Boy we are in trouble!

I just read over an article that appeared on the MSN Health and Fitness website titled – Obesity rates jump in 28 states.

Simply put 2/3 of the states now have obesity rates above 25% of their population!

Please take what I am about to say with a grain of salt. In this world there are plenty of people, groups, organizations and even countries like to see the good old USA go away. Well if we keep going down this path all they have to do is wait us out and will do it ourselves.

To show how bad things have become back in 1991 (less than 20 years ago) not one state had their obesity rate above 20%. People wonder why health care cost have risen so fast? Well look at your waistline! 1/4 of all health cost can be traced back to obesity, just imagine if we were a fitter and healthier country the health care cost would be lower.

The fattest state? Mississippi. At this rate when we spell that state we better start adding in a few more “S’s” and a few more “P’s”. Mississippi has 33.8% of their population being obese. Notice I am not saying OVERWEIGHT in this article.

1. Mississippi
2. Alabama
3. Tennessee
4. West Virginia
5. Louisiana
6. Oklahoma
7. Kentucky
8. Arkansas
9. South Carolina
10. Michigan

See a trend here? Besides Michigan all the states on the list are considered southern states. Yes, income seems to be a driving factor but also the style of cooking generally found in this area of the country can not be discounted.

Healthiest?

1. Colorado
2. Connecticut
3. D.C.
4. Massachusetts
5. Hawaii
6. Vermont
7. Rhode Island Utah
8. Montana
9. New Jersey

Before any of you living in those states rejoice only Colorado finished with a number below 20%. So 1 in 4 of you in those states fall into the obese category. Only D.C. declined, so Colorado you probably will be above 20% pretty soon.

Another trend? Race does have a hand in this. Blacks and Latinos outweigh their white counterparts in 40 of the 50 states. There is a clear link between race, poverty and obesity.

How does this change?

White, Black, Latino, a south state, a north state it doesn’t matter. We are all in this boat together.

1. Eat out less, eat at home. Before there was a fast food restaurant on every corner, eating out was actually a luxury. Eat at home you might get to meet someone called family members.
2. Eating at home also means making smarter choices. It is easy to see “cheap” processed food is a cause of some of this. I know I am going to get an argument on this, but I have a problem with people saying fruits, vegetables, fish and so on are expensive. Have you ever heard of a farmer’s market? For those in the south, you might even have the luxury of having a fish market. “Cheap” food is quick and easy. Rip open a bag or box and add water is no way to eat.
3. If you eat out, eat less! Forget about the BIGGIE SIZE, for $1 more make it a large, eat only half of what is served because what is served is usually 2 servings or more. You don’t need to have an appetizer or a dessert.
4. Move! Get off your butt! Turn off the TV, put down the phone, stop tweeting and go for a walk!

These are 4 options, but it simply comes down to this. Unless you want to change, I mean really WANT TO CHANGE, nothing will. I seen it, I have heard it, but until you have your enough is enough moment nothing will happen.

Coming to terms with this obesity issue, don’t expect the government to help, don’t expect a weight loss program to help, don’t expect buying a gym membership to help. The only way to help is look in the mirror. YOU and only you (hopefully some help from loved ones and friends) will get you off this boat! Another way of putting it. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OWN ACTIONS!

Until next time… Your Fitness Buddy