Glendora's Blog

“America’s getting fatter every year” was the title of an article that caught my attention immediately in last week’s newspaper. With all the talk going on about the obesity problem in America, I hadn’t really bothered to pay attention to the severity of the problem until I looked at this CDC graphic that accompanied the article. The graphic shows the increase of obesity percentages over the pass 10 years, by each state. The rapid change in these statistics just blew me away!

The article goes on to read that at least 20 percent of residents in every state except Colorado (18.7%) were obese in 2007. This is a stark contrast to past years. In, 1995, all states reported obesity rates lower then 19 percent. Right here in our home state our own obesity rates have risen from less than 10 percent in 1985 to just over 23 percent in 2007.

We all have been told over and over that our poor diets and lack of exercise has been the root of this problem, but why so much over the last 10 years? Sarah Clauson, a registered dietitian says that our lives have become more computer-and-desk oriented and we use cars more causing us to limit our daily physical activity. Clauson also adds that the food supply is greater now then it has ever been and as a result, many people are eating more then they need to. In reaction to eating more and lack of exercise the American population can’t keep up with maintaining their weight control, therefore always searching for a quick fix solution.

Unhealthy diet plans and the growing number of fast food choices has become the answer to our notion of “I just don’t have time”. If we can’t slow down our lives then we need to reprioritize them. We need to start making healthy conscious eating habits and physical activity number one. The lifestyles of American population needs a quick turnaround before the statistics get so far ahead of us that it begins to control us rather then us controlling the statistics. If we look at these growing statistics and don’t start taking it seriously now, then researches say that every American could be overweight or obese in 40 years. Like they say “don’t become part of the statistic”, so start making healthy eating habits and daily physical activity priority number one in your life!