12 Days of Fitness

Here are two posts in one, due to my missed post yesterday:

Adult Obesity 

(Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Getty Images)

IS among the easiest medical conditions to recognize but most difficult to treat. 

IS unhealthy weight gain due to poor diet and lack of exercise is responsible for over 300,000 deaths each year. 

IS costly.  The annual cost to society for obesity is estimated at nearly $100 billion.

We all have heard that obesity is rising and taking over America, but I thought I would bring it home a little more and provide you with some statistics:

• 12 states now have obesity rates above 30% (4 years ago there was only one)
• 20 years ago no state had obesity levels above 15% (today 38 states have obesity levels over 25%)
• Regionally, the highest obesity levels are in the South (9 of 10 states with highest obesity rates)
• Mississippi has had the highest obesity rates for the past 7 years running
• Fastest growing number of obese per capita are in Oklahoma, Alabama, and Tennessee
• In 1995 only 4 states had diabetes rates above 6%. Today 43 states have diabetes rates over 7%
• Highest obesity rates are among racial and ethnic minority groups and the least educated and poor
• Adult obesity rates for African Americans are over 40% in 15 states, >35% in 35 states and >30% in 43 states
• Adult obesity rates for Latin Americans are above 35% in 4 states and over 30% in 23 states
• Adult obesity rates for Caucasians are over 30% in 4 states (Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, and West Virginia)
• 33% of adults who did not graduate from high school are obese, compared to 21.5% who graduated from college

(taken from the here)

Now lets talk about something that makes me so sad and mad in the same breath.  

Obesity amongst our children.  

Who teaches a child how to talk?  Parents right?  

Who teaches a child how and what to eat?  Parents.  Enough said.  

Even if our parents didn't show us how to change, we can be the change for our kids.

Yes of course genetics may play into childhood obesity, but I just heard a statistic that our behaviors and habits are enough to over time change our very own genetic makeup.  

Therefore we consistently overeat, and whatever chemical process that affects within our body, may very well become permanent, and even passed on to our children.  

BUT- On the flip side of that thought, doesn't that give us power to change...possibly our genetics?  Words for thought.

Childhood Obesity Facts and Statistics

• One out of every seven low income children in America is obese.
• More than 70% of the obese youth are at higher risk of heart diseases.
• The hospital costs for children were 35 million in the 1980s and these have increased to 127 million today.
• Type 2 diabetes has reached to the levels of 8-9 %; a two-fold increase from the early 1980s.
• Obese children are at a higher risk of developing liver diseases, asthma and Sleep Apnea (problems in breathing while sleeping).
• Children with obesity have a low self-esteem and the chances of developing psychological problems like depression and anxiety are higher.
• Obese children have lesser concentration levels and get tired easily, which can pose challenges in their education and their participation in other extra-curricular activities.
• Obese children are subject to a lot of social discrimination and this may cause them to stay away from exercises and social interactions.
• Most of the people who complain of arthritis are middle-aged, but obese children are at the risk of developing this disease early on in their lives.
• Obesity also takes a toll on the financial health of a family as estimates suggest that a family with an obese child spends 30% more in health costs and 77% more in medication costs.

 Factors that Contribute to Obesity

• One of the prime reasons for obesity in children is their eating habits as instead of having healthy fruits and vegetables, children are more inclined to have processed snacks, fried foods, burgers, pizzas etc.
• Another reason that is contributing to obesity in children is that earlier children used to spend their evenings playing with children of their neighborhood but now they like to spend their time playing video games, watching television and catching up with each other on social networking websites.
• The lifestyle of Americans has changed to a great extent in the past two decades and it has had a bearing on young children as well. There was a time when children used to bike a few miles to the pool and jog to the local park, but time constraints and safety precautions have limited even these activities.

                                                                    (taken from here)

What can we do?

Start with a personal investigation. 

What are you feeding your kids daily? 

Do they get a good source of vegetables and protein each day?  

Do that have treats everyday?  

Do you pack processed/packaged food in their lunches?

Start with asking yourself these questions...and answer honestly.

Next give yourself a big hug, and realize there is more to showing love and giving love then through the food you eat.  

And you all know you love your children way more then feeding them a consistent diet of dangerous food.

Next post, I'll discuss the next step.

Loves (and caring), 

Jill