ya according to the BMI thingy, im like 100 lbs overweight, that would put me at the same weight as i was in freshman year of high school, i was a scrawny pasty beanpole, dunno if thats healthy. but in any case bein a scientifically minded person i always wonder about the evolution of species and what not, and according to what ive read, the theory behind the dinosaurs getting to be so large was that they were the top of the heap for millions of years, mostly no natural predators except each other, one can only wonder if early dinosaurs went through issues like this as the began to evolve to larger and larger reptiles. (although i cant imagine a velociraptor sitting on the couch playing gears of war and eating doritoes).

Drezz. From what I've read back 65+ millions years ago, there was a much higher percentage of oxygen in the atmosphere and that is what allowed animals and insects to grow abnormally large.

As long as McDs and all the other fast food restaurants keep flashing the likes of a juicy tripple beef baconator, a side order of biggie fries and a diet coke; we are not going anywhere anytime soon folks....these treats are gettin tastier everyday...that or a couple of veggie sticks and carrots, plus back breakin exercise....dont know about the last one folks....sounds like alotta work...even my horse Rex does not like the sound o that...there has to be a way to get the treats and be in shape....has to be...

@Doc: You can still have bacon and be healthy. One strip of bacon is about 35-50 calories, so if you have two strips of bacon, an egg, and a piece of fruit, say an apple, for breakfast, you're still coming in at ~300 calories for breakfast, and you'll feel full until lunch. The problem is that people use bacon as a condiment, putting it on everything, from cheesefries to ice cream. That 100 calories from bacon isn't all that bad, until you realize they're topping a 500-calorie cheeseburger with it, and have 300 calories of french fries, and 200 calories worth of soda, just for lunch.

Healthier foods can be tasty, too. I had a big ol' container of celery today with my sandwich. Maybe it's just me, but I love the taste/texture of raw vegetables. Carrots, celery, cucumbers, asparagus, broccoli, you name it, once you develop a taste for it, you end up craving it.

That's not to say a Baconator doesn't hit the spot once in a while, but some people are eating them every day.

Not too long ago there was mention in a news story that the Washington State Ferries had to reassess and change passenger limits to reflect the increasing weight of the riders.

I think one example was changing the maximum of passengers from 2,500 to 1,700 or so. Anyone else remember this story?

I remember it. Have the skinnies started subsidizing the fatties ticket prices yet?

It is pathetic to see children these days so obese. I mean the little ones-they weight more than myself. What kind of a future do they have? I blame the parents or parent.They are morbidly obese themselves along with their grandparents-siblings cousins and on and on. Where are the role models for these kids??

It's a vicious cycle that I see no end to but it begins with the adult! Impulsive and lack control.

Matt - I'm pretty sure there is no way your body fat is less than 10%. I'm a 160lb skinny-ass triathlete and I can't get down that low. I live in Kona on the Big Island and live a ridiculous triathlete lifestyle trying to get that low. Maybe you're a pro and work at it 24/7, and I'm wrong. For folks that are into that type of stuff, a super low body fat count is something to be proud of: it takes @!$%#-loads of hard work.

I'm not saying you're a fat turdball, just saying.

And, yes, Another 1... I remember the story about the fatties and the ferries.

I first scoffed at my projected BMI numbers, back when I was overweight several years ago. At 6' tall I thought the BMI "target" numbers of 165-170lbs was ridiculous - as I remembered I had never been below 180lbs since high school. Well, today I walk around at 170lbs and I've found the numbers to be right-on. I eat mostly a vegetarian diet with some fish and occasional boneless white organic chicken and I also work-out regularly at the gym.

Most people I talk to about their weight all believe the BMI numbers are way too low... unfortunately this just isn't the case. Sure, BMI is far from perfect but for most people it is a pretty close guide. If you think you're big-boned or "large-framed" etc. you probably are just kidding yourself like I once did. For the most part the BMI is accurate unless you are a very active athlete, have a very strange body type or you are truly some freak of nature. For almost everyone reading this forum the BMI projections are pretty accurate.

