That's Fit

Recently, in one of the largest efforts we've seen, over 150 health experts from 50 countries got together to discuss what in the world we're all going to do about the growing health problems around the world. They came up with an action plan that includes 20 global health priorities, which fall into categories like government policies, business and community involvement, and re-orienting health systems.

The experts hope that by coordinating efforts on a global scale they can prevent as many as 36 million deaths (from diseases like obesity, diabetes, and many cancers) by 2015. That's incredible! I hope they can keep it together and actually make that happen.

Our health care system is at risk of bleeding to death. With so much attention paid to reactionary care, as opposed to preventative care, major illnesses and diseases that could have been dealt with at their earliest stages (when they would have cost the least to treat) are instead treated when complications arise, which is typically the stage when treatment is most costly. This is why it is paramount that the government take decisive action to stop, or at least reduce, the obesity problem in this country.

Having just posted on the possibility of viruses causing people to gain weight, I think it's pretty clear that my stance on this matter is certainly not Anti-Fat. In fact, I think it rather unfair to blame, ridicule and castigate people merely because they carry more weight than others. That being said, there is little disputing the fact that extremely overweight people run a much higher risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, and many other chronic illnesses -- all of which are, just as unarguably, very expensive to treat. And, based on the recently Trust for America's Health annual report on the status of obesity in this country, it doesn't look like things are getting any better (serving to explain why we recieved an "F").

Since last year, obesity rates climbed in 31 states. Worse yet, not a single state witnessed a decrease in obesity rates. Thirty percent of people living in Mississippi are overweight, making it the fattest state in the country. The report also stated that most states in the South and Midwest have obesity rates over 25 percent. Furthermore, in these regions, about 30 percent of people admit to not engaging in any exercise program whatsoever, which clearly correlates with the obesity rates.

Given the fact that around $35 billion was spent by consumers last year on weight loss-related products and services, yet the aforementioned numbers persist, it's clear that the general public is dropping the ball. It's time that the government stepped to the plate on this issue before it completely cripples our health care system.

Buy a bike with a price tag of $1,000 or less in Ontario and you won't pay any tax. No tax on accompanying safety equipment either.

"I trust this will encourage people to take the opportunity to become more active and to lead healthier lives," said Margarett Best, the province's minister of health promotion.

It seems biking incentives are nothing new in Canada. British Columbia has had a program in place since the early 1980s that cuts the tax from purchases of bikes, parts, and accessories. Alberta residents get $300 toward a bike when they retire an old car. And the federal government offers a fitness tax break to parents who enroll their kids in athletic programs.

While tax breaks don't even compare to parental and peer encouragement when it comes to healthy living and while fitness doesn't have to cost a cent -- consider the good old-fashioned walk -- this is certainly an option that may prove inspiring to some.

How about you?

Three months ago, government officials in the city of Ise in Japan embarked on a Samurai diet in order to win a vicious war -- against obesity and metabolic syndrome, according to this article. Unfortunately, the program took an unexpected turn -- one government official had a heart attack while jogging and died in August. However, the 'Samurais' motored on and the program recently ended and results were promising, with the city's mayor shedding 12 lbs. Way to set a good example, Mr. Mayor!

I think this is a great idea and one that every municipal government should adopt. Encouraging healthy habits is especially effective when people in the public eye and in positions of authority get the ball rolling, don't you think?

The FDA is constantly re-vamping their food guidelines to ensure that what we're eating is safe, and they're doing it once again. The US House has recently passed a bill that requires the FDA to make a thorough plan to improve food safety standards in the US. This comes after much publicity about unsafe food being imported to North America from China.

However, while this bill is re-assuring to consumers who are worried about the safety of their food, it's also under scrutiny because at a price tag $90.7 billion, critics are saying the bill is too expensive to justify.

What do you think -- are a few extra food safety precautions worth $90.7 billion?

West Virginia, one of the country's most obese states, has now incorporated Weight Watchers into its Medicaid program. As many as 75,000 people will be eligible to participate in the Weight Watchers program for free. Patients will need to have a doctor's referral and a BMI within a specific range, and then they'll get classes for 16 weeks complete with the supportive group sessions and food point planning.

Top supporters of this new approach have high hopes, for both their state's overall health and that of the nation. If successful in W.Va. the program will likely be tried in other states as well.

We all know the exercise is an essential aspect to a healthy lifestyle, and healthy living reduces our chances of illness and other health problems. Why, then, aren't there more government funded exercise programs? Surely getting people to be active would reduce healthcare costs in the long run, right?

According to this, that's exactly what exercise programs do. A study was conducted with senior citizens with diabetes, and it was found that healthcare costs were reduced when community-based exercise programs were implemented. It is believed that these findings will be reflected in individuals living with chronic conditions in other communities, too. What do you think? Are community-based activities prevalent in your area?