Obesity rate growing in America
22 08 08 - 11:51
Obesity ‘supersizes’ Kansans, county residents
Dave Bergmeier - Editor and Publisher - The Bilene Reflector-Chronicle
Kansas’ population has stayed constant at around 2.8 million residents over the past 28 years, but residents appear to have a “super size” approach to their eating habits.
In a story written by The Associated Press, it notes that Kansas was the 23rd-fattest state, with 25.8 percent of its adult population obese and 62.3 percent either obese or overweight. The figures were cited from the Trust for America’s Health, which ranks all of the states. Mississippi led the nation with a 31.7 percent obesity rate. Colorado is the leanest state with an obesity rate of 18.4 percent and is now the only state below 20 percent.
Last year Kansas’ rate was 24.3 percent, putting it 27th nationwide.
The figures, as well as other statistics put out by other organizations, including the Kansas Health Institute, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, and at the local level through the Community Foundation of Dickinson County, county school districts, Dickinson County Health Department and K-State Research and Extension Dickinson County, share statistics that indicate a “growing trend” that requires long-term action.
Much like the weight that goes on the average Kansan, it does not go on by leaps and bounds, it is a reflection of poor nutritional habits, stress and a hurried lifestyle that oftentimes lacks a balance of exercise. The sedentary lifestyle shows its supersize many years later. More frequent visits to the doctor and the onset of adult diabetes have become all too familiar stories. Conversely, the ability to take the weight off years later unfortunately becomes a much tougher task... many times the will power to take off pounds can fade if success is not achieved early and sustained.
The informercial industry has made millions of dollars from Americans who desire to take off weight, achieve their early 20s physique. The evidence is mixed. One can travel to any of the many garage sales that are in Abilene and see an exercise tool purchased as a result that now carries a used price tag much less than what it was originally sold.
The statistics are a grim reality that the average Kansan probably spends more time watching television than reading a newspaper, magazine and book and getting off the couch for 20 to 30 minutes of exercise a day. To those Kansans who are able to do that, they have found the healthy recipe in their lifetime, we hope they are not an endangered species.
Physicians indicate that better education, personal responsibility and starting nutritional understanding at a younger level is crucial for the future generations, who ultimately will pay more to have health insurance benefits as they enter their prime wage-earning days. Organizations that have started those efforts at the local level deserve high praise for their willingness to undertake such projects. Brochures are available, for example, in local schools about the need for balanced diets for youth and how to make sensible choices.
Adults have a responsibility to try to do better. Refraining from the extra cola, potato chips and less sweets will help. Finding an exercise plan that can begin in small doses and includes proper consultation with a doctor is a starting point. Finding a support system, whether an organization or loose knit group of individuals, can also be crucial. Facing obesity is tough but recognizing it for what it does and how it robs Dickinson Countians of their vitality is the 800-pound gorilla that we all need to do our part to get off our collective back.
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