Obesity

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Obesity

The Lufkin Daily News

Friday, December 30, 2005

It would be a safe bet that " lose weight " and " get in shape, " will

top the list of New Year's resolutions of quite a few Americans — at

least 129 million of us.

According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey,

two-thirds of Americans are overweight, 30.5 percent are obese and

nearly 30 million weigh more than 300 pounds.

We're a prosperous country, and it's beginning to show. But being

overweight is not merely an issue of aesthetics — it's a serious

health issue.

Being overweight increases the risk for serious health problems —

diabetes, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure are the most

commonly known " side-effects. " Others less recognized are

osteoarthritis — the degeneration of cartilage and bone in joints

that have to support too much weight; breathing problems that

interfere with sleep; and some forms of cancer.

Here's another good reason to put losing weight at the top of your

list. Obesity increases your risk of dying, anywhere from 50 to 100

percent, as compared to someone of normal weight, according to the

National Institute of Health. Although that statistic applies to all

causes, chances are that someone who is overweight, even moderately

will die from a heart attack or some form of heart disease.

Businesses have a good reason to encourage employees to make losing

weight a priority this year — a total of $117 billion annually in

medical spending, according to the NIH. Ten years ago, loss of

productivity due to obesity — doctor's visits, restricted activity

days and workdays lost — cost American businesses $3.9 billion.

But here's the best reason of all — our kids. Our kids are following

our bad example — eating more, eating poorly and exercising hardly

at all. In the year 2000, more than 15 percent of kids aged 6 to 11

were overweight. Physical education is not a requirement for all

students, and many elementary schools have virtually

eliminated " recess. "

The holiday season ends this weekend, and with it ends the excuses

for overindulging in food and drink.

Start the year off right. Resolve to be good to yourself and to your

family, and to those who would like to see you alive for a few more

years.

And if you aren't motivated to do it for yourself, do it for our

kids.