We are getting fatter because we are sitting around all the time eating while we play on the intenet, watching tv, talking on the phone, playing our video games, or just plain eating! Technology has screwed our kids and even though there's plenty of things to do outside such as swim, ride 4 wheelers, trampoline, etc... those things can't hold a candle to the appeal of the internet and social networking. Here I am messing on the internet!

Technology can't mess up you're kids unless you let it. Neither can junk food.

rightvswrong,

Please help me! I'm in the same boat you're in

When my kids were little - my husband complained that the kids weren't as dedicated to baseball as he was at that age. He would always be outside (throwing the ball around, playing catch, etc). Yeah, well when we were kids there were only 3 TV channels much less some that are completely dedicated to kid viewing (how many are there now?), there were no video games - just pin ball machines and certainly no internet. It is a challenge to keep kids active, especially in this latch key kid society.

It's not just the inactivity, although that's a big part, it's the highly processed food people eat too. The is so much sugar, fats, transfats, sodium, preservatives, additives, flavor enhancers and other chemicals in the food people eat today I'm surprised the obesity rates aren't higher. All these ingredients add no nutrtion to the food, just increase the calories. Then there's the growth hormones in meat. If you think they aren't part of the equation you're wrong. Guess what you're eating in that steak or hamburger, the hormones don't just dissapear when the animal is butchered. We didn't eat like this when I was growing up. We cooked from scratch with out all the added garbage they put in food today. Even the hot dogs we at were made by the local butcher.

Problem is all you food contains 12 deadly poisions that have bad effect on you health, a apple is the most poisoned food in the chain.

Bacon is good for me.

Find out what the TSA workers in the San Diego Airport are doing and then do just the opposite. All of them have uniforms that look like the buttons are going to explode. They wouldn't have issued uniforms that tight, so they must have gained the weight since they were hired. I wonder where they are eating? Airport food = fast food = fat people.

In certain parts of the country being fat is so normal that you are not considered fat until you weigh more than 300 lbs. Linemen in the NFL used to average less than 240. Nowdays 240 is considered trim in many parts of the country. If there is a worldwide famine these people will be the survivors

You have to keep in mind that people on average have also been increasing in height so naturally weight is going to go up. As far as football players and linemen those people are being bread to play and be big. The Ohio State football linemen average over 350, but they also average of 6'5. Just so you know Im 6'2, 235lbs and less than 10% body fat, so it just depends on the person.

Orbust-If what you are saying is factual, you might go have your thyroid tested. If it is out of whack, it can be dealt with using fairly inexpensive meds to get it under control. It might be worth a trip to the doc for a simple lab test.

Sure, kids might want to sit and play video games, but ONLY if YOU, as a parent, aren't available. If you go biking, walking, etc. with them and do it as a family, they will go with you. They may protest, at first, but once they get started and it's part of "family life", they will LOVE it! All kids want more parent time Exercising in a fun way is a 2fer! Maybe go for that bike ride or walk after dinner, and come back and have a smaller portion of dessert than you usually would. That's the kind of carrot to dangle in front of them, too. Oh, and don't talk about it as "exercising". It can just be "getting some "fresh air"!

Hell with it, "I'm Baking a cake."

The states with high obesity rates have very high African-American populations. Wash DC is now included. Studies should look at the correlations between obesity and race and income. My guess is African-Americans and poor whites are more obese than average. These groups have high incidence of diabetes, high blood pressure and a host of diet/lifestyle related issues.

The only way to get health care costs under control is to stop being politically correct and work hard to address these issues in these populations.

Fatness can be enjoyed by any race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, political persuasion, or age group. Finally we have something that can unite us all!

But lower income households tend to buy the junk food (potato chips on sale for 59 cents as opposed to a bag of baby carrots).

The cheapest and most readily available foods are the most fattening and highly processed foods. How about putting an education program in place for the places with the highest obesity rates and teach them about proper nutrition. Also make sure healthy foods are available and affordable and maybe a cooking class on how to prepare them. I have read that alot of inner cities do not have full fledged grocery stores just local 7-11 types with no fresh produce. I would be willing to pay a little extra in taxes to help get something like this started. The big payoff, if people learn how to be healthier, would be a reduction in health care costs over the long run. High blood pressure and diabetes can be managed and even reversed with a proper diet and weight loss.

