This little girl makes healthy eating look easy. Now, if only everyone else would follow her lead! Photo: Savannah Grandfather, Flickr

Last week's Weight of the Nation conference brought together the country's leaders in an effort to reverse the climbing obesity rates in the U.S. With higher obesity rates come higher health care costs, making this epidemic an issue for everyone, regardless of how fit and healthy one might be.

So, what did this meeting of the minds accomplish? Well, according to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, there's good and there's bad. Right now, things are rough. One in five kids and two-thirds of adults are overweight or obese, which is why obesity-related medical spending is exceeding spending on cancer by $50 billion.

But, there are a number of things that we as individuals can do, and even more our communities at large can do to combat these disturbing trends. Of course, each of us can make the choice to walk more and eat fewer fatty, sugary, processed foods. But it's not a level playing field, which is why community involvement is so important.

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Photo: bethography - meltingmama, Flickr

It's not news that obesity in the United States has become a serious issue. Not only is it damaging on a personal level, but on a national one. For example, obesity has cost the state of California alone an estimated $41 billion yearly in health care and other factors. And, a study found spending on obesity-related conditions has doubled over the past 10 years and now accounts for 9.1 percent of medical spending.

In fact, it's a big enough problem that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is holding its inaugural Weight of the Nation Conference on Obesity Prevention and Control. The conference began yesterday and will go through tomorrow, and you can keep up with it on Twitter by following @CDC_eHealth or searching #won09.

It's certainly going to be interesting to see what decisions and legislation ultimately come out of this conference -- acknowledging the gravity of the situation is certainly a step in the right direction. But what will the next step be?

While our health is largely reliant on the effort we put into it -- eating healthfully, exercising regularly, and getting proper medical care -- our environment can make a big impact on our health. Economic considerations and the structure of a city are just two components that can affect health.

The CDC does an annual health survey that asks city residents to rate their overall health as excellent, very good, good, fair, or poor. And while the CDC itself doesn't (quote-unquote) rank cities based on their surveys, their database does order the cities based on the results.

When all self-reported ratings are considered, Lincoln, Nebraska gets top honors -- 92.8% of residents state their health is good or better. Huntington, West Virginia comes in last on the 184-city list -- nearly half of the adults in Huntington are obese, but the mayor (who recently lost 80 pounds) says that the city's economic woes are of greater focus.

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Mississippi takes top honors once again in the fattest-state contest, according to the results of a 2007 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The state has had the highest obesity rates every year since 2004.

While Alabama, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Louisiana are not far behind, Mississippi is the one with 30 percent of its adults tipping the scales at obese levels. Perhaps it's because the South has a lot of rural residents and black women -- both groups tend to have higher rates of obesity -- or because the typical Southern diet is rich in fatty and fried foods. Perhaps the results of this study are not entirely accurate -- it was conducted over the phone and not with actual weigh-ins.

Colorado wins for least obese state -- 19 percent of adults here are considered obese -- mostly because of its healthy and active communities. Skiing, biking, and hiking apparently keep Colorado folks moving.

Where does your state place? According to this CDC site, my state of Florida is 24.1 percent obese. Plug your state in here, choose the year '2007' and the category 'Overweight and Obesity (BMI)' and see how it compares.

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If you're heading out to the beach over the long weekend, you may want to slap on the sunscreen before you step foot out of the house. The Centers on Disease Control and Prevention states that it takes up to 30 minutes for sunscreen to be absorbed in the skin, so do your best to time your arrival to the beach just right.

Then, once there, be sure to constantly reapply every thirty minutes or so. On average, most SPF 30 sunscreens last just over 30 minutes before their UV-blocking properties begin to diminish. Also, even if a sunscreen is labeled as "waterproof," it's still wise to apply more after going for a dip, especially if you towel off afterwards.

Opt for sunscreens that are at least SPF 15 and protect against both UVA and UVB rays, and always remember that taking a time out in the shade once in a while is never a bad idea.

