70 Million Obese Americans: What's the Solution?

Posted on Aug 4th 2010 2:00PM by Martha Edwards

AFP/Getty Images, TIM SLOAN

Everyone knows that obesity is a huge threat to public health, right? Maybe not. Despite calls to action, serious government interventions and a nationwide panic about the size of our waistlines, a recent report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that the situation is not getting any better. In fact, it's getting worse.

Between 2007 and 2009, the obesity rate actually increased by 1.1 percent. That might not seem like much, but in a nation as big as ours, that's 2.4 million people who crossed the line from overweight to obese, about the size of the city of Houston. In all, 72 million Americans are obese, and the issue is most prevalent among certain groups of people, including African Americans, Hispanics and those without a college education. African American women are most affected by obesity -- at an alarming 41 percent rate.

What's also startling is the rate at which obesity has risen in the past decade. "In 2000, not a single state had an obesity prevalence of 30 percent or higher," Thomas Frieden, the director of the CDC, said in a statement. These days, nine states have at least that amount. "Obesity continues to be a major public health problem," Frieden added. "We need intensive, comprehensive and ongoing efforts to address obesity. If we don't, more people will get sick and die from obesity-related conditions."

It may be the truth, but this is starting to sound like a broken record. Is anybody listening? What does it take to wake a nation up to the fact that obesity is killing our people? Losing weight isn't impossible -- real people do it every single day -- so what can be done to inspire everyone to make healthier choices?

Dr. William Dietz, director of CDC's Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, had some thoughts: "Obesity is a complex problem that requires both personal and community action ... We need to change our communities into places where healthy eating and active living are the easiest path." But in a convenience-driven culture, where the easiest path usually leads us right to the drive-through, is this possible? And how do we make exercise seem like it's an easier choice than watching TV?

One of obesity's strongest crusaders is Michelle Obama, who recently chatted with AOL Health about her commitment to getting America moving through manageable steps. "We have to really make sure that our school districts, our parents, our communities understand that exercise is not an option," she said. "It's our job to make sure that this isn't a strain, because the kids, our kids, can get the recommended 60 minutes of play a day or activity a day that is encouraged by running outside playing tag."

As for getting people to eat healthy? "Families can make small, manageable changes in their lives that can have pretty significant impacts," she said. "We did things like we went through our cabinet and we removed as much as the processed food [as possible]. We removed sugary drinks."

But Mrs. Obama's ideas raise one very important question: If it's really that simple, why isn't everybody doing it? Is it that simple?

Tell us what do you think needs to be done to solve the obesity epidemic once and for all.

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Tags: CDC, exercise, michelle obama, nutrition, obesity, obesity crisis, physical activity, public health, weight loss

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 11)

Patricia 8-04-2010 @ 1:52PM

The first step is to stop accompanying articles with photos of very fat people, like the poor woman above who's probably not even aware her photo's being used. Photos like that send a couple of negative messages: that being obese equates to a tremendous weight gain and so this doesn't really concern 'me' I'm just 'overweight', and that being obese is something so out of control, the average person can't do anything about it and might as well give up.

Both these messages add a sense of futility for anyone who's struggling with obesity, and that covers a pretty wide spectrum of weights, not just the extremes these articles emphasize. It might be more realistic to show photos of obese and moderately obese people engaging in activities like walking or exercising just to underscore the message that weight loss is achievable with motivation, support, education and a positive outlook, no matter what a person's current condition.

Discouraging people before they even start with photos of distorted bodies won't do that, not to mention the lack of respect it shows to the unknown woman in that photo that she was chosen to be the illustration for all overweight people. The tedious series of fat jokes and negative remarks that will inevitably ensue from that photo won't help anyone who really wants to change his/her weight and self-esteem, and reads articles like this for inspiration.

bearadina 8-04-2010 @ 2:42PM

I'm sorry Patricia but the woman pictured is the only one responsible for "lack of respect" that she has inflicted on her body. She has shown absolute undeniable total disregard for the beautiful God given temple we call "our bodies". She has year after year deliberately poisoned herself with unhealthy eating habits and lifestyle and has not only shamed herself, but her children and family as well. You think her kids aren't punked on everyday due to her size and her obvious lack of respect for her body. Maybe, just maybe if people like you didn't coddle the horrendously obese..and understand that we as a society should really make it more of a stigma so that NO ONE would become obese like this woman has. Obviously this woman is miserable, by default. We would be doing her a favor. With all that being said...I really feel sorry for her and hope she can get some help to lose all that disrespect she is lugging around

Akuin 8-04-2010 @ 3:31PM

How about inexpensive psychologists? You can sit there and say "Oh it's unhealthy eating, and lack of movement and blah blah blah!" but did you know that every overweight person I know, myself included have two things that make them overweight. They either suffer from a mental issue (like Learning Disabilities or dyslexia)that has sent them into depression, Depression causes -major- weight gain. Or they have a physical problem (like Thyroids)that causes Weight gain. It might even be medications that are causing it (met people like that too). To say it's all our fault 100% because we just don't eat healthy or exercise shows a great deal of ignorance.