How about putting an education program in place for the places with the highest obesity rates and teach them about proper nutrition.

Because, people like coug84 would start the mad arm flapping screaming "socialism" and "government takeover". People on the right don't want to lose money out of their pockets to help someone else. It's sad and pathetic, but true. The other problem is that people have to want to change, and a lot of people just don't see the harm in how they eat. So many have the mind frame of "I've eaten like this for years, and I'm still alive".

The only reason those foods are so cheap is because we subsidize corn. $5 billion dollars is spent on corn each year. The government wants to put a tax on soda so we don't drink it. So essentially we are going to pay a tax for drinking too much of something that we payed to make cheap. Getting out every once and awhile doesn't hurt either.

RE smallbusiness: People in poor minority, ethnic and rural neighborhoods often have far fewer food choices available to them because most big grocery chains don't build stores there. The local convenience store or bodega may be the only non-fast food source for blocks or miles around. How many of them have the storage, shelve space refrigeration facilities available to offer fresh fruits, veggies, meat and fish, much less organic foods?

Check out a convenience store the next time you're near one and ty shopping for your family there. Lousy choices, right? These stores and bodegas also charge a lot more than the big chains do for food because they can; they have a captive audience. That fact alone can force poor people to buy less than desirable foods just to have something to put on the table.

My point is that obesity is not always just an ignorance or cultural issue; it often boils down to the economics of where one lives and what is available there. No wonder the nation's poorest state is also the most obese.

hurrah!! Ding ding ding! Someone gets it.

I may put down my fork, but you'll never get your grubby little paws on my spoon!

Okay, i'll walk around the block to McDonalds, i don't need a fork to eat my Chicken McNuggets.

lol

Jessica,

When the slaughter house has finished scraping any decent meat off of the chicken bodies(((((((((((hormone-infested, unable to stand up and walk, raised in the dark with dead chickens all around them in tiny, dark cages---- )))))))))))))) and all that is left are the bits and pieces of things the poorest family would throw out back for stray cats . . . that is when the scraper picks up the grotesque residue that becomes McNuggets. Ground up into something less scary, dipped in batter, and deep fried in oil for that good old artery-killing, ass-fattening killya young effect.

Bon appetit, Darling. I would not set foot in a McDonalds. Neither should you. You are given your beautiful body only once. It should be cherished, pampered, and treated as the most important machine -- lovingly and carefully fed that which is most healthy and tasty. Not trash bin rubbish from a dead bird factory.

Ok, Jessica

I guess we just heard from someone who eats regurgitated wheat grass for lunch. Hey World Citizen, its time for dinner so go out on the back lawn and graze for a while.

Tool!

But since Washinton politics probably aen't going to change any time soon, a good step in the right direcion would be toeat healthy on your own. If more people puchased the healthier products, the food industry would have to catch on to be competitive.

Healthier eating is on the rise, just some areas have yet to catch on.

Jamie,

you are a sharp cookie.

Generally, Washington DC has a highly educated, highly-paid population and a low unemployment rate, thanks to the federal government's massive work force. The residents have access to grocery stores and specialty markets that carry the fresh healthy foods they demand, and gyms and personal trainers to help them stay physically fit. Would that we were all so lucky.

According to an Urban Institute report, most poor people live outside the District. You can bet the farm you won't see any upscale food stores or boutique gyms in those areas, and that you would see a correspondingly higher rate of obesity in their populations.

To repeat a point made earlier: Obesity is not just due to ignorance or laziness; it is often related to the economics of where one lives, the foods available there and how much you have to spend on them.

To repeat a point made earlier: Obesity is not just due to ignorance or laziness; it is often related to the economics of where one lives, the foods available there and how much you have to spend on them.

Of course if that were true Kenyans and Ethiopians would be some of the fattest people on the planet. Reality is that they are not and have the largest percentage of endurance athletes in the world. Maybe sitting your big American ass down on the sofa whilst chowing down on potato chips in front of the boob tube has a little to do with it!

lol

rob in san diego.. here we're discussing America not Kenya or Ethiopia.. thought that was obvious but I guess even the obvious has to be clarified. in America what are the cheapest quickest foods to lay your hands on?? its fast food and not so great food. don't believe that then go to a poor hood some time and look around in the local markets. I have a feeling you will be surprised.

