Food is worse than crack

Overweight in Mexico

This article discusses how the worldwide surge in overweight is affecting Mexico.

The rate of childhood obesity, a phenomenon that barely existed 20 years ago, is soaring. A 2002 municipal government study in Mexico City found that 30 percent of elementary school children and 45 percent of adolescents were overweight or obese. The same study found that 81 percent of adults did no exercise.

The rapid weight gain has created a spike in diabetes, now the leading cause of death among adults in Mexico, the Health Ministry says. Eleven percent of adult Mexicans have diabetes, according to the ministry.

Of course, it's not just Mexico:

Obesity is increasing all over the developing world, in countries as diverse as Egypt and South Africa as more people move to cities, fast food replaces home cooking and exercise fades from daily life.

Most Idaho adults overweight

An annual survey says that in 2003, nearly 60% of Idaho adults were overweight. It's not just happening in Idaho, of course.

The problem is nationwide, with the CDC estimating that 30 percent of the nation's population is obese. Nearby states aren't far behind Idaho's rates— in 2003 about 59 percent of Washington residents were too heavy, as well as 57 percent of Oregon and Montana residents.

Fat Man Walking: update

This article has an update on Steve Vaught, the man who is walking from San Diego to New York.

Due to the heat of the day, Steve walks from 6:30 to 10 a.m., takes most of the day off, resumes walking at 7:30 p.m. and goes until he feels like stopping. His original plan was to walk 20 to 25 miles a day, but some injuries took him down to three miles a day for a few weeks.

Now he averages about 15 miles a day.

Slow weight loss

This story is about a woman in Kendallville, Indiana, who has lost 78 pounds in 4 years on Weight Watchers.

“When the kids were home, we’d get two large pizzas. Then after they left, we’d order a medium, then it went down to a small,” she says. “Now, when we go, we get the salad bar and split a personal pan pizza. I don’t feel deprived. I still have pizza.”

Some changes Timmons made cooking at home are the variety of vegetables she eats and the portion size.

“Lots of vegetables,” she says. “I can have potatoes once or twice a week. I used to have them daily.

“I have a vegetable steamer. I like to roast vegetables. I do that with asparagus. My husband never liked asparagus until I roasted it.”

UK Men and Obesity

A survey in the UK says that men don't realize the health implications of being overweight.

National Obesity Forum chairman Dr David Haslam said men had to pay more attention to their weight.

"Men need to be more aware of the health implication of excess abdominal fat and how to lose weight.

"Reducing waist size alone can lead to significant improvements in health, so being able to notch in a belt can be a good and simple way of gauging healthy weight loss."

American Heart Association diet book

The American Heart Association has a new diet book that promotes a sensible, non-fad-based approach to eating.

"A lot of the fad diets have appealed to a rapid weight loss," Eckel said. "This is a slow, methodical approach."

Dueling studies

This article discusses the disagreement between researchers about whether moderate overweight increases or decreases lifespan.

In a seminar and news conference yesterday at the public health school, in Boston, the critics said other studies, including their own, had found that the death risk from excess pounds increased continuously from normal weight to overweight to obesity.