210.2:Obesity Epidemic

Have you heard about this study?  It talks about how the rate of obesity will pretty much skyrocket in the next 20 years if nothing is done.  And yet the Center for Disease Control seems to think that the surge in obesity is dropping or changing. 

Interestingly enough the example given in the story is that a woman who is 5 foot 6 inches and weighs 186 or more is obese.  Have I told you that my goal currently is to get to 175 and reevaluate how I look and how much more I want to lose?  In other words I will still be overweight by the CDC.  Pete, at 185 pounds and 6 feet is still considered overweight.  And honestly does he look overweight?

Sorry it's blurry!

There are limitations to the BMI scale, so keep that in mind.

Although BMI can be used for most men and women, it does have some limits:

• It may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build.
• It may underestimate body fat in older persons and others who have lost muscle.

 But after reading that study report and seeing your BMI and thinking how we're so overweight, next read this story about why we fail at stopping obesity.  Often times we fat people are chastised for eating and not understanding that we can lose by simply "Less In, More Out" or some similar phrase.  We are told time and time again that it's all about willpower and just eat less.  We're made fun of because we can't seem to 'get it' like others do and after all it's simple, right? 

WRONG.  There are other factors at play that people need to understand.  It's not always about willpower or calories in/calories out.  And I think until people stop the simplistic idea of the calories in/calories out thinking, obesity will continue to grow.  Until natural good for you food is less expensive than a drive through, people will continue to get fatter.  Until kids learn how to cook real food and enjoy more than chicken nuggets we will have fatter adults.