Dr. Mercola's Comments: It is great to see the surgeon general announce a plan directed towards treating the obesity epidemic. A staggering 61% of American adults currently meet the scientific definition of obesity, putting them at increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, arthritis, depression and several forms of cancer. Obesity rates among US adults have gone up 30% since the late 1970s. Meanwhile, just one third of US adults meet experts' recommendations for at least 30 minutes of exercise 5 days per week. This is probably the most sedentary generation of people in the history of the world. Unfortunately nearly all of the traditional approaches to relieving obesity don't work very well. Folks this is not rocket science. It is not that obesity is a neutral frame. Most people who are obese are not happy about it and would like to change to a normal weight. They are quite familiar with the health implications. However they have two major problems. The first is that most "experts" are providing them with incorrect information, as the surgeon general states above. The problem is not the fat, but it is the excess grain carbohydrates. Anyone who has reviewed my eating plan is familiar with this. However, even if people understand what they need to do, which is quite simply to replace grains with vegetable greens, they still are unable to do this. Fortunately there are some effective tools that address the emotional attachments and addictive elements that impair one's ability to follow this program. EFT is one of those tools. Not only is it good for addressing the food issues, but it is phenomenal for improving the discipline that is required to implement an effective exercise program that clearly needs to be a part of the successful solution to weight management. I recently conducted a training seminar on how to perform this technique and it is now available on video. There is a one year money back guarantee on the video and it may be one of the best investments that you could make for the health of your children, since it may radically improve their ability to follow the eating plan and reduce their television viewing. These tapes should provide you with a solid introduction to EFT, complete with numerous live examples. By Sally Squires A staggering 61% of American adults currently meet the scientific definition of obesity, putting them at increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, arthritis, depression and several forms of cancer. Obesity rates among US adults have gone up 30% since the late 1970s. Meanwhile, just one third of US adults meet experts' recommendations for at least 30 minutes of exercise 5 days per week. "This is probably the most sedentary generation of people in the history of the world. The U.S. surgeon general called for sweeping changes in schools, restaurants, workplaces and communities to help combat the growing epidemic of Americans who are overweight or obese. In outlining the first national plan of action for overweight and obesity, Surgeon General David Satcher recommended that schools make their lunch programs less fattening, restrict students' access to vending machines that sell calorie-dense foods and soft drinks, and resume daily physical exercise classes for all children and adolescents, as well as recess for elementary school students. So both adults and children could eat better, restaurants and fast-food establishments -- where Americans spend about 40 percent of their food budget -- should offer more nutrition information, the report recommends. For their part, employers should include weight management and physical activity counseling in their health insurance coverage and allow employees time to exercise. Obesity also should be classified officially as a disease, to encourage insurance companies to reimburse for weight-control expenses, the report concludes. "This is not about aesthetics and it's not about appearances," Satcher said. "We're talking about health." Communities should create safe playgrounds, sidewalks or walking trails, particularly in inner cities, to encourage physical activity, the report recommends. Because the surgeon general controls no funding, implementing most of the recommendations would fall to the federal, state and local governments. But the surgeon general's reports historically have played an important role in focusing attention on health problems and influencing social change. Obesity is considered by many public health experts to be one of the nation's most important problems because it is a major risk factor of maladies that include heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes. Nearly 2 out of 3 adults in the United States are overweight or obese, and the number has been increasing. An Estimated 1,200 People Die Daily From Weight-Related Illnesses That adds up to 300,000 deaths a year -- more than the number killed annually by pneumonia, motor vehicle accidents and airline crashes combined -- and nearly as many as the 430,000 who die yearly from tobacco-related conditions. Health care costs for overweight and obesity total an estimated $117 billion annually. Even children are not immune to obesity or its health effects. Nationwide, 13 percent of youngsters are overweight, but a study published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that the problem is worse among segments of the population: 22 percent of both black and Hispanic youngsters are overweight, compared with about 12 percent of non-Hispanic white children. Type II diabetes -- which is closely linked to overweight and used to be limited to adults -- is increasingly diagnosed in children as young as 10. Satcher said children increasingly have high blood pressure and elevated blood cholesterol levels. While rates of overweight and obesity are rising across all age, geographic, ethnic and socioeconomic