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August 28th, 2007

The FATTEST State in the US is…

Mississippi holds the distinction of being the fattest state in the US. According to a new study, over 30% of adults are now considered obese.

But they are now trying to do something about it. According to the story…

“A new state law enacted this year requires schools to provide at least 150 minutes of physical activity instruction and 45 minutes of health education instruction each week for students in kindergarten through 8th grade. Until now, gym class had been optional.”

But is this enough? What kind of PE programs are they initiating? And what about their parents?

We are quickly spiraling out of control. I want your input, what can we do?

Continuity Income | Recurring Revenue | Passive Income

laurel said on August 29th, 2007 at 2:19 pm

Here is an article I wrote concerning this very topic. It is for the Tallahassee Democrat. I hope you don’t mind that I post it here. I guess you can delete it.

Obesity rates climb, but these people have decided enough is enough.

The reports are all over the TV, internet and newspapers. The obesity rates are climbing…again. It is reported that 31 states have experienced an increase in their obesity rates. Mississippi became the first state to break the 30% barrier. That means that more than 30 % of Mississippi residents are considered obese.

Florida residents rank 34th with 22.9% of its residents considered obese. An even more alarming statistic is that Florida ranks 21st in the United States with overweight children ages 10-17 years old. That means that 14.4% of our children are overweight. These children, if let without intervention are destined to become overweight or obese adults.

I could, and I have written columns on the causes of the obesity epidemic in our country, but instead of dredging up the numerous things wrong with our society and our relationship with food and our lack of physical activity, I thought would be interesting to look at the real reason people fail or succeed at weight loss or getting healthy. It’s not some big corporation force feeding fat laden hamburgers and French fries down our throats. It’s not some secret government agency poisoning our water with ungodly amounts of sugar and other stupor inducing chemicals. It’s not that days are shorter and that 24 hours somehow don’t add up to 24.

Guess what people? It’s us. We are responsible for the shape we are in! We are responsible for the shape our children are in! You can place blame all you want, but ultimately you are the one who buys the food, who make the choices and who decides whether or not to move your body or watch TV.

I appreciate the fact that everyone is busy and fast food has become part of our very existence, but every fast food restaurant in town has healthy choices. You don’t have to have fries and you don’t have to super size just because they ask you to. It’s also ok to order kid sized portions. I’ve been know to hand back a drink if it was too big. If I ask for a small drink and they give me something that takes two hands to hold, then I will give it right back and order a kid size. I remember when I small drink was….well, small.

Exercise. For most people exercise is just a nightmare. If you want to change your health and change your body, you have got to exercise, no matter how much you hate it. The important thing is to find something you like to do. Try everything until you find something you like and that you will stick with. This isn’t about quick fixes; it’s about make life changes. Again, it’s your responsibility to get off the couch and move. No one is going to do it for you. There is no magic day, no magic pill, no miracle gadget, it’s just you and your body and that is all you need.

I’ve talked to several people who decided, enough is enough. Some are new at making changes and some have been at it awhile. One thing they all have in common is that they made a decision to change.

Trisha is 55 year old woman who has lost 30 lbs and more than 10% body fat in just 11 months with Weight Watchers and exercise.

Trisha states that she just got tired of the way she looked. She had heard of Weight Watchers and liked the fact that she could eat normal foods and that it was flexible enough she could still eat out and enjoy some of her favorite foods in moderation. She also made a commitment to exercise, so that she can maintain health and fitness into her golden years. She says that although her parents weren’t overweight, they just weren’t in good health and that she doesn’t want to end up with a walker.

Trisha says there are certain foods that she has given up as part of her new lifestyle, but that the challenge is well worth it.

Barbie has tried both diet and exercise in the past, but has never tried both together. She was motivated to change after spending time with her parents over the summer. “Both my parents are extremely obese and unhealthy. After spending a week with them this summer, I realized I was following in their footsteps. I, too, am obese and less than healthy, but I realized I don’t have to be that way. While genetics might have something to do with my body shape, I have the power to be a healthy influence on myself”.

Barbie has lost 5 lbs and has taken up her belt several notches in 4 weeks. She has made huge changes in her lifestyle and made some hard choices in order to start her journey. She has many great things to share and I think I would like to make that a column in itself. If anyone would like to join us in changing their lives or changing the lives of their families, then make that commitment. All it takes right now is a decision to change.

Craig said on August 29th, 2007 at 2:24 pm

150 minutes each week is nothing for little kids. What they don’t say is that many schools are getting rid of recess time and using only PE time on the bad assumption that a couple of hours of PE per week is enough.

Kids, and especially boys, need the outlet that recess provides to expend some energy, explore their physicality, and improve socialization skills. Taking away PE takes away another 3-5 hours of play time each week - time that most children spend physically active with unstructured play.

Too many parents don’t take the time to play with their kids and think they are getting enough activity in school. The kids aren’t getting enough physical activity in school, and the parents are too stressed out, burned our, or tired to really play with them after school. That leads to dumping the kids in front of the XBox or TV instead of going out side and playing with them.

