injuryupdate
29-08-2007, 02:34 PM
From SMH:
Obesity rates climb in most US states
August 28, 2007 - 2:14PM
Obesity rates continue to climb in 31 of the 50 US states and none of the others showed a decline, according to a new survey.
At the bottom of the list was Mississippi with more than 30 per cent of its adult residents considered obese, followed closely by Alabama and West Virginia. Colorado was the leanest state, with a projected obesity rate of 17.6 per cent.
The report surveyed older children for the first time and found that the District of Columbia, with 22.8 per cent obesity, had the highest percentage in children aged 10-17; Utah had the lowest, 8.5 per cent.
Officials at the Trust for America's Health, a research group that released its obesity survey, 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 policy maker attention that it ought to," said Jeffrey Levi, the organisation's executive director.
"As every candidate for president talks about health care reform and controlling health care 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 does not 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. ... We've designed suburban communities where there are no footpaths 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.
A lack of exercise is a huge factor in obesity rates. The federal Centres for Disease Control and Prevention found last year that more than 22 per cent of Americans did not engage in any physical activity in the past month. The percentage is greater than 30 per cent in Mississippi, Louisiana, Kentucky and Tennessee.
Another factor in obesity rates is poverty. The five poorest states were all in the top 10 when it came to obesity rates. An exception to that rule was the District of Columbia and New Mexico. Both had high poverty rates, but also one of the better obesity rates among adults.
© 2007 AP DIGITAL
Obesity rates climb in most US states
August 28, 2007 - 2:14PM
Obesity rates continue to climb in 31 of the 50 US states and none of the others showed a decline, according to a new survey.
At the bottom of the list was Mississippi with more than 30 per cent of its adult residents considered obese, followed closely by Alabama and West Virginia. Colorado was the leanest state, with a projected obesity rate of 17.6 per cent.
The report surveyed older children for the first time and found that the District of Columbia, with 22.8 per cent obesity, had the highest percentage in children aged 10-17; Utah had the lowest, 8.5 per cent.
Officials at the Trust for America's Health, a research group that released its obesity survey, 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 policy maker attention that it ought to," said Jeffrey Levi, the organisation's executive director.
"As every candidate for president talks about health care reform and controlling health care 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 does not 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. ... We've designed suburban communities where there are no footpaths 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.
A lack of exercise is a huge factor in obesity rates. The federal Centres for Disease Control and Prevention found last year that more than 22 per cent of Americans did not engage in any physical activity in the past month. The percentage is greater than 30 per cent in Mississippi, Louisiana, Kentucky and Tennessee.
Another factor in obesity rates is poverty. The five poorest states were all in the top 10 when it came to obesity rates. An exception to that rule was the District of Columbia and New Mexico. Both had high poverty rates, but also one of the better obesity rates among adults.
© 2007 AP DIGITAL