@Inh: I didn't say I'm at 10% now, but about a year ago I was. You don't need to be a "skinny ass" triathlete or work out 24/7 to get there. What you do have to do is heavy lifting mixed with lots of cardio. I would spend roughly 2 hours lifting weights, 6 days a week at the gym, and run for an hour afterward. The body fat impedance test I took at the doctors office came in at 10.3%. Now I'm more like 16%, but I'm going to try to cut back to 12% or so.

lnh, Matt is right. Where I used to work out on a military post we had tons of serious body builder types. Some who came by it naturally, some who had a little help, but 10% is not out of the ordinary in that crowd. I'm female and I'm around 17% and not even really exercising very hard. Working on a treadmill desk helps. I think it's also a genetic thing. Some people pack on the muscles and drop fat easily and others don't.

You are absolutely correct. The shame of it is, also, in the schools where the children's recess has been taken away, lunch time is cut short and they are to stay in, and worst of all is that they no longer have Phys Ed. Definitely, people need to be aware of what they are eating, but, a nice rich meal once a week (on Sunday with the family) does not hurt anyone as long as the exercise goes along with it and during the week. We do not need the government in our lives telling us how to live or eat!!

I know!! So glad I sell cars; I get lots of outdoor exercise and am NOT chained to my desk. Some folks are not as fortunate. My husband,on the other hand IS cooped up for 8 hours at the office and the only way to go outside is to smoke, which he does not do. He calls it his fresh air break.

My husband walks about 4 miles total to ride the train into the city for work. He really enjoys the exercise. My son and I only walk a mile every day, but we do it religiously.

Chemicals and heavy metals also are slowly and silently accumulating in Americans and this interferes with the endocrine system (thyroid especially) and this slows the metabolism down. Some people exercise and under-eat and still have a hard time losing weight. This is one of the reasons why. There are ways to get rid of toxins, but it takes time and doing it correctly.

I've worked for many employers who told me to take a long walk.

We used to have a group of colleagues who would walk to the deli to pick up a healthy lunch, for a 1.5 mile round trip. Now I work from home and invested in a treadmill and a treadmill desk. When I do have to go into the office I try to at least stand up while working. I saw one too many scary articles on how sitting down all day shortens the life span.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/06/24/sitting.shorten.life/index.html

I live on a bike trail. NOBODY is on it. I have it to myself. If I run into anybody I am shocked. I live on a beautiful river. I go down and swim during the summer. I have NEVER, EVER seen another person swimming and rarely anybody boating.

This epidemic is all about lack of exercise, and lack of meals of quality being prepared at home.

During the school hours, stop by any convenience store close to any high school and you will see kids standing around eating JUNK. I see it every day.

The ONLY people I see riding bikes these days are grown-ups if that is their own source of transportation.

Kids need to be exposed to growing their own gardens, no matter how small, and how to learn to cook early on. It doesn't have to be fancy food at all. Soup making is an excellent way to filling up for not a lot of money and mixing veggies that often are shunned in households today.

When you go shopping, look around at what others are buying. Few are buying produce, but lots of pre packaged stuff like pizzas, waffles sell like crazy. People can choose to change if they want to, but right now everybody is being conditioned to blame others for just about every issue.

Depends on where you live....in Arizona fitness is huge. Hiking trails are packed and roads are full of bikers and runners in the early morning. Then again, we have ten months of bathing suit weather so maybe that helps.

I live in Colorado and fitness is also big here, you always see people biking if it's 0 degrees or 80 degrees. I live right next to a paved bike trail which you can travel for about 100 miles without touching public roads

MsKat "health departments should focus on educating people about obesity and how to lose weight effectively and permanently."

Michelle Obama tried this and got raked through the coals by people who said they didn't want government in their lives.

How about new fridge/food cabinet technology. Scale in the floorplate, you step on, and it decides what you can have.

"Sorry fatty, but you're not getting any ice cream. Here, have a carrot."

Matt- go ahead; so far you are free to make the choice to have an appliance with that feature. Enjoy.

Mcwacker your prejudice is showing..

She is right to make it a crusade, but unfortunately when the 1st family goes on vacation, they are photographed eating ice cream, hamburgers, donuts, etc. On top of that suggestions to school districts with regards to menu items have been off the wall ridiculous. Many schools are dropping those changes because none of the kids are eating the meals and neither is the staff. Have you seen the pictures of the menu items? YUCK.