Here's another thing that causes obesity, Too much work. Yeah, my nephews only see the outdoors during the weekend if they're lucky, why? Because they have so much friggan homework they spend all night doing it. Please tell me where they're going to get an hour a day to play outside? I mean beyond not finishing their homework, or I suppose they could just not eat that'd work too, maybe find a way to never go to the bathroom again, or work off one less hour of sleep so they become exhausted.

Exhaustion, another reason people become obese. When I was going to college, I was running from class to class, up and down stairs all over the place, you know what I did when I got home? I laid down and relaxed. I didn't want to move anymore because I was so tired everything hurt.

Maybe if we slowed our lives down, made sure that people could take care of their minds not just their bodies then things would improve. God knows my dad works nearly 24/7 because at his job you have deadlines and tons of things can go wrong and you can't miss the deadline period end of story there are no extensions.

It's not just how people eat or exercise. It's what everyone else does to us as well. Your child cannot tell his teacher "Well I needed to exercise so I didn't finish my homework." And you can't tell your boss "Well I have to stay in shape, so blow me I'm not working overtime." Because hey your kid will fail and you will lose your job.

We have some blame, but we aren't the only ones. Our culture thrives on convenience because of all these things. It's really sad when a person can spend less money being a smoker and eating unhealthy, then getting the help they need. And I suggest you look up the different depressions and get a taste of it. These people who suffer depression physically can't do things like cook. If it's bad enough they can't even take care of themselves anymore, and at 60+ dollars a session, most people can't afford to get help.

Robbin Horn 8-04-2010 @ 3:33PM

I am sorry bearadina that you seem to be so self centered that you think this poor woman is shameful! First if you think that your body is Gods temple then you also know that you should also love all of Gods creations. Yes being over weight is a problem in this country. Taxing and telling people what they should and should not eat is not the fix. Why have schools done away with exercise programs? This only teaches our children that they do not need to take care of themselves. As parents we should push our children out the door to play and be active. Not play video games and watch TV. And it is true that junk food in the grocery stores is much cheaper than healthy food. So why doesn't the government help to make the healthy stuff more affordable? Taxing the companies that provide us our food only drives up the cost to us the consumer. Maybe we need to go back to growing and raising our own food. Seeds and a little water can go a long way to growning a wonderful garden.
Oh and bearadina making people who are overweight feel awful and ashamed of their looks and weight has been proven to only make them eat more. So how about we lift up these people and help them to make better choices. Offer to walk everyday with your over weight neighbor or friend. Tell them that you are there to help them get healthy because you are worried for them. Do tear them down, build them up!

jeffb3775 8-04-2010 @ 3:45PM

Losing weight isn't easy it's goes a lot deeper than just stopping when your "full" having formally been 643lbs (yes not a typo) now at 226lbs that 417lbs wasn't easy I and I'm sure a lot of others eat for a lot of other reasons than hunger like comfort, love, boredom, lonliness, celebration I ate for all those reasons and the world is a cruel place obese people aren't blind or deaf people say and do the most horrible things when you weigh that much you don't want to go out in public which makes the problem worse I think a lot of you shouldn't comment until you've walked in a truely obese persons shoes. Having said that I found a fabulous program that deals with all those issues check it out really helped me and can help you too it's called Am I Hungry? Started by a Dr Michelle May here's the website: www.amihungry.com

Halfthewoman 8-04-2010 @ 5:23PM

Bearadina,
Wow, it must be very lonely in your "so perfect" world. I have lost 200+ pounds in the past couple years. I wasn't a slob, a pig or lazy. I have an IQ that qualifies for MENSA...Do you? What I have and what many other people have is a metobolic disorder. Mine went untreated until I finally demanded that my Dr. test me for it. I had to fight to get the treatment I needed to get healthy and lose weight. I am one of the lucky ones, I had the ability and the means to research my problem. Other people aren't so blessed. Once I was tested and they narrowed down the problem I was finally able to lose weight but every week it's a struggle.
Fat People/Obese People are PEOPLE and they deserve the same respect that you no doubt feel you deserve. Empathy (look it up if you don't know what it means) is a wonderful trait and will bring you much more happiness than sitting bitterly comment on people who have done you no wrong.

sarah 8-04-2010 @ 5:24PM

I disagree Pat...I'm 46 years old, gainged 51 pounds with my daughter 25 years ago. I immediately exercised to lose the extra weight and keep it off. I have done this for the last 25 and am still wearing a size 8 jeans:) I only on occasion eat fast food, I prefer the healthier approach and eat at home.

I just had for supper (too hot to cook) a tuna sandwich, milk, and a slice of cake with ice cream.
See, because I didn't eat a big mac, french fry, and ex.large soda, I CAN have my cake and eat it too, AND tomorrow I will still fit into my size 8 jeans.

brianohorner 8-04-2010 @ 6:42PM

Pat, enough of the self esteem garbage already. People need to face reality and deal with issues and take responibility for thier lives and that includes weight. There are people that have been in thearapy over half thier lives and aren't any better. Why? Because they want to be victims and want pity, they do not want to pick themselves up, dust themselves off, roll up thier sleeves and goto work and do what they must do to make thier lives better. They want to blame others and sit and watch tv all night and complain. Here is an example of the "victim metality" this is from the leadership down, look at the people of New Orleans and how they reacted, they did not respond they reacted and cried how terrible thier lives were and "who is going to help us"? Watch the tapes, its true. Now look at NY and 9/11 and how they RESPONDED and they took responibility, made the best of a bad situation and has risen above what happened and gotten better and improved thier way of life, while New Orleans is still a waste land. Please prove me wrong

NikkiE 8-04-2010 @ 6:19PM

@beradina,
You are essentially justifying cruelty under the guide of "doing her favor". You were probably that "mean kid" who harassed and belittled everyone who didn't meet your seal of approval. She doesn't need you to do her any favors, especially those that are probably going to drive her more indoors and into the arms of emotional overeating. Being overweight is NOT about lacking respect for one's self. Your respect for others should be based on someone's body fat content, because people are more than their body fat content. Like the article says its a complex, and your oversimplification is just personal justification for your judgmental and cruel behavior--and probably that of your children. STIGMA is not going to stop people from gaining weight, all STIGMA does is drive problems underground. The woman in that picture probably needs more help than Weight Watchers meeting and treadmill.

Macmillan 8-04-2010 @ 5:56PM

Never read so much drivel in my life! Depressed, tired, overworked ... how about lazy, indifferent and full of excuses?

TJK 8-04-2010 @ 6:22PM

bearadina ,
You should do some research before being so critical.This person obviously has a genetic problem that causes this shape & don't expect the media to do anything but use sensationalism to try and pull the reader in.........

Jennifer 8-08-2010 @ 7:55PM

A picture like that needs to be shown. Anyone that eats that much and looks that bad needs to have the reality check of a picture. America is paying for people's obesity by having to pay them Social Security when they are in their 20s and 30s and then they are dead by the age of 40. They are leeches in our society. They need to stop eating and we have to stop paying them for their laziness.

Deweydont 8-04-2010 @ 7:41PM

Actually Particia it's people like you that make excuses for the obese that don't help. That woman in the photo does not deserve respect. She needs to put down the fork sooner and begin to start the process of losing weight. Where there's a will there's a way. Most of the obese people I know have little to no self control, and many of them are also very lazy. I have no sympathy for the obese because that is a choice.

Cari 8-05-2010 @ 7:41AM

Patricia, you hit the nail exactly on the head! Good job.

Opihi 8-04-2010 @ 7:56PM

I think Akuin is the voice of reason here. We have crammed the lives of our chidren with so much homework, so many extracurricular activies, so MUCH needless frenetic activities that there's no time to relax with good walk or hike or swim. By the time we've run the gauntlet of work, children's homework, driving kids to endless extra classes and afterschool events, we're ALL too tired, including the kids ... to do anything but sit down.

When I was a kid, we ran around outdoors after school until dinner time, then did our homework .... maybe a 1/2 hour of TV and that was it. There was only one fat kid in my class all through grade school ... same kid.

And junk food. Well STUPID .... Fried Chicken, French Fries and a Fried Apple turnover isn't a MEAL. It's a mound of fried food. And look at the portions. Tt's the QUANTITY of food we devour ... and at top notch speed too, because we don't have time to eat slowly.

You can get used to smaller portions by cutting your consumption by 1/2 for a month. Yep it's hard at first but by the end of the month you'll have your appetite under control. I did it. And lost 30 pounds .... and kept most of it off. I didn't give UP anything. I reduced QUANTITY. And omitted the slice of artifical cheese goo which fast food places put on everything. And scraped the sickly "frosting" off any piece of food which has been slathered with it. If I wanted a dessert, I skipped the starch in the main course. Piece of cake ... then no potatoes or rice. It wasn't hard.