Excuses, excuses excuses. That is America's problem right there. People are full of excuses on why they can't exercise. No gym. Can't afford it. It is too far to go to a market with healthy food. I live in southern California. We have our share of hoods here. There is nothing stopping anybody that can tie a pair of tennis shoes from walking to a store that has healthy food. Last week I saw on the news where Father Joe's Mission downtown is training homeless people to run, bike and swim for an upcoming triathlon. We need more of that and less BS excuses!

tell you what. live on a minimum wage income in a poor neighborhood in america for six months. tell me how healthy you ate at the end of your experience. I have the feeling you're divorced from the reality many people live in the country.

Wow isn't it amazing that all people in poor neighborhoods aren't fat! I wonder how those who aren't avoid it. You claim that being poor makes you fat and I say it is a product of pure laziness or simply not caring with a few exceptions of course. I offered up concrete examples showing where you are just plain wrong. The best you can come back with is that some how poor Americans are more entitled to be fat than the rest of the world. Put up or shut up!

I didn't say that being poor makes you fat. there's a combination of factors that do it. as for concrete examples you didn't offer up jack just your suggestions and comments which seem to indicate you have little understanding like talking about home less triathlon training. nobodies entitled to be fat or thin but they are entitled to be accepted for who they are not who or what you think they should be. you know what to do with your selfriteous attitude.

In other words you still have zero other than to attack me personally even though you no absolutely nothing about me. Exactly how is pointing out that Kenyans and Ethiopians do not have the obesity problem that Americans do self righteous? Or suggesting that someone merely needs to lace up their tennis shoes and walk to a store that has good food thereby getting exercise at the same time self righteous? or pointing out that even homeless people are capable of exercising if they decide to put their mind to it self righteous? If I didn't know better I would guess that you have a problem along with considerable guilt. Quit making excuses and do something about it. Personally I don't give a damn. If people want to be overweight and not do anything about it that is their choice. Just don't ask me to pay for your health problems!

is it hard to under stand that ethiopia and the usa are diff places with diff cultures and circumstances? I can't believe I had to spell that out.

what part of not understanding that most people wont walk more than 20 mins to get some where do you not get? not cuz people are lazy but cuz they can't afford to spend that much time getting from place to place. most peoples jobs these days are much more sedate and involve lots of sitting and not very much free time or financial reward.

there's no guilt here and no excuses and you don't pay jack for me and you never will. I think you should spend less time analysing and making assumptions about other people and FAILING at it miserably.. you should spend more time trying to figure out why you are the way you are instead and fixing THAT.

Still nothing to support your position but personal attacks and more excuses. No time to exercise! It's a different culture! My job requires me to sit on my fat ass all day! Yet people in the exact same situation find the time to exercise and control their weight. How is that? And BTW voting for your own posts not only looks foolish but is fooling nobody.

its a personal attack to point out ethiopia and america are diff places? ok I see what I'm dealing with. have a nice day, perfect human being that you are lol.

Obviously your different place excuse wasn't the personal attack. It was more like:

you should spend more time trying to figure out why you are the way you are instead and fixing THAT.

or how about

have a nice day, perfect human being that you are lol.

Yet you have still offered nothing but excuses for your assertion that poor people are fat because they are surrounded only by stores containing junk food. However you do still vote for your posts as if it makes them seem more intelligent.

AND. cook at home. Make it a part of family time. It saves money, is healthier, and gives you more time together. Isn't that what both parents and children want? Time together? If you have a stove, oven, and crockpot, you can cook wonders -- easily, cheaply, and delisciously. Try it. You might like it! You can always go back to quick and convenient, but after only a month of healthier eating, you'll be amazed at how much better you feel.

if you have a stove, oven, and crockpot, you can cook wonders -- easily, cheaply, and delisciously

I don't know about that, Applebees has "two for twenty".

