Obesity Beat

Our overweight and obesity rates have been steadily rising over the last decades and I have certainly been vocal about this and in offering ideas to address the problem. It appears to me however, that things are gaining momentum and out of the box thinking is now becoming mainstream if not actual law (limits, taxes, etc). The research experts who warned of the high cost both economically and medically, are still sharing their evidence and their ideas for managing the problem, but now they have one very important - no, two -very okay FOUR very important ears....

Mr. and Mrs. Barak Obama. When the first lady of the USA becomes involved in an obesity task force - things are going to get done.

So a few notes from the day:

Kelly Brownell the director of the RUDD Center for Food Policy and Obesity of Yale had some important information to share and did so in a WSJ article that I really hope you can access by clicking here. It is a must read. He reiterates my recent point about genes making one more susceptable to an outcome but environment making it a reality. In fact, he says, "too many calories consumed and too few expended" is the problem.

Yesterday a national plan that has been in development for several years became official. This is a collaborative effort involving many different organizations and persons that are trusted in the field of health promotion. This includes the YMCA, ACSM, ACS, numerious esteemed universities, CDCP, USDA, AARP and more. The name of the initiative is The US National Physical Activity Plan and the goal is to make regular physical activity - a physically active lifestyle- a salient part of the American culture. The end they seek is this " to improve health, prevent disease and disability, and enhance quality of life." Hey that sounds like a mission near and dear to my heart! Read about the Plan here and get involved!

Today I heard a newstory on SODA and sweetened beverages. It really was a priceless piece on NPR - but I don't remember which show it was. My one point to make - truly the best thing I have heard in a while - is something that the VP of the American Beverage Association had to say to the reporter when asked if she felt that the soda and tobacco comparisons were fair. I believe I can quote her, "Absolutely NOT> Cigarettes kill people." THANK YOU - I couldn't have said it better myself. Then she talked about how there was no safe level of tobacco consumption but that soda could be used in a health promoting way. Seriously - she advised giving soda (sugary sweetened soda) to KIDS after they ran or played etc. She said that kids don't generally drink enough water and soda was 90% water and that it might be a good way to get the kids to drink their water. The reporter almost as aghast as I, asked her if she were advising runners to drink soda for replenishment. YES. The lady said YES and though every nutritionist on the planet will tell you that soda is empty calories, the ABA VP said that soda had nutritive value. What is that, the reporter asked and was told, "HFCS - I jest not, she claimed that high fructose corn syrup was a nutrient." So oh boy - this sounds more like Big Tobacco everyday - oh, no nicotine is not addictive...........