States seek to lower obesity rates

CBS Marketwatch ^ | July 5, 2002 | Andrea Coombes

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

States seek to lower obesity rates

By Andrea Coombes, CBS MarketWatch.com Last Update: 12:03 AM ET July 5, 2002

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- States reeling from obesity-related health-care costs are looking to cut spending by addressing the source of the problem - their overweight residents.

Whether changing vending-machine fare in public buildings or requiring kids to take more physical education classes, states are cracking down on what experts call an "obesity epidemic."

In the last 30 years, the rate of overweight children more than doubled in the U.S., with an estimated 13 percent now overweight, according to a National Governors Association study.

The problem isn't limited to children, however. About 20 percent of American adults are now obese - about 30 pounds overweight - vs. 12 percent a decade ago. Low-income and minority people comprise a greater proportion of the obese, the study said. Poor nutrition and a lack of exercise are the main causes of the rise, with genetic factors playing a secondary role, the study found.

To address the issue, states are trying to stop obesity before it starts. But many are suffering budget shortfalls, limiting solutions to those that don't cost much money.

Some governors initiated nutrition and physical fitness education campaigns urging people to adopt simple lifestyle changes such as foregoing the elevator in favor of the stairs.

In Kentucky, a proposal suggested by a Governor-appointed task force addressing Type 2 diabetes -- an illness often associated with obesity and lack of exercise -- did not pass the legislature earlier this year due to budget constraints.

But the task force is now taking their health message to the local level, suggesting to schools, for example, that they dump the soda in their vending machines in favor of low-fat milk and fruit juices.

And the Kentucky Board of Education is looking at addressing the lack of physical activity in schools, said Emma Walters, a task-force member and dietician consultant with the state's Department for Public Health.

Texas weighs in

Addressing a nationwide dearth of physical education classes, Texas reversed a law earlier this year relegating P.E. to an elective along with art and music. Now Texas schoolchildren are required to participate in P.E. at least 135 minutes per week.

North Dakota is launching its Healthy North Dakota initiative later this year to address chronic disease, including obesity-related disease, in the state. Details will be hammered out later this year, but the program will focus on creating lifestyle changes at the community level.

"I think we have pushed the traditional educational approach to some of these high-risk behaviors to a plateau," said Dr. Terry Dwelle, state health officer with the North Dakota Department of Health.

In Vermont, a volunteer coalition is also going local, working to change unhealthy eating and exercise habits in children.

Obesity is "a major problem for the upcoming generation. It's going to be a major cause of death and it may be even more important than tobacco," said Dr. Donald Swartz, director of maternal and child health at the Vermont Department of Health.

There are a number of ways states can address the issue of obesity, said Michael Fierro, policy analyst at the National Governors Association and the author of the study.

States first need to assess the burden obesity places on their health-care system, and then convene experts to propose solutions, he said. The next two most important tools: Increase the time children spend in physical education classes, and put healthy food in schools.

[discostu]

Of course you obviously only skimmed. The sentence you quote is in a para talking about how that's not new information, pointing out how the AHA chose right then to issue this press announcement (just days before the new BMI standards became official) reiterating something already known.

[dtel]

Why the caublanasian of course.
What you don't think Mickelson's man breasts enhance his ability to swing the club?
I've heard several teachers say women have a built in advantage, in that they can just let their arms hang around their breasts and form the proper triangulation.
I'm sure Phil is testing this theory.

[discostu]

but of course Tiger is an American and this is about Americans, not skin color. Some Americans are overweight, no kidding. Some {fill in the blank} are overweight. The question is do we have a problem of crisis proportions like the current fashion says? I say that when the medical people have to change their definition of obese to get the label put on more people then it's the medical community that has too much fat (between their ears), not the people they're judging.

[dtel]

I really do agree with you.
But perception is reality, don't you know.
I have a problem with identifying a certain class of people and then demonizing them.
The list is long and growing yearly, the do-gooders will not stop until they are the only ones left.
But, what will be left for them?

[Askel5]

How are the liberals going to deal with that? The Right Obligation to Die, of course.

Euthanasia's headed our way like a runaway train.

[altura]

I can't believe you people. You are like the conservatives who want the government to stay out of our business,

except ...

for things that offend you. If you hate smoking, you'll cut the authorities a little slack on banning smoking,

if you don't like fat people, and some of you obviously despise them for some reason, it's okay with you if unhealthy foods are taxed. I mean if private businesses, ins. companies, for example, want to charge more premiums, that's fine, but watch out for the slippery slope ... you may be next. Some of us hope you are.

