Obesity news - What happened to the flu and Columbus sniper news? Obesity was the top food story for 2003. Most teenage girls hate their bodies. U.S. has the most overweight teens. Doctors say soda and schools don't mix. A peek at Americans' eating habits. Americans are getting fatter. Obesity kills 300,000 Americans a year. Among preventable deaths, obesity is second to tobacco.
Health officials expect obesity deaths to someday surpass tobacco's numbers. Can we expect government intervention? Will government ban junk food, since obesity is a drain on the health care system, which affects everyone?
"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate nearly two-thirds of all Americans are overweight; some 59 million are considered obese, at least 50 or more pounds over desirable weight. More than 15 percent of all children and adolescents are significantly overweight. Annual cost of diseases associated with obesity is $117 billion."
Most teenage girls hate their bodies ...
"Almost every teenage girl hates the way they look, a survey suggests. One in five is so unhappy they suffer from anorexia or bulimia. The survey of 2,000 girls for Bliss magazine found six out of 10 would be happier if they lost weight."
"The survey found that while 19% of those questioned were overweight, 67% thought they needed to lose weight. Two out of three girls under the age of 13 said they had already been on a diet."
"More than a quarter of 14 year olds said they had considered having plastic surgery or taking diet pills. Among those who were overweight, the figure rose to 42%."
"The girls were asked who they thought had the best female body. Pop stars Britney Spears, Beyonce Knowles, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Lopez and Kylie Minogue were their top five."
"The survey also revealed that 90% of girls thought their own mother had "an insecure body image". Ms Johnston said mothers may be passing on their insecurities to their daughters."
I thought some kind of women's movement or liberation did away with this kind of thinking. It must be the men's fault.
Overweight teens ...
"The U.S. has more overweight teens than 14 other countries. Obesity in childhood and adolescence leads to health problems in adult years, with 50% to 80% of obese teens becoming obese adults."
"... study of 29,242 boys and girls -- all between 13 and 25 years old -- involved Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Lithuania, Ireland, Israel, Portugal, Slovakia, Sweden, and the U.S."
"The U.S. had highest percent of overweight teens; Lithuania had the least. Among 13-year-olds in the U.S., 13% of boys and 11% of girls were overweight. Among 15-year-olds, 14% of boys and 15% of girls were overweight."
Soda and school ...
"School districts should restrict sales of soda pop because of the health problems that overconsumption can cause for students, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics."
"... cites the link between soft drink consumption and increasing obesity and dental problems among America’s youth."
"David Welch, who was named president of the Toledo board of education last night, has urged the district to re-examine its 10-year contract with Coca-Cola, citing the health concerns of pop consumption. TPS received a $4.5 million advance from the soft drink company that is distributed annually to a capital building fund and the general fund. Any alteration of the contract would require repayment of remaining funds and possibly penalties."
Eating habits ...
"Americans spend an average of $95 per week on groceries. Mintel also found that today's kids spend $10 billion annually on food, thanks to money they receive in allowances and for doing chores. After school is the prime snacking time, with 15 percent eating snacks after dinner, indicating they are snacking when not hungry. Snacks are also bought in school cafeterias or through vending machines, and at convenience stores and gas stations."
"PepsiCo and Coca-Cola are the top-selling brands of functional drinks. One-quarter of Americans eat prepackaged low-calorie meals such as Weight Watchers of Healthy Choice. Consumers eat 80 percent of their meals at home, but with less time to spend in the kitchen, frozen foods are an alternative to take-out for a group that has less disposable income to spend on restaurant meals."
Americans getting fatter ...
"Over the last two decades, the prevalence of obesity (search) among adults in the United States has more than doubled."
"Medical experts have long said obesity is caused by a combination of genetics and overeating. But another theory is gaining momentum in the scientific community -- that certain viruses may be responsible. Scientists say this has been proven in animals but not yet in humans."
"The virus theory is controversial and has charged the debate over whether to classify obesity as a disease and how much taxpayers should be paying to treat it. The National Institutes of Health (search) says it should be considered a disease; the U.S. surgeon general says it should not and argues that obesity is a 'condition.' "
Not directly related to obesity news but ...
Lawsuit against Doritos for being too crunchy.
"Charles Grady in 1995 filed a product liability suit against Plano-based Frito-Lay. Grady claims his throat was damaged because of the rigid texture and triangular shape of the chips."
"A study by Charles Beroes that showed how much force and saliva was needed to break up the chips so they could be safely swallowed. Beroes concluded the chips were too hard and sharp to be swallowed safely."
What about Wheat Thins? They are suppose to be a healthy a snack, but they are small, thin, and crunchy. And since Wheat Thins are square, they have one more sharp edge than Doritos. Lawyers.
posted by jr to health at 3:56 P.M. EST
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