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No, this post isn't referring to the percentage of people with dusty gym equipment yawning in their basements -- I suspect that number is a bit higher. According to newly released statistics, around eight percent of Americans have diabetes. Eight percent. Coming from a strong family history of type 1 diabetes (both my brothers and parents), this statistic depresses me. Even worse, nearly one in four of the 60 years and older group had diabetes in 2007.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the new diabetes stats yesterday, based on 2007 data. About 24 million Americans now have diabetes, three million more people than in 2005. Possibly another 57 million are walking around with suspect blood sugars, called prediabetes, which means they're at increased risk for the disease down the line.

The good news? People unaware of their diabetes fell from 30 percent to 25 percent. That is a positive -- walking around with high blood sugars too long can cause serious complications. The CDC further reported that diabetes rates were highest among American Indians and Alaska Natives (16.5 percent), followed by blacks, Hispanics, Mexican Americans, Cubans, Asian Americans and whites. Stay fit, eat healthy and next time you see a 5K race to support diabetes research, sign-up and raise some cash for an important cause that impacts eight percent of the nation.

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I've got two quarts of sun tea brewing on the deck right now. But I just ran across an article warning about the bacterial dangers of brewing tea in the sun.

According to Snopes, the Centers for Disease Control states brewing sun tea can mean growth of Alcaligenes viscolactis, a bacteria common in water. Sun-heated water won't get any hotter than 130 degrees Fahrenheit, which is not hot enough to kill off bacteria. If your sun tea gets thick/syrupy and you see ropey strands, that's bacteria. Yikes -- I recall seeing strands in my sun tea when I've left it in the fridge too long!

Snopes shares a few common sense brewing tips if you insist on sun tea, as well as a safer way to brew tea overnight in your fridge. While I grew up on sun tea, I'm now imagining drinking long strands of bacteria -- yech. Maybe it's time to boil water and steep the tea bags instead.

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What seems more like something out of a 1950s science fiction movie is actually a growing concern for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Six young men died last year after swimming in lakes or pools infested with a brain-eating amoeba known as Naegleria fowleri or N. fowleri, and guarding against another infection of these microscopic predators remains a hot issue as summer approaches.

According to an article featured on WebMD, the amoeba thrive in warm, fresh water all over the world. In the U.S., it inhabits the relatively hot waters of lakes, hot springs, and poorly maintained pools in Southern or Southwestern states. And, equally as unnerving as its ability to thrive in such environments is the fact that its moniker is in no way an understatement -- the amoeba literally feeds on the human brain.

WedMD reports that victims usually die seven to 10 days after infection, although symptoms may not appear for up to 14 days. Initial symptoms include headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, and stiff neck. Later-onset symptoms include confusion, loss of balance, seizures, and hallucinations. Death follows the first symptoms by three to seven days.

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water.

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According to a Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study, one in four toddlers are improperly vaccinated. Missed doses or improperly timed doses make up for the majority of immunization errors in children who are 19-35 months old.

Though immunization rates in the US remain good overall -- and the rates of children who are immunized by kindergarten age are higher than ever -- the CDC recommends children being vaccinated at the proper, recommended times. So, in addition to relying on your pediatrician's recommendations, it's important for parents to do their own homework.

For more information, see the CDC's information on vaccines.

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I finally had a chance to use a Wii. After getting over some initial embarrassment, I had an awful lot of fun! I tried the tennis game and, sadly enough, I'm as bad at virtual tennis as I am on an actual tennis court. While the Wii was certainly more active than playing any other video game system, it wasn't nearly the same type of exercise as a real sport.

Both Bev and Bethany have written about the exercise potential in the interactive gaming system before. And, compared to sitting like a lump playing regular video games, the Wii is a great thing. But it doesn't take the place of real exercise. The active games are a great alternative to regular video games. Also, many of the games aren't violence based -- as a parent, I know I appreciate that. They also offer hand-eye coordination benefits. And, for kids (or adults) who aren't active at all, the games may be a stepping stone for developing interest in real sports.

So the Wii isn't a bad thing at all. But don't count time spent playing interactive video games as exercise time. It's just not the same as the real thing. The CDC recommends that kids be physically active for at least an hour every day. So put away the video tennis, grab a racquet, and play a game of REAL tennis with your kids.

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I know it got me. Did it get you? Despite getting the flu vaccine last fall, I was down for the count with one of the nastiest bouts of flu I've ever had. According to US health officials, I wasn't alone. This flu season has been the worst in four years.