groups, the poor are among those hardest hit, Satcher said. A study published this year by the NIH showed that trimming just 15 pounds could cut the risk of diabetes by 58 percent in those one step from developing the disease. That, in turn, could cut treatment costs by about $58 million annually. "That would pay for a lot of health insurance, wouldn't it?" said Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson, who vowed to lose 15 pounds in the new year. Daily exercise -- 30 minutes for adults, 60 minutes for children -- is one of the most important defenses against overweight and obesity, the report notes. At the same time, Americans should consume five servings of fruits and vegetables a day and follow more closely the government's dietary guidelines, according to the report. The report drew praise for shifting the subject of overweight and obesity from a personal problem to a societal challenge. "What's unique is to have the government saying that we need to address nutrition and physical activity as a societal issue, much like we did for tobacco," said Margo Wootan of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a nonprofit, Washington-based consumer group. "We need to put in place policy and change the environment around people so that it is easier for them to eat well and be active." Industry groups also praised the report. It shows, noted Lisa Katic of the Grocery Manufacturers of America, "that Secretary Thompson and the surgeon general have examined the obesity issue, and recognized that this is a complex issue and there are no simple solutions." But others said the report fell short. "I was hoping that the report would address some of the tough issues, including tax policies, that might make the environment safer for people to live healthier, more active lives," said Barbara J. Moore, president of Shape Up America!, a nonprofit group founded by former surgeon general C. Everett Koop. "I'm talking about incentives to make fruits and vegetables cheaper, and for physical activity to be safer and more affordable, like building gyms where populations are at particular risk. Why not do that?" The surgeon general's report defines overweight as having a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 29.9 or being approximately 20 to 25 pounds overweight. People with a BMI of 30 or more are considered obese and are roughly 30 pounds or more over their healthy weight. (BMI takes height and weight into account and is computed by multiplying body weight in pounds by 703, then dividing that amount by height in inches squared.) Washington Post December 14, 2001; Page A03 Related Articles: American Children Are Getting Fatter Americans Eating More, Exercising Less Leptin May Control "Sweet Tooth"
It is great to see the surgeon general announce a plan directed towards treating the obesity epidemic.
A staggering 61% of American adults currently meet the scientific definition of obesity, putting them at increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, arthritis, depression and several forms of cancer.
Obesity rates among US adults have gone up 30% since the late 1970s. Meanwhile, just one third of US adults meet experts' recommendations for at least 30 minutes of exercise 5 days per week.
This is probably the most sedentary generation of people in the history of the world.
Unfortunately nearly all of the traditional approaches to relieving obesity don't work very well. Folks this is not rocket science. It is not that obesity is a neutral frame. Most people who are obese are not happy about it and would like to change to a normal weight. They are quite familiar with the health implications.
However they have two major problems.
The first is that most "experts" are providing them with incorrect information, as the surgeon general states above. The problem is not the fat, but it is the excess grain carbohydrates. Anyone who has reviewed my eating plan is familiar with this.
However, even if people understand what they need to do, which is quite simply to replace grains with vegetable greens, they still are unable to do this.
Fortunately there are some effective tools that address the emotional attachments and addictive elements that impair one's ability to follow this program.
EFT is one of those tools.
Not only is it good for addressing the food issues, but it is phenomenal for improving the discipline that is required to implement an effective exercise program that clearly needs to be a part of the successful solution to weight management.
I recently conducted a training seminar on how to perform this technique and it is now available on video. There is a one year money back guarantee on the video and it may be one of the best investments that you could make for the health of your children, since it may radically improve their ability to follow the eating plan and reduce their television viewing. These tapes should provide you with a solid introduction to EFT, complete with numerous live examples.
By Sally Squires A staggering 61% of American adults currently meet the scientific definition of obesity, putting them at increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, arthritis, depression and several forms of cancer.
"This is probably the most sedentary generation of people in the history of the world. The U.S. surgeon general called for sweeping changes in schools, restaurants, workplaces and communities to help combat the growing epidemic of Americans who are overweight or obese.
In outlining the first national plan of action for overweight and obesity, Surgeon General David Satcher recommended that schools make their lunch programs less fattening, restrict students' access to vending machines that sell calorie-dense foods and soft drinks, and resume daily physical exercise classes for all children and adolescents, as well as recess for elementary school students.