Good grief!! I think my dog could do better than Obama - but really???? As thedeb said below - it only took 4 posts to bring in politics - give me a break! I suppose if Mrs. Bush (whom I love) had said it, it would have been OK right

Make pasta. It is super cheap to make by hand. Anybody can do it. Flour, water, eggs. How simple is that? Pick your sauce, meat, veggies, etc. and you have a meal that is super cheap. Make your own soup. Very cheap and very filling.

The big problem is that nobody knows how to navigate in a kitchen anymore. There are many solutions but nobody wants to change. Buy a big cheap, chuck roast and have several meals meaning you only have to cook a few times a week. Throw in some potatoes and carrots and viola you have a wonderful mean for cheap. Look at the cheap meats and then cook them as indicated. It does matter how they are prepared for the best results. Yes, I am a cook.

@theboys: Okay, I am a cook too but homemade pasta is daunting start for most. :) The comment about the less expensive meats is right on. I saw a great website for braised meats.

People HAVE to start cooking at home more and eating with the family! ! !

Pasta is a refined carb and is fattening, don't eat it if you want to lose weight.

If you use 100% whole wheat or brown rice pasta, then it is NOT a refined carb, contains TONS of fiber, and even iron. Much better, and tasty too. Just make sure your portions are appropriate, and you are good to go.

It doesn't matter if it is processed or not, wheat, rice, and other grains should not be part of our diet. We only recently began eating this type of food. Try the paleo diet, or the specific carbohydrate diet and you will experience a noticeable change in your body.

Actually, archaeology shows that grains, including WHEAT have been cultivated and eaten by humans for tens of thousands of years. Many civilizations basically survived off of grains. The fact is that the bran especially is incredibly important in maintaining proper colon function...research shows that THE BEST fiber for proper colon function is WHEAT bran. I've done this before, and can say that if I exclude wheat bran from my diet, I get constipated, even if I am getting the equivalent fiber from other sources, like vegetables. I eat a mostly vegetarian diet, so I would definitely be getting plenty of fiber from the legumes. The worst constipator in my case is actually meat, and I am SO much healthier, especially digestively, since I basically stopped eating it.

@MusicGirl123: if you're not eating that wheat in it's natural state (freshly harvested) it's refined. Also agriculture has been around for ten thousand years but on an evolutionary scale (humans have existed for about 2.5 MILLION years) it's a drop in the bucket and not long enough to evolve into being able to eat grains that weren't in our diets at all previous to agriculture. Republic! is right, Paleo is the way to go. I am so much healthier since giving up grains and sugar. I also have a normal BMI now (was at the borderline between overweight and obesity with grains in my life) and I don't have to count calories or go hungry to maintain my weight.

As to your fiber argument, my carbs all come from leafy green vegetables, those provide more than enough fiber for my needs. I'm never constipated on my diet that is primarily those vegetables and meats.

lol put down the cheeseburger :)

Nothing wring with the burger or the cheese, it's the bun that makes you fat.

Oops, meant 'wrong'.

Way to go Chuck. I think you hit the nail on the head with the word "diet". I think most people associate a diet with a crazy fad or starving yourself. Really, the opposite is true. Just eat the right foods, watch your portions, and get up and move.

Great post chuck. Thank you for sharing. I took lost about 35 lbs this past year by just cutting back. I love to cook and bake. You are right. Don't diet, but just slowly make permanent changes.

A man that I know who is in his 80's exercises twice a day, every day and looks better than a lot of guys in their 20's and 30's. He's had 2 heart procedures and once recuperation was under control, he gradually got right back at it. Guess this proves age doesn't matter, has more to do with willingness and attitude.

Powers - But you forget that taxpayers have to pick up the bill for these over-eaters. Ever hear of Medicaid? Who do you think pays the bill when overweight people end up in the emergency room?

People keep saying that's it's their body and they can do whatever. I would agree with that if you also take responsibility of your health care. Look at the surge of gastric bypass/lap band. These procedures increase to the total cost for everybody. And this is just one example of many other medical issues linked to obesity.

It is not only through Medicaid that we will pay for these folks, but also through our private insurance. The idea is to spread the risk and thus the cost. There is no such thing as people making these kind of choices and then carrying the consequences independently. That is a complete falacy. So yes, someone's unhealthy lifestyle choices impacts both the taxes I pay and the cost of my private health insurance.

