The Obesity Epidemic

Most of us know that eating right will help maintain a healthy weight. Eating right may even protect our bodies against a variety of chronic diseases, including coronary heart disease, diabetes, osteo­porosis and various cancers, according to experts at Johns Hopkins. Yet despite the vast amount and variety of foods available, many of us are not getting the best nutrition.

There are many obstacles to eating right: our busy lifestyles, readily available convenience foods (ready-made meals, fast food, processed foods), restaurant portions that are too-large, and conflicting information about nutrition and weight loss. In fact, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a mere 25% of adults consume the minimum recommend­ed five servings of fruits and vegetables each day.

What’s more, a recent study showed that 72% of men and 64% of women are overweight or obese. Eighteen percent of children are obese right now. Mark Huffman, Assistant Professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, projects that if we continue on this path, 83% of men will be overweight or obese by 2020. Women are right behind them, with 72% projected to be overweight or obese by that time.

We need some serious help. Obviously just knowing that we need to eat right (and exercise) isn't doing the trick. The video below, which I found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s CDC-TV, showcases several self-empowered communities that are taking action with initiatives to prevent and reduce obesity.

Source: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity

Running Time: (7:13) Release Date: 07/22/2011

Read the script

The video explains the many factors that have contributed to the obesity epidemic, and showcases several community initiatives taking place to prevent and reduce obesity. Obesity is a national epidemic and a major contributor to some of the leading causes of death in the U.S., including heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some types of cancer. We need to change our communities into places that strongly support healthy eating and active living.

Living life well-fed,

MBL

References

Johns Hopkins Whitepaper, Nutrition and Weight Control

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

NPR: Americans are Fat and Expected to Get much Fatter

HBO: The Weight of the Nation

National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention