes or make the disease more difficult to control.  An obese person has a lot of extra weight that will make it difficult to maintain glucose levels, and the extra weight may also create a resistance to insulin.  Beta cells in the pancreas produce insulin, and with diabetes, the body is unable to properly use it because the cells are resistant (MedicineNet, 2010).  To avoid complications, blood glucose levels must stay regulated as to avoid hypoglycemia, high blood sugar levels.  Insulin injections may help with maintaining glucose levels, as well as other measures (MedicineNet, 2010).  Those who take insulin must be careful, however, because insulin may also cause obesity.  By injecting insulin, one is injecting glucose, and high amounts of glucose is dangerous because it can be stored as fat (Diabetic, 2010).  Restricting caloric intake, lower consumption of simple carbohydrates and fats and an increased consumption of complex carbohydrates will also help keep safe glucose levels and help treat diabetes.  Just like treatment of obesity, regular exercise may help treat diabetes as it can burn off excess glucose in the body, decreases insulin resistance and may relieve stress which also causes both obesity and diabetes. 

How does one prevent diabetes? Well, one easy way according to Diabetic Care Services is by preventing obesity (2010).  They suggest maintaining a healthy weight by eating right and adding in physical activity to daily routines.  Even to someone who is already overweight, as little as a five to ten percent weight loss could be the different between having type 2 diabetes or not.  The same weight loss to someone with diabetes will reduce the symptoms associated with diabetes such as stroke and blindness (OS, 2010).  Maintaining body weight is the absolute best way to prevent diabetes.  

References:

                Diabetic Care Services. A codependent Relationship: Diabetes & Obesity. 2010. http://www.diabeticcareservices.com/diabetes-education/diabetes-and-obesity

                MedicineNet. Type II Diabetes. 2010. http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=2976

                The Obesity Society (OS). Your Weight and Diabetes. 2010. http://www.obesity.org/information/diabetes_obesity.asp

Why Are We So Fat?

Blog Post 3

If the obesity rates in the United States were any other disease, such as cancer or AIDS, we would call it an epidemic.  The citizens of this country downplay the severity and the consequences of being overweight.  Most do not understand that this disease can KILL. So, why are we so fat anyway?

Well, there are a number of reasons why obesity is plaguing our nation.  There are genetic factors, environmental factors, and psychological factors. Each person is affected differently and very well may be obese as a consequence of all the items listed previously. 

Obesity is a disease that usually follows down the line of families.  While some say it is genetic, it could also be environmental in the sense that families do share genes, but they also share eating habits (Clark, 2008).  However, in one study of adopted individuals, their body weights as an adult were more similar to the body weights of their biological parents, then of their adoptive parents (Clark, 2008). This would mean that the genetic factors played a bigger role in their weight than did the environmental factors. While genes may not be directly to blame for being overweight, the characteristics that some genes cause may play a part.  According to the Center for Disease control and Prevention, genes can be linked to a drive to overeat, tendencies to be sedentary, and an enlarged capacity to store body fat (CDC, 2010).  Just because one is predisposed to be obese, however, does not mean they will certainly become obese.

A person's environment, lifestyle, can also play a huge role in obesity.  The right food choices, and portion control are key, especially if there is a predisposition to obesity.  Exercise and physical fitness help to promote a leaner body.  Most Americans get little or no exercise in their daily lives (Clark, 2008).  Most cities are not built with many parks, places of recreation, and affordable gyms (Psychology, 2010). People simply do not have the tools to help them live an active lifestyle.  And with the emergence of more and more fast food places, with prices that can't compare to a dinner purchased of fresh food at the grocery store, American are eating horribly.  100 years ago, the average American would consume five pounds of sugar in a year.  Today that number is two-hundred pounds! (KNDO, 2010).  And with the sizes of our fast food sodas, it's no wonder why our people are "blimping" out.  When Coca-Cola first introduced their product, it was sold in 6 ounce containers, whereas today we can "large size" our McDonalds order and receive a 64 ounce Coke (KNDO, 2010).  This is pretty standard among our food portions at present day.

