We hear so often about obesity in America, how Americans are gaining weight, eating more, moving less, and getting more and more unhealthy. According to a recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine, many government studies are actually showing that the obesity rates of men, women, and children are actually leveling off. "Results from the CDC’s 2007 2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) suggest that the prevalence of obesity among women (35.5%) and children 2 to 19 years of age (16.9%) has remained stable over the past 10 years and that the prevalence among men (32.2%) has not changed significantly since 2003" (Yanovski and Yanovski, NEJM).
While it's good news that the obesity rate has slowed, as a nation we are still far too unhealthy. According to a 2010 report by the Centers for Disease Control, 34% of adults over the age of 20 were obese. 19% of adolescents 12-19 were obese, and 20% of children 6-11 were obese. The culprits remain the same - high calorie, high sugar, high fat fast food, lack of available fruits and vegetables, and poor exercise habits. Proof of these persistent systemic problems came in the NEJM article which noted that the rate of extreme obesity and the rates of obesity in lower income and urban communities has continued to rise.
So what can we do to, not only, curb the rate of obesity, but maybe even lower it? Access and education are two good places to start. Too often, in many parts of the United States, the local grocery store is more than 20 or 30 miles away, leaving what are known as "food deserts" where the only viable options are beef jerky and candy from a gas station or fast food. This is a problem in both urban and rural communities. One solution is community supported agriculture or other programs that connect farmers directly to consumers in areas of high food need. Co-ops or CSAs can offer families access to fresh fruits, vegetables, and grains at affordable pricing. Even companies like Wal Mart are making an effort to put more stores in urban "food desert" settings that offer full grocery services to meet this need.
Of course... education is equally important. Teaching children and their families about healthy food choices and weight maintenance is an integral part of lowering the obesity rate. Here, at Wellness Workdays we focus on educating employees about ways they can adjust their lifestyle to improve the heath of themselves and their family... In return, the hope is to increase energy, improve focus, and lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.
While it's good news that the obesity rate has slowed, as a nation we are still far too unhealthy. According to a 2010 report by the Centers for Disease Control, 34% of adults over the age of 20 were obese. 19% of adolescents 12-19 were obese, and 20% of children 6-11 were obese. The culprits remain the same - high calorie, high sugar, high fat fast food, lack of available fruits and vegetables, and poor exercise habits. Proof of these persistent systemic problems came in the NEJM article which noted that the rate of extreme obesity and the rates of obesity in lower income and urban communities has continued to rise.
So what can we do to, not only, curb the rate of obesity, but maybe even lower it? Access and education are two good places to start. Too often, in many parts of the United States, the local grocery store is more than 20 or 30 miles away, leaving what are known as "food deserts" where the only viable options are beef jerky and candy from a gas station or fast food. This is a problem in both urban and rural communities. One solution is community supported agriculture or other programs that connect farmers directly to consumers in areas of high food need. Co-ops or CSAs can offer families access to fresh fruits, vegetables, and grains at affordable pricing. Even companies like Wal Mart are making an effort to put more stores in urban "food desert" settings that offer full grocery services to meet this need.
Of course... education is equally important. Teaching children and their families about healthy food choices and weight maintenance is an integral part of lowering the obesity rate. Here, at Wellness Workdays we focus on educating employees about ways they can adjust their lifestyle to improve the heath of themselves and their family... In return, the hope is to increase energy, improve focus, and lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.
Individuals can consider the following to maintain and/or promote a healthy weight:
- Eat more fruits and vegetables and fewer foods high in fat and sugar.
- Choose water instead of sugary drinks.
- Participate in physical activity on most days of the week.
- Watch less television. Aim for less than 2 hours.
- Promote policies and programs at school, at work, and in the community that make the healthy choice the easy choice.
Programs through schools, workplaces, community groups, churches, athletic teams, and other outlets can all have a positive effect on our nation’s health. Do you have your own ideas on ways we can lower the nation's obesity rate?
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