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pocon1 · 02-26-2005, 07:56 PM

From healthierus.gov:

Fitness problems such as obesity and overweight have reached truly epidemic proportions in the United States. In the last 10 years, obesity rates have increased by more than 60 percent among adults. In 1999, 61 percent of the adult population was either overweight or obese. The obesity epidemic impacts other diseases as well. For example, the incidence of type 2 diabetes, a major consequence of obesity, is on the rise. Among U.S. adults, diagnosed diabetes increased 49 percent from 1990 to 2000.
The rate of increase in overweight among young people has been even steeper. This is particularly troubling since many of the behaviors that lead to adult obesity are established during childhood. Just 10 years ago, type 2 diabetes was virtually unknown in children and adolescents. Indeed, the medical community commonly referred to the condition as "adult onset diabetes." Today, it accounts for almost 50 percent of new cases of pediatric diabetes in some communities. Medical complications associated with obesity in children can lead to hospitalizations for type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, and asthma. Since 1980, the percentage of children who are overweight has nearly doubled, and the percentage of adolescents who are overweight has nearly tripled. Almost 9 million young Americans, or about 15 percent of all children, are overweight.

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/64/72524.htm
May 15, 2003 - The health care costs associated with obesity now rival those attributable to smoking, according to a new study. Researchers say obesity costs in the U.S. totaled up to $92.6 billion last year, and government-funded public insurers Medicare and Medicaid financed about half of those expenses.

Lasereth, if genetics play such a large role in obesity, then why the massive shift upwards in only 10 years? Are we evolving that quickly? BTW, I have seen your list of video games, it is pretty impressive. You must spend a fair amount of time playing.

How many hours do all of us spend in front of the computer each day? How many at TFP alone? I know I spend a fair amount of time here, time that could be spent doing something more active. Now who's fault is that? Well I guess my own, same thing when I had a Haagen Daz ice cream bar just now. No one was holding a gun to my head.

The point is that diet and obesity is something that individual people control. Not society, not strictly genetics. So your metabolism is a little different. So what. I have an alcoholic uncle, and my sister can be a little bit of a lush and she smokes. I could have an addictive personality, but I make decisions that benefit me. I don't drink, I don't smoke, and I try to control my weight. Suck it up and drive on.

Now as far as other fat people in society, they are costing me and you a lot of money. We pushed people to quit smoking. That became socially unacceptable (to smoke). Now I think it is selfish to create this epidemic that is trying to bankrupt the country and creates a tremendous strain on society. BTW, my mom has type 2 diabetes, Though she was a strong and healthy chubby, she still developed a lifestyle disease that puts a lot of stress on her life. Watch her shoot insulin sometime.

02-26-2005, 07:56 PM	#38 (permalink)
pocon1 Banned	From healthierus.gov: Fitness problems such as obesity and overweight have reached truly epidemic proportions in the United States. In the last 10 years, obesity rates have increased by more than 60 percent among adults. In 1999, 61 percent of the adult population was either overweight or obese. The obesity epidemic impacts other diseases as well. For example, the incidence of type 2 diabetes, a major consequence of obesity, is on the rise. Among U.S. adults, diagnosed diabetes increased 49 percent from 1990 to 2000. The rate of increase in overweight among young people has been even steeper. This is particularly troubling since many of the behaviors that lead to adult obesity are established during childhood. Just 10 years ago, type 2 diabetes was virtually unknown in children and adolescents. Indeed, the medical community commonly referred to the condition as "adult onset diabetes." Today, it accounts for almost 50 percent of new cases of pediatric diabetes in some communities. Medical complications associated with obesity in children can lead to hospitalizations for type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, and asthma. Since 1980, the percentage of children who are overweight has nearly doubled, and the percentage of adolescents who are overweight has nearly tripled. Almost 9 million young Americans, or about 15 percent of all children, are overweight. http://my.webmd.com/content/article/64/72524.htm May 15, 2003 - The health care costs associated with obesity now rival those attributable to smoking, according to a new study. Researchers say obesity costs in the U.S. totaled up to $92.6 billion last year, and government-funded public insurers Medicare and Medicaid financed about half of those expenses. Lasereth, if genetics play such a large role in obesity, then why the massive shift upwards in only 10 years? Are we evolving that quickly? BTW, I have seen your list of video games, it is pretty impressive. You must spend a fair amount of time playing. How many hours do all of us spend in front of the computer each day? How many at TFP alone? I know I spend a fair amount of time here, time that could be spent doing something more active. Now who's fault is that? Well I guess my own, same thing when I had a Haagen Daz ice cream bar just now. No one was holding a gun to my head. The point is that diet and obesity is something that individual people control. Not society, not strictly genetics. So your metabolism is a little different. So what. I have an alcoholic uncle, and my sister can be a little bit of a lush and she smokes. I could have an addictive personality, but I make decisions that benefit me. I don't drink, I don't smoke, and I try to control my weight. Suck it up and drive on. Now as far as other fat people in society, they are costing me and you a lot of money. We pushed people to quit smoking. That became socially unacceptable (to smoke). Now I think it is selfish to create this epidemic that is trying to bankrupt the country and creates a tremendous strain on society. BTW, my mom has type 2 diabetes, Though she was a strong and healthy chubby, she still developed a lifestyle disease that puts a lot of stress on her life. Watch her shoot insulin sometime.