Psychologically, people tend to associate eating with certain emotions.  The most popular: sadness, anger and boredom.  Greater self-control is needed when experiencing these emotions.  Depression and obesity have been loosely related as well.  In a sense, it is somewhat of a rotating door, people eat because they are depressed, but they are depressed because they eat and are obese (Clark, 2008).  

References:

            CDC. Obesity & Genetics. January 10, 2010. Retrieved from CDC Website: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Obesity/

            Clark, T. Obesity. 2008. Retrieved from http://www.tjclarkinc.com/d_genetic_obesity.htm

            KNDO. Why is America So Fat? November 15, 2010. http://www.kndu.com/Global/story.asp?S=13508113

            Psychology Today. Obesity (Causes). 2010. http://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/obesity?tab=Causes

Obesity Trends in the U.S.

October 19, 2010

Blog Post 2

Obesity is measure by a person's body mass index, or their BMI.  BMI can be measured by using a person's height and weight, and it is acknowledged that a person is obese if their BMI exceeds 30.  Now, to determine one's BMI, you would divide an individual's weight in kilograms by the square of their height in meters. 

1990

1999

2009

   

WHITE: no Data. LIGHT BLUE:<10%. BLUE:10%-14%. DARK BLUE:15%-19%. CREAM:20%-24%. ORANGE:25%-29%. RED: >30%

Unlike other health risks, such as smoking or drinking, obesity is a disease that has escalated only recently, namely the past 25 years.  The maps that are displayed above show the prevalence of obesity in each of the 50 states in the years 1990, 1999, and 2009.  They are representative of a 5'4 person with the BMI of 30 being 30 pounds overweight.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have conducted research to track the increasing population our obese citizens.  

The first map, mostly white and light blue, represents our country in 1990, and that the prevalence of obesity was basically nonexistent, with the heaviest states peaking at only 14% BMI.  In the middle map, 1999, we start to see a more noticeable increase in BMIs as the cream color is added to the key reaching 20%-24%.  At present day, however, we see the largest increase in our nations obesity population topping the 30th percentile heavily gathered in the southern states.

The following map, with numbers reported by CalorieLab, indicates Colorado as the leanest state with an average BMI of 19.1 in 2010, while Mississippi tops the list as the fattest state with an average of a 33.8  BMI.  Similar to CDC's map of the country, the southern states continue to be densely obese with most states over a 30 BMI, thus beyond overweight to obese.

References:

CalorieLab Health Website: http://calorielab.com/news/2010/06/28/fattest-states-2010/

Center for Disease Control and Prevention website:  http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/index.html     

Why obesity is a problem

September 15, 2010

Blog Post 1

Among the major issues faced in the United States today, is obesity.  Health has always been a concern for this country, starting years ago with medicine and sanitation.  Presently, our nation is becoming a nation full of people that are not only overweight, but obese.  According to the online medical dictionary medicinenet.org, a person is considered to be obese "if they are more than 20 percent over their ideal weight...tak[ing] into account their height, age, sex and build." The prevalence of this now-called disease has prompted changes in our school curriculums, legislation on all levels, and policy changes in the way we prepare and serve food.

A major reason that obesity needs to be addressed, is the harmful consequences that are related to obesity.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), consequences from being overweight or obese are as follows: "coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, hypertension, dyslipidemia, stroke, liver and gallbladder disease, sleep apnea and respiratory problems, osteoarthritis and gynecological problems."  The CDC website also lists the top ten causes of death in the United States.  Among the top seven, five of them were also on the same list as consequences of obesity.  Obesity acts as a major factor in the deaths of millions of Americans, and yet statistics are still showing increases in obesity rates and mortality rates caused by obesity-related diseases. 

Works cited:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website: http://www.cdc.gov

MedicineNet online dictionary: www.medicinenet.org