Nathan Smithi said on August 29th, 2007 at 5:52 pm

It really is a case of moving more, eating less and drinking more water. Based on this assumption we need to devise plans, education, programs etc around this to help solve the problem. There is no single or best option and needs to be hit from different angles, from different people, to get results. Physical instructors, personal trainers, Dr’s etc have more of a responsibility than ever to come with ideas to help solve the ‘obesity’ epidemic. It has to be a collective effort.

Jean M. Grenier, LMT said on August 29th, 2007 at 7:51 pm

Our food supply is a disgrace. Processed foods are killing us. TV is another bad idea. It’s just too easy to plop your butt in the chair with a bag of cookies. Our schools feed our kids junk and have reduced their gym time, removed recess (jr. high) and the rewards offered for good behavior and success are ice cream and pizza. My 13 yr. old pointed this out just recently. Neither one of my children are at all overweight but we don’t have TV, don’t eat at fast food restaurants and don’t buy processed foods very much. We eat more fresh foods. We also keep a steady supply of water in the fridge. Soda is a rare treat (using the term loosely). Since recess has been taken away, my daughter’s tremendous upper body strength has diminished. Unfortunately, living out in the country in the Northeast, indoor access to physical activity in our area is all but non-existent.

I highly recommend people watch “Super Size Me” - it’ll make you think twice about all those trips through the drive thru.

rita dj said on August 29th, 2007 at 9:18 pm

i was actually a little surprised. mississippi wasn’t on my top 5 “obese states” guesses. but i reckon the southerners like everything deep-fried…. it’s good that they’re at least concerned about it. thanks for sharing the news.

Scott Tousignant said on August 29th, 2007 at 9:28 pm

Unfortunately preaching “Exercise More and Eat Less” is just not enough to reverse the trend that we are facing right now.

The obesity rate is not going to decline because a great new workout program comes out or the best possible nutrition plan is discovered.

People need to change their values about their health and their bodies. There needs to be a serious shift in mindset here because people are seeing life through trans-fat glasses.

It amazes me that the threat of dying young does not even discourage people to change their lifestyle.

I agree 100% that people need to find a program that they enjoy. Since when did fitness become all about weight loss? That’s not what it’s supposed to be about.

I also agree that parents are too tired and busy to play with their kids, but they are also sticking them in 3 activities a day which is driving these poor kids into the ground even worse then the parents are.

Many kids I know are getting less than 7 hours of sleep per day. Whatever happened to the fun activities that you could do around the neighbourhood?

The schools are just trying to make it sound like their doing a good thing when really they are the bad guys for cutting it to begin with. But you can’t rely on the schools to get your kids in shape. And it certainly won’t help if you are shoving cheeseburgers down their throats when they get home.

So yes, activity and nutrition has to change, but it’s not going to unless people begin to value and appreciate their health and their bodies. And I am talking deep appreciation.

I almost don’t even want to hear those words ‘weight loss’ any more because it sends people into a stressed out frendzy and their trying to achieve something out of desperation.

Appreciate your body… value your health… do the things that will take care of them. That’s it! No pressure, no crazy tactics, just create the body and health that will enable you to live your life to the fullest. Live the life that you deserve.

I’m happy to be a part of the solution among so many great people. We can make a difference and we will change things.

Scott Tousignant
http://www.Unstoppable-FatLoss.com/blog

Regina said on September 1st, 2007 at 1:10 am

Hi Everyone,

I’d like to offer up some encouraging words in regards to the obesity problem. All of the prior comments are true in regards to it being a lifestyle problem…so lets look at how we as trainers, therapist, teachers and doctors can be the solution.

What I see is when the focus is taken off of ourself and put onto others, in general positive feedback comes back to you. That in itself could be twisted to be kind to others for the feel good you get back for it, but then it wouldn’t work.

For instance a friend of mine saw I was gaining wieght and letting myself go a bit. She never mentioned that per say but instead lent an ear to me to share what was going on in my life. She offered me encouraging words for my personal business and gave me a goal and told me she had faith that I could do it…Those few words of encouragement was all I needed to get going again. She and I keep in contact every week and she shares with me her concerns and joys in life and I do the same.

So I guess what I’m saying is take time to listen to people and offer up some encoragement. I’m back in the gym, working with my trainer, following some of Ryan’s advice getting a web page started, marketing my products, finishing school, (I’m 39) and working with geriatric clients.

Be a friend, lend an ear, and encorage…

Kelly said on September 2nd, 2007 at 7:26 pm

This is truly an epidemic in our country. We as fitness professionals, parents, and athletes MUST take it upon ourselves to do more education towards and for children. If you as a parent don’t know the way to live a healthy life style, then you must learn or at least get your children in front of the right influences so that they can become aware of what healthy lifestyle means. Imagine if children were afforded the same luxuries as we were….. Play time, physical activity, and sports for health, not money.