Graehm Gray: Obesity Rates Are On The Rise. We Need To Eat Less!

I have been reviewing the most recent report from the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF)-F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future 2010. According to the report, the rates of obesity are on the rise in most states except Washington, D.C. (21.5% adult obesity and 20.1 % childhood obesity). In fact, in the most recent American Fitness Index, the District of Columbia was rated as the “fittest” city in the United States. In this new report, Mississippi with an adult obesity rate of 33.8% was ranked as the “most Obese State in the Nation,” while the State of Oregon had the lowest childhood obesity with a 9.6%.

Here are the highlights of the report:

1. More than two-thirds of states (38) have adult obesity rates above 25 percent. In 1991, no state had an obesity rate above 20 percent.
2. Adult obesity rates for Blacks and Latinos were higher than for Whites in at least 40 states and the District of Columbia.
3. 10 out of the 11 states with the highest rates of obesity were in the South — with Mississippi weighing in with highest rates for all adults (33.8 percent) for the sixth year in a row.
4. 84 percent of parents believe their children are at a healthy weight, but research shows nearly one-third of children and teens are obese or overweight.
5. Adult obesity rates for Blacks topped 40 percent in nine states, 35 percent in 34 states, and 30 percent in 43 states and D.C.
6. Rates of adult obesity for Latinos were above 35 percent in two states (North Dakota and Tennessee) and at 30 percent and above in 19 states.
7. Northeastern and Western states had the lowest adult obesity rates; Colorado remained the lowest at 19.1 percent.
8. Oregon had the lowest rate of childhood obesity at 9.6%.

So my friends, what do all these reports tell us? Have any of the diet manipulations: low fat, high protein, complex carbohydrates and hundreds of diet books really had any effect? Or do we need to re analyze the problem? Are we as parents underestimating our children’s actual weight? Are we going to get people to stop eating at fast food restaurants? No! Should we start to work on the portion sizes of current diets, a resounding yes! Of course there are certain parts of our diets and nutrition knowledge that need correction. Yes- we need to cut out much of the saturated fats and replace them with monounsaturated and poly unsaturated fats. Yes- we need to use more fiber containing whole grains. That means cut out white processed starches. Yes- we need to cut back on our children’s sugar intake. Yes- we need to increase the amounts of fruits and vegetables. Yes- we need to eat more plant food and wild fish. Yes we need to consume low fat (or zero fat) dairy products. And a big yes- we need to exercise more.

My friends, let’s face it-the reality is that we are not going to get most people to change what they are doing. We can hope to get them to eat less of what they are eating. This would be a very good first step. So here is my first word of wisdom:

Eat less of what you are eating! Cut back on the portion sizes of every plate of food you are eating in a day by about 10%.

This will cut back on your calorie intake and over time will help you lose and maintain your weight. Yes I want you to follow the other tips above, but if you can do only one thing-cut back on the amount you are eating! Did you know that there are many studies showing an inverse relationship between total calorie intake and longevity? Well there are! So eat less, can you hear me? Say it with me, “I will eat less today!” Get some healthy items into your diets-eat more plant foods, fish, olive and canola oils, low fat dairy, and whole grains. And the “E” word-yes, my friends, exercise. Start with 10 minutes day. Take Ten.

My friends, stay fit and healthy The New Nerdel Way.

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