Overall serious crime is significantly lower now than it was 20 or 30 years ago. (If crime and obesity were positively correlated, then obesity rates should have been dropping over the last 20 years, and they are not, so there goes your theory Mr. Blakesly.) I suggest you read Freakonomics. New York City has undergone a transformation. It is striking how much crime in NYC (and other major cities) has dropped over the past 25 years. This is due to the effects of legalized abortions in the late 60's I believe. Simply put, a whole bunch of unwanted children were never born and thus didn't have a chance to stir up trouble, as unwanted children tend to do as adults. The simple fact is that the food industry has been more efficient at turning corn into calories and high tech has compelled more people to sit on their fat arses. Don't look for an excuse. Kids are staying inside to play Play Station and eat KFC like Eric Cartman on Southpark. Get Real L Blakesley and do some research before spouting your drivel.

The town I live in now in Illinois: last summer saw an entire month with an armed bank robbery every single day. A large influx of population from the South Side of Chicago projects when they were torn down. Three violent vandalism attacks on our quiet street alone since we moved in the town in 2003. Our garage broken into within a week of moving in. Roads on all four sides of our immediate area with a high traffic count..... The kids play in our yard, yes, of course. Do I feel comfortable with my nearly 13 year-old son going to the most local thrift store to get a snack? Um, no. It's been robbed violently in the past few years. It is also necessary to cross two of the four busy roads. Walking, biking, whatever- it's all involving very real items of concern! (The main road by me has at least 5-10 people killed as pedestrians crossing the road every single year!!) My daughter isn't ready to handle the dangers presented and she does not have friends to be on a buddy system with; there is no way in HE** she's going beyond our single road for ANY reason by herself!! She's 10.

Homeduck, I don't know where you live, but I live in a "moderate" size community of just over 100,000. If it's like this here, how many more are the same with the same concerns?

These are NOT made-up things.

My kids are staying with family in a much smaller town with a network of "grandparents" who watch out for kids daily. The past few days they have stayed there they've had a level of freedom that they just don't have here. Yet, I cringe as at 11 years of age (MANY years ago) I was violently assaulted in this same small town.

It is not as easy to raise kids in the past 15-20 years as it was many years ago. The tendency of persnickety old farts, and those with way too much time on their hands, to find fault in whatever choice is made by other people, and the habit to freely criticize ANY lifestyle other than a person's own, have become so pervasive that laws are created every single day to bring more intrusive and more constricting laws.

And we need to set the example! If everyone pitches in with dinner, then the whole family can go for a walk, bike, tumble in the backyard, throw the softball, etc,, etc., etc. You may need to cut out a different after dinner activity but if you really value your health AND your family, you'll make the choice to spend the time taking care of both -- together. (OK, I'll get off my soapbox now. LOL)

Miskaffon,

Don't blame crime for fat kids in America. Overall violent crime in the US dropped by about 50% from 1994 to 2001. Don't take my word for it, check the USBJS (US Bureau of Justice Statistics). I also suggest you read Freakonomics so you can develop your logical thinking skills before spouting off about what you don't understand. Have a nice day.

Homeduck- *what I don't understand*? Are you KIDDING me? Come on over & JOIN my community that I live in EVERY DAY!! I have a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, granted it isn't criminal but I did have to study economics. I also have family in the government end of things and believe me violent crime is NOT going down in smaller cities; twisted facts with unsubstantiated evidence based on specific locations do not the conditions in the entire country make. Sorry your argument is weak at best.

What rock are YOU living under that everything's so rosey that you would let your child go anywhere, anytime so that they are outside during every day?? Must be nice in the rose-dosey little utopia you have there..... Because it doesn't exist in my world, nor can we afford to move. So, as much as I WANT them to be able to go wherever they'd like and keep outdoors and active, they cannot. We get out as much as we can but my point is it is not the same world it was in the 50's & 60's......

Besides the fact; where do you get off claiming that I was *blaming crime for fat kids in America*??? Haha, very funny. You chose to read a whole lot more in what I said than what I actually said. Read much? Or are we being a little too touchy since we know we hit a nerve regarding "persnickety old farts" and (morons- I have to add that with your idiotic response!!!) "with too much time on their hands" who would dictate every person's waking moment in their day?? A little too close to home on that one, hmmmm????????

It's Obama's fault.