I agree with Tracewell, from the late 90s until now my income has gone up about 24% but my weekly deduction for healthcare has increased by about 117%, despite being broke all the time I'd be willing to bet that most of that increase over what my income has gone up is due to the obesity epidemic.

Actually, no. The cost has increased (by percentage) because our drugs and procedures for ALL diseases has increased way out of proportion to the cost of development.

However, a fair number of bad habits are now contributing to the increase in the number of medications being prescribed, and obesity leads in this area, and the impact will only grow. Smoking is still causing a large percentage of large healthcare costs, because of the serious diseases that result.

The difference between these two is that smoking (or drinking, or drugs, or riding a motorcycle without a helmet, etc.) is that the use of these substances or products, isn't required for life.

Food is, and the bad choices are largely of ignorance, poverty, and the lack of preparation time driven by overwork, etc. If subsidies for nutrition programs, exercise programs, etc. were combined with a tiered increase for your insurance if you were overweight (similar to the smoking cessation and special rates for tobacco users), you'd see some percentage of improvement.

Another post alluded to the gastric bypass being expensive. It is, but it is also successful in around 90% of the cases at eliminating High Blood Pressure and Diabetes, the costs of which are astronomically higher over a lifetime. I'd much rather do exercise and diet modification to control weight, but in some cases the immediate necessity is so great, the surgery is the best option.

The bottom-line is that obesity will drive more and more of our health costs, as the effect of an ever increasing obese population takes it's toll. We have to try to reverse the slide, or we'll not only lose our money, but many great people and their contributions to society.

Those carbs and starches may be a cheap way to stretch your food budget but they are also what causes obesity.

You are SO correct!!!! There you have the beginning of obesity-continuing for years.

Sorry- I don't like wrapping kids in plastic but dodge ball is NOT a sport I care to ever participate in again; after getting face-planted by an extremely over-inflated volleyball in 8th grade. With band-style braces. Half the inside of my mouth was BURIED in those heavy brackets!! Not to mention the broken brackets (2) the broken/bent wire, and the enormous resulting bleeding wounds....when I say "face-planted" I describe a kid twice my height rearing back with years of anger at the class for bullying that others were doing to him- he just swung out because I was close not in retaliation. However, I was in pain for about a month after that one. Adding insult to injury: it was ME who got in trouble for running out of the gym to peel the inside of my lips and cheeks from where they were embedded. I couldn't speak let alone explain what happened! I looked at the teacher, pointed to my mouth & ran out. Detention. Lovely.

And in the meantime, the American taxpayer foots the bill?

Can't the be both? It's pretty rare you can find an obese person that isn't at least a little hungry...

You can be nutritionally starved, but still obese. Furthermore, there are millions of children in America. 17% of them are obese. That leaves a lot that are healthy and some that are starving.

Obesity is a symptom of malnutrition. Consuming a poor diet leaves your cells starving for nutrients that causes you to overeat junk just to get enough to satisfy your cells requirements.

Do you realize that all the people you name here worship some dead guy on a stick and eat his flesh and drink his blood....interesting fat wack job Christians!

What putzes.

Your comments are vapid and add nothing to the discussion. Go somewhere else and spout this drivel (please).

Even funnier is that it's a "food triangle." Pyramids are three dimensional... ;)

That crappy "pyramid" is partly responsible for the obesity epidemic with those massive amounts of carbs from grains it recommends to eat daily.

@BigJon: I'm similar. I'm 5'10", and my "ideal" weight is somewhere around 165. I think to get that low, I'd have to amputate my legs. When I cut to 190ish, I was coming in around 10% body fat, which most people don't realize isn't exactly the easiest thing to do, especially when you consider the amount of weight lifting I was doing. I'm not saying my wife was complaining about the results, but she did a little bit of b*tching after I'd spend two hours at the gym and then go run for another hour. (I guess she didn't like eating dinner at 9 pm).

I'd have to amputate everything from the waist down and even then I don't know. When I was in high school, I had to kill myself, between football and the gym, to get down to 230 pounds and stay there. I had no life. And i was tested for a metabolic disorder, and even then running 5 miles a day and spending two hours in the gym 5 days a week, I was told I was obese. It ridiculous. Yes I have a layer of fat that covers me. But I'm not obese. I'm just a big guy.

Please, in the name of all that is good, go away if you think this issue is the result of either a republican or democratic initiative.

This adds NOTHING to the discussion.