So both adults and children could eat better, restaurants and fast-food establishments -- where Americans spend about 40 percent of their food budget -- should offer more nutrition information, the report recommends. For their part, employers should include weight management and physical activity counseling in their health insurance coverage and allow employees time to exercise.
Obesity also should be classified officially as a disease, to encourage insurance companies to reimburse for weight-control expenses, the report concludes.
"This is not about aesthetics and it's not about appearances," Satcher said. "We're talking about health."
Communities should create safe playgrounds, sidewalks or walking trails, particularly in inner cities, to encourage physical activity, the report recommends.
Because the surgeon general controls no funding, implementing most of the recommendations would fall to the federal, state and local governments. But the surgeon general's reports historically have played an important role in focusing attention on health problems and influencing social change.
Obesity is considered by many public health experts to be one of the nation's most important problems because it is a major risk factor of maladies that include heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes.
Nearly 2 out of 3 adults in the United States are overweight or obese, and the number has been increasing.
An Estimated 1,200 People Die Daily From Weight-Related Illnesses
That adds up to 300,000 deaths a year -- more than the number killed annually by pneumonia, motor vehicle accidents and airline crashes combined -- and nearly as many as the 430,000 who die yearly from tobacco-related conditions. Health care costs for overweight and obesity total an estimated $117 billion annually.
Even children are not immune to obesity or its health effects. Nationwide, 13 percent of youngsters are overweight, but a study published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that the problem is worse among segments of the population: 22 percent of both black and Hispanic youngsters are overweight, compared with about 12 percent of non-Hispanic white children.
Type II diabetes -- which is closely linked to overweight and used to be limited to adults -- is increasingly diagnosed in children as young as 10. Satcher said children increasingly have high blood pressure and elevated blood cholesterol levels.
While rates of overweight and obesity are rising across all age, geographic, ethnic and socioeconomic groups, the poor are among those hardest hit, Satcher said.
A study published this year by the NIH showed that trimming just 15 pounds could cut the risk of diabetes by 58 percent in those one step from developing the disease. That, in turn, could cut treatment costs by about $58 million annually.
"That would pay for a lot of health insurance, wouldn't it?" said Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson, who vowed to lose 15 pounds in the new year.
Daily exercise -- 30 minutes for adults, 60 minutes for children -- is one of the most important defenses against overweight and obesity, the report notes. At the same time, Americans should consume five servings of fruits and vegetables a day and follow more closely the government's dietary guidelines, according to the report.
The report drew praise for shifting the subject of overweight and obesity from a personal problem to a societal challenge.
"What's unique is to have the government saying that we need to address nutrition and physical activity as a societal issue, much like we did for tobacco," said Margo Wootan of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a nonprofit, Washington-based consumer group. "We need to put in place policy and change the environment around people so that it is easier for them to eat well and be active."
Industry groups also praised the report. It shows, noted Lisa Katic of the Grocery Manufacturers of America, "that Secretary Thompson and the surgeon general have examined the obesity issue, and recognized that this is a complex issue and there are no simple solutions."
But others said the report fell short. "I was hoping that the report would address some of the tough issues, including tax policies, that might make the environment safer for people to live healthier, more active lives," said Barbara J. Moore, president of Shape Up America!, a nonprofit group founded by former surgeon general C. Everett Koop.
"I'm talking about incentives to make fruits and vegetables cheaper, and for physical activity to be safer and more affordable, like building gyms where populations are at particular risk. Why not do that?"
The surgeon general's report defines overweight as having a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 29.9 or being approximately 20 to 25 pounds overweight. People with a BMI of 30 or more are considered obese and are roughly 30 pounds or more over their healthy weight. (BMI takes height and weight into account and is computed by multiplying body weight in pounds by 703, then dividing that amount by height in inches squared.)
Washington Post December 14, 2001; Page A03
Related Articles:
American Children Are Getting Fatter Americans Eating More, Exercising Less Leptin May Control "Sweet Tooth"
American Children Are Getting Fatter
Americans Eating More, Exercising Less
Leptin May Control "Sweet Tooth"
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