I blame Nixon

Blame Canada.

Blame everybody but ourselves.

Blame 2 income families! If 1 parent per house hold actually stayed home, watched what our children ate and played with them, teached them write and wrong and fed the properly (like it was more so 20-25 years ago) this obesity problem along with many other problems, such as crime, would not be so bad!

I blame Elvis and his favorite food: fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches.

It's Bush's fault.

LOL...Hmmmm Bush runs and rides mountain bikes with Lance. Obama smokes, has beer summits, eats fast-food hamburgers, fries and drinks milk shakes with world leaders while his wife gives lip service to their vegetable garden.

Um, what about Satan???? Since we've blamed everyone else under the sun.,.. Just for kicks.... (Just kidding this is just so overblown and idiotic I have to say something fun- good grief!!)

Banning everything isn't the answer. If you can't control yourself, get help. It's not the responsibility of fast food chains or television networks to make sure you don't over-do it.

It's just that every time I see food on the T.V., I get these uncontrollable urges to eat EAT EAT!!! I can't help it.

Some people are food addicts and can't help themselves. It's like putting drugs in someones face and telling them not to want it. So I think it would be helpful not to have as many commecials with food.

I don't know if this might help you guys, but I haven't seen a food ad since the 1990's when I shut off my television and got rid of it. I'm already slender and have lost 10 pounds in the past year by running 2 miles (a slow jog) after work, refusing to ever set foot in a fast food place or drive through, buying virtually no factory made food, ignoring soft drinks, and more. I love cocktails and cold beer and enjoy 4-6 a week. I eat very small amounts and feel great after. I can't even remember the putrid smell of deep fry oil from back when my coworkers used to drag me into fast food places. At age 18, I went totally off red meat for 10 years and I am still almost vegetarian. But, I love fish and farm - raised meats. Just tiny amounts. Remember, Americans today eat 150 times as much chicken as we did 50-100 years ago. We are not meant to feast like that every week / every day / every month. It is unnatural.

you are the exception. not all of these oprahs in mississippi have cushing syndrome. they have pushing syndrome- pushing food into their mouth

Truth has a point, though. Most actual dietitians (I'm married to one) don't use BMI anymore, or don't use it solely. It completely fails to account for muscle mass in any way, shape or form. It can be used as a screening tool, but it's no more precise - less so, in fact - than the questionnaire you fill out about your health history in the waiting room.

Body fat percentage and relative proportion of subcutaneous to intra-abdominal fat are much more reliable indicators of healthy weight, along with other measures of muscular and cardiovascular fitness.

Not that I think Americans have problems with too much muscle mass... when the SMALL size has gone from what, 8 oz of soda? to 24 at every fast food place in the country, and empty calories are cheaper than they have ever been.

BMI is a wholly inadequate measure, and we just don't have a good way to tell whether the problem is overblown or not. The best solution would be to knock off the wacky corn subsidies, mandate normalized portion sizes at restaurants, and find a good way to get the country off its collective ass.

All the fiet6icians I know are fat.

Seriously!

Except those who have had liposuction, and that's cheating.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xYTUzjqHlkk/S4OcyaS5MNI/AAAAAAAAAA8/OKhKVQZsI-E/s200/fat.bmp&imgrefurl=http://healthyinkuwait.blogspot.com/2010/02/fat-dietitian-story-of-ongoing-battle.html&usg=__Dc-_Dh8ckyfSKz2sTRJsAAXiOAc=&h=200&w=156&sz=13&hl=en&start=9&itbs=1&tbnid=TwfIj9aeVfYF4M:&tbnh=104&tbnw=81&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dfat%2Bdietitian%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1

I weigh 163 lbs and am 5'4" and wear a size 10. The problem with using solely BMI - is that it does not take into consideration a persons muscle mass. I would be considered overweight because to be on the outside margins I would have to weigh 145. While carrying a little extra weight than I would prefer - I am no where near overweight. I do however have great leg and arm muscles from my workouts.

I think 5'4" and 163 is overweight. If I were 5'4" I'd weigh 110. (and yeah, I have big big biceps but small wrists)

145lbs at 5'-0" ? You're telling me you're not overweight any? Right.

