On Obesity as an Issue in this Election

[mb7588a]

I know it's not a winning issue to discuss, because human nature is to like food more than doctors and exercise, but this country is literally eating itself to extinction (Slight exaggeration. Slight.):



Roughly 33% of our country has a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. That is sad and pathetic. Obesity costs the average tax payer $800/year in costs to Medicare and Medicaid. It costs airlines more money to get off the ground. The average obese American misses twice as much work as a worker with a healthy BMI.

So, the best response we have from the federal government is the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports? Oh my.

I adore Obama and his health care policy for addressing this issue. He states on his website, "The Obama-Biden plan will promote public health. It will require coverage of preventive services..." and "Underinvestment in prevention and public health. Too many Americans go without high-value preventive services, such as cancer screening and immunizations to protect against flu or pneumonia. The nation faces epidemics of obesity and chronic diseases as well as new threats of pandemic flu and bioterrorism. Yet despite all of this less than 4 cents of every health care dollar is spent on prevention and public health. Our health care system has become a disease care system, and the time for change is well overdue."

I searched far and wide on McCain's website (Boy do I feel dirty now...). I found no such mention.

I guess this is part of a larger commentary on how our public policy system is one that responds to the burning house but not the stupid idea of having 14 plugs going into one outlet. But damn, good on ya, Barack! Taking on the tough issues.

[Spider Jerusalem]

1. It's interesting to note the drastic increase since 1995.

One is tempted to wonder how much of a correlation there is between increasing obesity and the affordability of personal computers and the availability of cheap broadband connections. (Heavy Internet use probably correlates strongly with a sedentary lifestyle...)

[JoFerret]

6. Corn syrup

is more digestible than bandwidth.

[DangerousRhythm]

8. People generally walk in the Northeast.

I am a transplanted New Yorker here in Texas and it's a very sedentary lifestyle. I hate that Houston really isn't a walking city and often find myself bitching about it. Parents actually drive their kids from door to door for Halloween, no lie.

I'm sure the sprawl has something to do with it.

[moc]

2. As a public health academic, I say hooray! Public health (with the exception of terrorism

preparedness) is grossly underfunded/underappreciated in this country. Prevention is so much less expensive than treatment.

I also appreciate Obama's community organizing roots, his appreciation for the need for strong communities, and his emphasis on improving education. All are fundamental to improving public health.

[DixieBlue]

28. I'm reading "The Great Influenza" and I will second your hooray!

I used to report on public health issues. They are too seldom talked about in a meaningful manner.

[Beausoir]

3. What, specifically, will Obama do to prevent obesity?

[Uzybone]

4. Ban food?

enforce Ramadan all year round?

I agree with you, there isn't much any elected official can do about obesity. When he gets elected he can talk about it in general as part of our health.

[Bucky]

5. Bully pulpit.

Not a lot, but he can certainly inspire us to do better.

[msallied]

11. Maybe stop talking about pie so much?

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Name removed]

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[Doremus]

7. Ban high fructose corn syrup

I would venture that the overweight trends in the US coincide with the widespread use of HFCS. It's in virtually all prepared foods.

Another example of profit trumping public health.

[mb7588a]

9. Seems like promoting exercise would be good too...nt

[msallied]

12. Done been tried.

Remember Arnold for Reagan's exercise council or some shit like that? Back in the 80s. Frankly, most people are too cynical to listen to the government spout on about dietary stuff. Especially since our government is in on the very subsidies that keep fast food. dairy, and junk food manufactures thriving.

[Convertee]

17. Banning Corn Syrup is unfeasible.

It simply can't be done, it would cost to much money for the goverment to attempt and enforce such bans.

Simply, stop corn subsidies. THATS what created the use of Corn Syrup, the cheap ability of Corn as a substitute for EVERYTHING due to subsidies.

Remove subisidies, corn stops being so damn cheap, and Corn Syrup loses the advantage it had. The cheapness of it.

[msallied]

19. Bingo!

Our government is right in bed with the people who manufacture this shit to consumers.

Frankly, individuals need to be more vigilant about what's in their food. Thankfully there are other options out there. I am amazed at the number of alternative there are now compared to five years ago.

[bevoette]

21. omfg you are so right - i was cooking some fish tonight and wanted a light dusting of...

BREAD CRUMBS

and the second most used ingredient besides bread? was friggin HFCS!!

i got so mad i threw the whole container away, LOL

my husband was all "uh...wtf?" and i went into a 5 minute rant about how IT.IS.EVERYWHERE!!


bread crumbs. seriously!