Then add a 1 1/2 mile walk four or five times a week. And drink a little more water.

It's time to rethink our entire culture of consumption, competition and stress. We've sucked the joy out of our lives with this nonsense. Go back to simplicity, honest values and turn off those damned TV ads, rip out the glossy ads in your magazines and stop being force fed this crap. Let treats BE treats, not everyday demands. learn to appreciate the small things. learn to stop and SAVOR life and it's pleasures. You don't have to give up anything .... just close down and give some balance and proportion to your lifestyle.

Sue 8-05-2010 @ 3:22AM

Oh, so sad. Obesity isn't just eating too much. It can be legs that don't work well, endocrine problems, lack of knowledge about healthy food choices. There's no one solution for all people. Eating fewer calories than one burns in a day is a helpful solution--but not an easy one. Awareness is crucial. Some people can't afford healthier food and get by on filling carbs. Plus, it's hard to walk when every step/breath is such an effort. Everyone--get up and MOVE! :)

Pam 8-08-2010 @ 11:01PM

Thanks Patricia, you a so correct. One thing I always say,don't look to observe others that you think are more overweight than you because then you will always feel less inclined to realize how over weight you yourself are. Overweight is overweight no matter what and each individual must be accountable for his or her own health.

bigpeac 8-31-2010 @ 6:46AM

I think you nailed it on the head.

I have been in the yoyo world of weight gain, loss, and then gain it back for 60 years. Do I want to be 200 pounds overweight ---- NO! I am now losing and it will be a long battle. I realize the health consequences and am doing my hardest to get to my goal. It will be a long slow journey but well worth it. I don’t know exactly what gave me this strength but I have it now, and I like the momentum.

I have a medical condition that makes it extremely difficult if not impossible at times to lose weight. Yet, I fight that through 3 month medical monitoring, medications, weekly WW meetings and daily exercise, coupled with a gym membership so that I make certain that I walk every single day regardless of the weather.

Just saw a video of a guy in NY on News 12 who was 440 pounds and has lost 200 pounds so far with a ways to go.

I read a few postings here and find that one inparticular came from what appears to be an unknowing ignorant elitist who is insensitive, while looking down on others cursed with this problem. The woman in the article’s picture certainly does not feel good about herself, nor does she know her picture is being taken. I don't see a happy go lucky fat slob, I see a thin person trapped inside a terrible situation and probably very pained by it. I am glad to see that she hasn't totally given up on herself and that she is at least still going out and walking in public.

Shame on anyone here, who makes fun of her predicament. Of course you can't be seen nor can your lifestyle be examined more closely. Do you have a limb missing or maye a scar on your face? Boobs too enlarged maybe? Or perhaps there are a few things about you that I a citizen want to have done away with through legislation. Maybe that would be a good thing and would lower my costs, and taxes.

1) How much fuel do you use for travel that I deem unnecessary and wasteful?
2) How many vacations do you take and do you fly there?
3) How much heat or air-conditioning do you use that I think is using too many resources?
4) How much money do you have in the bank?
5) How many cars or properties do you own?
6) How much of my Air do you breathe?
7) Get my point? Probably Not!

Lots of sick people in this world and other’s are just self centered, only see the world through their own perspective. Sometimes it's just through ignorance, but unfortunately many are just mean.

We’ll I’m on target, as slow as it will be, and I will reach my goal. But I won’t look down at others who can’t for what ever the reason may be. Shame on the mean and insensitive folks on here. I guess ignorance is bliss. but then you'll get yours another way I guess.

Nee Nee 8-04-2010 @ 2:17PM

Almost everything we put in our mouths is processed and basically poison to the body. Is it any wonder, then, that people end up overweight? Raising taxes on fast food and things of the like, (as has been suggested by the government), is not going to discourage people from eating unhealthy food. People are going to eat what they are going to eat, regardless of what the government tells them. And it should be that way. We don't need big brother telling us what we can and can't consume; there's no freedom in that. What would be nice, though, would be if companies were held to a higher standard, and not allowed to take cheap short cuts in processing their food. FDA standards are nowhere near ideal.

GO 8-04-2010 @ 2:27PM

OK, so let's see here.... it's not OK for the govt to tax food and drink that make us fat because people should be able to eat and drink what they want... but it's perfectly fine for the govt to insist on "a higher standard" for companies, and never mind that those companies are merely making the things that it's ok for people to eat and drink even though those things are making those people obese.

Riiiiiiight.