skullaria wrote:

Decius wrote:
An animated map of Americans getting fatter over the past 15 years. The heart of the fat seems to be right here in the South East. I guess pulled pork and fried everything isn't as healthy as I thought.

I really think it is a lot more than just food and what we eat. I think that might one day prove to be false. Look at the number of drugs that can cause weight gain - same folks, same lifestyles, add a drug - they gain 20 pounds in a month! (LYRICA is one.)

In the south, it is hard to get anywhere (unless you are in downtown Atlanta) without driving. That decreases exercise. Also, there was a recent study about quality of sleep being JUST as important as diet and exercise.

At least the problem is getting some research and attention.

Those are all very good points. Another one to add to this is the decrease, overall, of smoking, which does supress weight gain. Old cities are more pedestrian friendly, and therefore, do offer more daily exercise options than the commuter friendly newer cities of the SE. You also have a very alarming trend of earlier obesity in children. It's much more likely that early obesity hastens the onset of other disease, such as diabetes and congestive heart failure, which compounds the cycle, since medications are usually used as the therapy and depression is rampant.

Having spent the last 3 years of my life immersed in disease management, and especially focused on the link between obesity, depression, and chronic illness, the data is absolutely staggering. This is a worldwide phenomenon however, not just in the US. The US just has a faster growth rate per capita with a higher baseline. The entire globe is facing a stiff rise in chronic illness. You could likely intuit the radical growth in economic development and middle class lifestyle as a contributor to this dynamic. That said, it's not just the health and well being of people that's concerning. The economic and healthcare delivery systems of the world are nowhere equipped for this sudden tipping point.

RE: Obesity in America - MSN Health & Fitness