Just remember that when you are calling 5' and 145 (size 6) "well below average" ------- as you say that remember that you are only talking about certain places in the world. When everyone around you has turned huge, you start to think that is "well below average."

I travel constantly, and when I return to the USA or Britain, certain places in Western Europe, I feel shocked at all the large people - sort of the way you get shocked when you see an overweight animal. It is so unnatural for people OR other animals to grow a bunch of fat. It is a symptom of dangerous products (people NEVER EVER ate from factory made food throughout human history until recently). It is a symptom of a revolting lifestyle that people in many countries see as decadent, lazy, irresponsible and very unsexy.

In many of the cities I travel in, like Moscow, Palanga Lithuania, Warsaw . . . people do not walk from their kitchen into a private garage, sit their big bottom into a car, and drive to within 50 feet of any destination. They walk, bicycle, eat small portions slowly, drink healthy drinks (not the nonstop sugar bath of sodas). The "average" in those cities is 5' 8" 120 pounds. I just married one of them. She improves even my strict and very enjoyable diet and lifestyle.

BS it is amazing how people can make this stuff up. The only way anyone gets fat is by eating and drinking too much. Don't eat for a week and tell me you gained weight. And noone gains 60 lbs out of the blue by eating just 1500 calories a day. Be true to yourself and your friends. I suspect you and your friends are eating way more than you want to believe.

¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?

Here we go again.

Enough with the illegal alien thing already!

By the way, a fat latina is way better looking than a fat gringa.

I just read somewhere recently (don't know how true it is) that the Latin culture appreciates a more curvy figure than our bony Hollywood heroines. That may explain why the Latinas carry a few extra pounds.

That is a lucky thing because 16 is the last good year most Latinas I've known ever have. It is a pity because so many of them are gorgeous until they gain all that weight.

I kinda like Jennifer Lopez's butt and I'm not even Latin!

without being racist in anyway but maybe thats the reason studies show blacks and latino's are heavier, from what ive seen in tv/music etc black men appreciate black womens curves, black women still feel sexy when they are heavy and a lot of men like that, isnt there some underlying culture that its better to be heavier, i know the tongans in biggest loser said in their culture being slim is frowned upon?

What would do it??????????

A big fat tax on fast food and lunchables. They should be taxed triple a veggie, a fruit, a grain.

Time for a delicious salad right? :)

I smell the pork.

Charlie,

You need to get around more. Go get yourself a Scandinavian, pacifist, skinny blonde from a country where her education was free, her health care is free, her taxes are moderate, her obsession with showing off wealth is zero and the idea of blaming the US for anything does not exist. Meeting her will inform you that all the other countries are not crying, moaning, and shooting. Most are just enjoying life and NOT getting ridiculously fat. Also, the honeymoon with her might open the valve on some of that tension visible in your post. Relax, man.

No matter how expensice the so called healthy food is, physical activity is free no matter what your income. Our nation is lazy.

Well it is partly the individuals fault too. Most are capable of reading labels and making healthier choices.

Sorry, hugh, but I must agree with bmx mom on this one; it IS possible to read the ingredients (or if you must, bring someone along with you who can read the ingredients for you) and do better.

I don't want to throw people of any size down with insults and far-flung criticism, however, there does have to be an element of self-responsibility involved in the ultimate solution!

I'm nowhere near perfect. I have a very long way to go in my struggle, but I do realize that I have a responsibility to myself to make better choices and keep the things that contributed to my size to a minimum.

However, all that said, there is also much, much more involved in the struggle with weight. I have been diagnosed, visually, with Polysistic (sp?) ovary syndrome (an incurable metobolic disease that is very difficult to control), confirmed extreme problems with thyroid levels, a painful condition with no name that limits my sense of feeling in my elbows/arms (I've had many surgeries to release scar tissue that help but do not sure), knee arthritis that is slowly crippling my knee but I refuse to let take me down.....

No, it is not a simple "calories in + calories burned = size" equation. There are the chances for many variables. But, though I'm no math whiz I know that solutions can come OUT of extremely complex equations and proofs; somewhere in it all is EVERYONE'S solution to their own obesity. It IS our responsibility to give it every effort to find the solution that will work for us.