Obesity rate in Mexico tops US

Even in Mexico, a nation that has a staggering rate of poverty, obesity is a huge problem. Mexico tops the world with an obesity rate of 32.8 percent. The nation's president, Enrique Pena Nieto, is now encouraging Mexicans to exercise an hour a day.  The parliament has also passed a law which adds a significant tax on junk food and sugary drinks.

Like the US has discovered, the healthcare consequences of obesity are staggering.  Already some 9.2 percent of the children in Mexico are impacted by diabetes.  In addition to the rising popularity of fast, highly processed foods, Mexicans drink on average 43 gallons of sugary drinks, like Coca Cola, per person per year.

An article, Mexico to tackle obesity with taxes on junk food and sugary drinks, further describes the situation.

PS  The obesity rate in the United States is 31.8 percent.  We can give significant credit to our legislators for this. The cost of soda, chips and other junk foods made with corn syrup, is subsidized by the US government (How billions in dollars subsidize the junk food industry) .

Obesity rates climbing at alarming rates

Going for a walk

Americans are getting fat, it is undeniable.  An article "F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America's Future 2012, notes how if things don't change, over half of all Americans will be obese by the year 2030. This would result in a rise of obesity-related disease rates and corresponding spike in health care costs.

In order to curb our nation's growing weight problem the following recommendations were made:

Fully implement the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, by implementing the new school meal standards and updating nutrition standards for snack foods and beverages in schools;

Protect the Prevention and Public Health Fund;

Increase investments in effective, evidence-based obesity-prevention programs;

Fully implement the National Prevention Strategy and Action Plan;

Make physical education and physical activity a priority in the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act;

Finalize the Interagency Working Group on Food Marketed to Children Guidelines;

Fully support healthy nutrition in federal food programs; and

Encourage full use of preventive health care services and provide support beyond the doctor’s office. 

Kudos to NY Mayor planning to ban large sugary drinks

Garbage from park clean-up

Obesity has become a huge nationwide problem. In response to this troubling epidemic New York's Mayor Bloomberg is proposing a ban on large sweetened drinks (New  York Plans to Ban Sales of Big Sizes of Sugary Drinks).  This ban would not include beverages sold in grocery or convenience stores. While it is great to encourage people to use their own common sense in decision making, however when poor decision making becomes a major burden on the society the government must step in.

I would also like to recommend a tax on the plastic bottles that contain so many sodas and other drinks.  There is considerable pollution involved in the manufacturing of this plastic, which often ends up being carelessly discarded.  The short and long term costs to the environment is not adequetly figured into the production of plastic bottles.

Let's Move turns two!

First Lady Michelle Obama's national "Let's Move!" campaign to enhance the health of our nation celebrated its second anniversary this week.  The primary emphasis has been on encouraging healthy eating and physical activity among our nation's  young people.  It was surprising and encouraging to see that the US Defense Department is also getting on board.  They are updating their nutritional standards to add more fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and low-fat dairy products with every meal.  Isn't it great when adults lead by example, and not the old standby "do as I say, not as I do".  

I'll never forget watching the Minneapolis Police band play a concert at Lake Harriet.  Based on their portly appearance it appeared that most of them had desk jobs and were not either eating or exercising properly.  Sadly, a pretty fair representation of the general public.  It is amazing to witness a Center for Disease Control and Prevention chart that shows the changing obesity (BMI > 30) rates among the states since 1985.  We've gone from a nation where NONE of the states had rates of obesity over 20 percent to our current status where ALL of the state obesity rates are 20 percent or above, with many over 30 percent.  Fully 34 percent of the adults in Mississippi are obese.  This has staggering implications for quality of life, health care and worker productivity.

So, hat's off to the First Lady in her efforts to improve the health of our nation.  Let's move!

Warning pictures on cigarettes... why not soda and junk food too?

I read with great interest in the New York Times that the tabacco industry may within the next year have to put pictures on their packages that indicate the negative side effects of smoking.  If this F.D.A. intervention is an effective means of helping people stop smoking it might work also with the food and beverage industry. 

It may be that we need more graphic counter advertising, such as those recommended by the F.D.A., to slow down the USA's obesity epidemic. Can you imagine pictures of large rear ends on big gulps?  How about belly's bursting over belts on supersized fast food meals?  Monstrous thighs adorning buckets of greasy chicken?  Acne ridden faces on candy bars?  These images might give people pause before opting for the instantaneous gratification which often comes from eating and drinking things that are unhealthy.

Daily most of us are bombarded with scores of ads for things which don't really ad value to the quality of life, and often do just the opposite.  I'm pleased that a friend, John Forde, has a show on public television, Mental Engineering, which takes a critical look at the commercials shown on TV.  Seems that with such effective advertising and marketing industries we need to strengthen consumer education in schools and more broadly throughout the community.