I just can't wait until they put a tax on your guzzling old firebird you love so much.

[Askel5]

McDonald's delivers?

[dtel]

"Euthanasia's headed our way like a runaway train."

Is it just me or does this country appear to be headed down the same path pre WW II Germany traveled?

[Askel5]

The new standards, now that they're unisex

Ooops. The Agenda is showing.

[Askel5]

What ... the rabid veganism, anti-tobacco campaigns and Nationalism getting to you?

Looks like you could use some character training.

[discostu]

No, living longer and being taller DOES mean we're healthier. Unhealthy children don't grow tall and unhealthy people die. If we're tall and alive that means we're healthy. We're not talking about just judging 2 centuries ago with now, while that gives us great stats those can all be ascribed to the things you point out. We're talking just in the last 20 years or so, things have gone from low 70s to high 70s even upper 80s. And these aren't convalescing years we're adding, these are active years, healthy years. According to the new BMI 55% of adult Americans are overweight. If over half your populace suffers from such a dangerous condition your nations life expectancy would have to go down... unless your medical community is grossly overstating the health risks of said condition.

Short people weren't as healthy when growing up as tall people. One of the biggest contributing factors to height (besides genetics of course) is nutrition. What our moms said was true, you've got to eat right to grow big and strong. One of the great arguements for capitalism is going on right now in Asia where the Japanese and South Koreans are gaining height over their communist neighbors. Decades ago there wasn't much of a height difference between Japanese and Chinese and none at all between North and South Koreans. Now there is. It's an indication of nutritional standards. Because American's are getting taller (by a lot, everybody I know between 20 and 40 has at least 2 inches on their tallest parent) we know they're eating better.

[retrokitten]

I can't believe you people. You are like the conservatives who want the government to stay out of our business,

except ...

for things that offend you. If you hate smoking, you'll cut the authorities a little slack on banning smoking, if you don't like fat people, and some of you obviously despise them for some reason, it's okay with you if unhealthy foods are taxed. I mean if private businesses, ins. companies, for example, want to charge more premiums, that's fine, but watch out for the slippery slope ... you may be next. Some of us hope you are.

I just can't wait until they put a tax on your guzzling old firebird you love so much.

This was so well put and I just thought it needed to be said again. There is so much anger and hostility towards the overweight on this thread! It's a good thing that all FReepers look like supermodels and can cast that first stone.

[doctor noe]

Yep. Southwest is charging the obese for 2 seats...no reason why ALL insurance companies shouldn't charge the obese a substantially higher premium. It's only fair...the more they eat and lounge on the couch, the more they should pay.

[dtel]

"Looks like you could use some character training"

Can I just go out in the pasture and let my bull kick me repeatedly in the head, instead?
Pretty please.

[nanny]

This is just, much like the tobacco flap, and to an extent the SUV flap, another way to pit one American against another. This allows some people an opportunity to feel superior to another group of persons and give them carte blanche to deride and ridicule them. Anyone who feels comfortable being so disgustingly cruel to another group of people obviously has very little going for them in their own life. Then comes the government and throws them an excuse to feel they are better and those weak-minded get drawn into the net.

Yes, most obese people are that way because of their own life choices. But many obese people probably can and I pray will, loose weight, but I fear the fixing of the hearts of the 'elite' may be a little harder proposition.

Yes, I am obese. Yes, I caused it. It is a fairly recent thing (in terms of my years) and no I am not happy about it and no I am not doing enough to correct it. However, I am not ashamed to disclose just how much my obesity has NOT cost the taxpayers or anyone else. I have not seen a doctor in 29 years, but have continued to pay the same premiums as anyone else.

The insanity could go on forever. To a large extent we are all responsibility for our own health problems. The insanity could go own forever--

[dtel]

Very well said nanny.
Kudos.

[kancel]

Actually I like this chart. It shows me in the normal weight for my height and to tell you the truth I feel I need to be about 15 lbs lighter to be as thin as I used to be.

Course hubby says if I lose anymore I'm going to be nothing but bones. Guess he didn't like my size when we first met. ;)

[kancel]

>>Glad to say I have large wrists and missed out on the 'fat boy' program by five pounds.

LOL- Hubby says when he was in the Navy there was a guy with a Mr. Olympia body. Paper pushers were always putting him in the fat boy program cause he weighed so much - solid muscle. I guess it was kind of a joke.