[Beausoir]

10. What will Obama do to discourage cigarette smoking?

[boppers]

14. Doesn't smoking reduce obesity? eom

[trashcanistanista]

16. Yes it does.

[msallied]

18. Ummm... not exactly

Smoking May Increase Abdominal Obesity
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/331/7517/596-d

smoking habits seem to have an effect on fat distribution: "Although smokers have lower mean BMI compared with non-smokers, they have a more metabolically adverse fat distribution profile, with higher central adiposity."

They add, "Central adiposity, which reflects visceral fat deposition, seems to be a better indicator of the adverse metabolic consequences of obesity than overall adiposity. Additionally, weight loss associated with smoking may be caused by a reduction in lean mass rather than fat mass, which BMI may not fully differentiate."

Just why smoking should have an effect on fat distribution is not clear. One theory is that smoking has some kind of anti-oestrogenic effect. Another suggestion is that cigarette smoking may have an effect on the uptake and storage of triglyceride fatty acids, increasing fat mass.

The authors say that the explanation for the association may help identify the mechanisms underlying the adverse health consequences of cigarette smoking and abdominal obesity.

I have also read additional studies that point to smokers generally eating unhealthier diets than non-smokers, which could in effect increase obesity, or at the very least lower the smokers' quality of health.

[boppers]

15. It's a rough problem.

Keeping in-line with national statistics, a good 60-80 percent of americans I know are obese or overweight.

The sad thing is, they don't even know it.

What should a president do about it, though?

[Recursion]

20. Wow. Obesity and Republicanism are correlated

Go figure.

[Ladyhawk]

22. I have been absolutely SHOCKED by the weight gain I see around me...

...and the weight gain I've undergone, myself. I'm way too fat, but if you put me in a crowd, I'd be about average. (The average isn't so hot.)

There are many causes. Of course, there's lack of exercise and eating too much. But I think what is put IN our food is a huge part of it. And I agree the probable culprit is high fructose corn syrup.

I've been on a diet / exercise regimen for 6 months and still haven't reached my post-operative low (had neck surgery) of a few years ago. I have a long-term plan for losing the weight and keeping it off, but DAY-UM! Americans are getting fat FAST!

[eridani]

23. Oh great. Forget about the Muslims

Maybe fat people can replace them as hate objects.

[Vinca]

24. It's a complex and important problem, but as an election issue it's a loser.

The next president should instruct his Surgeon General to focus on the problem.

[Scout]

25. what's sad and pathetic is that some people still seem to think BMI is an indicator of health n/t

[Kira]

26. What do you mean?

It is an indicator, when you have a bmi over 25, of an increased probablity that you will get either heart disease, metabolic syndrome, diabetes...etc..

[Scout]

27. it is also an indicator that you may be an athlete

who is very muscular for your height. It is no indicator at all of blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, etc.

It's not an indicator of anything very useful, except denial of coverage by insurance companies.

[Kira]

31. Yes, that is true

it is not accurate for the very muscular, however for most people it is a good indicator of the probablity of the onset of several diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes... if they have a bmi over 25 and it increases as you get into the 30's. The problem with body fat % is that it is difficult to get an accurate reading and calipers can be embarrassing to many.

[Overseas]

29. First we have to put cigarette ads back on TV. Then people may understand

that flashing snacking commercials at the public every 6 minutes all day long has had a profound effect.

We don't show TV ads for cigarettes, but donuts and milkshakes and candy and fried food and sodas and chips and cereal and more and more snacks are advertised non-stop.

Well sorry folks. If you admit that cigarette ads popularize smoking so they shouldn't be on TV, then you've gotta take a look at advertising food with zero fiber and loads of sugar.

So I say let's put cigarette ads and people drinking hard liquor in ads back on the TV. Because obviously, those ads don't really influence people much because we haven't tried to limit snacking ads even after this public health emergency.

I am also mad that No Fiber is the default formula for flour products. Just making whole grain the primary version would help us a great deal. Can't even find many whole grain cookies. So not only is that snack jazzed up with sugar, but it's made even more attractive by removing the fiber.

And when you're too poor to go out and do fun things, watching TV and eating comfort food become prominent forms of entertainment.

[DeepBlueDem]

30. Body Fat percentage is a better method than BMI

like the earlier post indicated if you are an athlete, particularly with any degree muscle mass your BMI will be inaccurate.