Do Climbing Obesity Rates Scare You?

What are the consequences of climbing obesity rates?

According to F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future 2011, a report from the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), four years ago only one state with had climbing obesity rates over the 30% mark. Now 12?

“Since 1995, obesity rates have doubled in seven states and increased by at least 90 percent in 10 others.” Colorado is the ONLY state with an obesity rate under 20%.

The article states that the highest obesity rate in 1995 is now the lowest rate today. How do we explain this epidemic weight gain? The CDC gives a great state comparison chart, too.

How did we get so fat? And why do so many people seem to be ok with it? We know that obesity leads to diabetes and hypertension, as shown by the direct link to the rise in those two conditions in the states where obesity has increased. Yet, fat continues to reign supreme.

How do we stop it?

This article lists a few government policies to serve the cause. I’m not opposed to policies to support health. But doesn’t health begin and end with the individual? Yes, the FDA needs to demand better labels on food so we know what we consume. In my Utopia we’d have greater support for sustainable and organic foods. But what we choose to put in our mouths with each mean is on us. Not the government.

We’ve seen efforts to sway McDonald’s to healthier ways. The “healthy” oatmeal has between 18 and 32 g of sugar – not good. Check out the nutrition facts. I appreciate the effort, but people need to realize that nothing will change unless consumers want it to change. You want to be fat and die young? I suppose that’s your choice. But how do your choices affect my insurance costs?

Carpe Diem sounds good. At first.

Free choice is part of the deal. And when we live in a “me first world,” we forget how our choices affect others.

Carpe diem sounds great in theory. Eat what you want today. Live life to the fullest.

But are you living life to the fullest huffing and puffing up the stairs? Unable to keep up with your kids? Feeling like your 50 when your 35?

That’s not carpe diem to me. You put yourself at risk for so many diseases. Can our country really afford those healthcare costs?

What do you think?