According to the CDC, the flu vaccine was only 44% effective against the strains of the flu viruses that were out this year. While it gave 58% protection over the most predominant strain, it was completely ineffective against other types of the flu virus.

In previous years, the flu vaccine has had up to a 70% effectiveness. The vaccine is developed each year based on data about the currently circulating strains of the influenza virus. According to the CDC, the vaccine has been a good match to the circulating viruses in 16 of the past 20 years.

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In the past, the CDC recommended the flu shot only for children under the age of five and for kids with certain chronic conditions. But as of 2009, the CDC is hoping that pediatricians will make the annual flu shot part of the yearly standard of care for all children under the age of 18.

Though the recommendations are being made to keep children healthy, in school, and to reduce the number of doctor and hospital visits, experts anticipate a secondary benefit. If schoolchildren can avoid the flu, then their parents and grandparents are likely to be healthier as well. The shots won't be mandated, just heavily encouraged. It's not clear yet, however, that health officials will be ready by 2009 to vaccinate that many children.

My older daughter was born during flu season, and her pediatrician recommended that any adults that cared for her on a regular basis get their flu shots to protect her. This recommendation seems to be the flip side of that. By vaccinating children, the CDC hopes to protect the elderly and to slow the stop of the flu in general.

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The Center for Disease Control and Prevention issued a warning recently about a strange, but potentially lethal, phenomenon that has led to the death of at least 82 U.S. youths since 1995. Known as the choking game, kids intentionally try to choke themselves or someone else with their own hand or a ligature of some kind to attain a brief euphoric state or high. The "game" can turn lethal if the strangulation lasts too long, which can happen quite quickly.

According to an article on WebMD, the CDC found 82 media reports of choking-game deaths in the U.S. from 1995 to 2007 -- with the average age of kids who died being 13 years old. And, of all the reported deaths, 87% were boys.

The CDC urges parents and teachers alike to be on the lookout for any of the following signs that a child may be involved in this dangerous practice:

• Discussion of the game, including other names for it, such as "space monkey" or "the pass-out game"
• Marks on or around the neck
• Bloodshot eyes
• Severe headaches
• Disorientation after spending time alone
• Ropes, belts, or scarves tied to bedroom furniture or doorknobs or found knotted on the floor
• The unexplained presence of dog leashes, choke collars, and bungee cords.

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You know that creepy crawly feeling when a bug skeedaddles over your skin? I am a skeedaddle-phobe, setting new records jumping in the air when frantically slapping away intruders. And I love camping. Go figure.

The above scenario is all in fun, but what if you chronically suffered from that creepy crawly sensation, combined with seeing tiny fibers emerging from lesions on your skin? Add other debilitating symptoms such as intense fatigue, stinging/biting skin, brain fog, vision problems, and joint pain. This condition has a name -- Morgellons -- but according to the Morgellons Research Foundation (MRF), the disease is poorly understood and historically dismissed by doctors. The medical community often diagnoses delusional parasitosis and prescribes anti-psychotic meds instead.

But what if Morgellons is a real skin disease and not a psychiatric problem? The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is spearheading a study to try and answer this very question, collecting skin, blood and urine samples from Morgellons-likely patients in Northern California (a Morgellons hotspot) from July 2006 through December 2007. U.S. Senators have helped push the CDC to research Morgellons, and the agency officially added an "Unexplained Dermopathy (aka Morgellons)" page to its website last June. If research discovers Morgellons symptoms are not due to a psychiatric disorder, what a horrible nightmare sufferers have had to bear -- the symptoms are awful enough. To find out more about Morgellons, check out MRF's FAQ section. Many Morgellons patients have improved significantly with appropriate antibiotics.

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In a surprising piece of news, the U.S. government said this week that the suicide rate among middle-aged Americans was at the highest point in 25 years. That's a bit unnerving.

Specifically, , the suicide rate rose about 20 percent between 1999 and 2004 for Americans in the 45 to 54 age bracket, according to the CDC.

Experts don't have a explanation for why the rate has jumped so much, although most suicide prevention programs focus on teenage and elderly demographics, not middle-aged citizens.

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