Download - John Moore's health project
would agree that it is up to indi-
viduals to change their lifestyle
and stop the spread of the obesity
epidemic.
A topic that has been in
the news a lot recently is the in-
creasing amount of US citizens
who are overweight. Something
that is even more alarming are the
obesity rates in America. A survey
conducted by the Centers for dis-
ease control (CDC) has been col-
lecting data since 1960. The data
shows that while the number of
people that are overweight has
fluctuated; the percentage of obe-
sity has steadily risen to where it is
actually higher than the percentage
of people who are purely over-
weight. And this trend shows no
sign of stopping. How did this
happen? A survey taken in 2003
made a startling discovery: the
move towards unhealthy habits
seems to develop during the transi-
tion from middle school to high
school (Lighting a Fire Under
Couch Potatoes). This transition
occurs during one of the most
crucial points in a child’s life.
Middle school is typically the last
year students are required to take
physical education and then they
have a choice: “Should I play a
sport?” The sad story is many
kids take the option out of daily
physical activity and then take in
more calories than they can burn
by simple activities. The good
news is there are many organiza-
tions and even schools that help
stop this epidemic; but, most
Political cartoon from:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/
id/20461564/
Obesity and Weight In the United States
John Moore
11/24/2009 Volume 1, Issue 1
The Importance of Maintaining a Healthy Weight
Special points of
interest:
• The growing prob-
lem with obesity in
the US
• Statistics of obesity
in the US
• What is being done
by organizations
• How important indi-
viduals are
Inside this issue:
Obesity and weight in US Teens
1
The Growing Epidemic 2
Location and Back- 2
The Consequences 2
The Organizations That Are Helping
3
It’s All About You 3
Bibliography 4
www.cdc.gov
The problems with obesity in the
US is something Americans
constantly hear but never fully
understand. In 1994 22.9% of
Americans were obese and
33.1% were just overweight
(overweight is a body mass in-
dex of 25-29.9 and obese is con-
sidered 30 and above,, Body
mass index itself is a calculation
of fat versus lean muscle that is
not always accurate). In 2006
the percentage for being just
overweight actually dropped to
32.7%; but, the obesity percent-
age had risen to 34.3% . That is
an increase of 11.4% in just 12
years. In teens, the percentage
of obesity rose from 5% in 1980,
to 17.6% in 2006. Sadly, it was
also found that 80% of teens that
are overweight will be obese at
age 25 (www.cdc.gov/obesity),
proving that the adolescent years
are some of the most important
to leading a healthy lifestyle.
(all statistics from:
www.cdc.gov/obesity)
the disease has brought on these
other diseases which are the
official causes of death. Re-
search has shown that people
who are overweight have a 2, 8
and 13% increased chance of
type 2 diabetes. Research has
also proven that weight gain
There are many consequences to
being obese and overweight.
Obesity has been linked to multi-
ple diseases such as hypertension
(high blood pressure), cardiac
arrest, sleep apnea, and type two
diabetes. Death has occurred as
an indirect result of obesity as
after the age of 18 is signifi-
cantly more dangerous. It has
shown that women who gain
more from 11 to 22 pounds are
75% more likely to develop high
blood pressure (www.obesity
society.org).
The Extreme Consequences of Being Overweight
What Effect Could Location and Ethnicity Have?
Caucasians blacks had a 51%
higher obesity rate and Hispanics
had a 21% higher rate. Overall
African Americans had a 35.7%
obesity rate, Hispanics a 28.7%
rate, and whites had a 23.7% obe-
sity rate (www.cdc.gov). This
survey also examined the statistics
by region. It discovered that the
majority of the obesity in America
is in a southern portion of the
country along The Gulf of Mexico
between Florida and Texas. This
survey discovered each state’s
obesity rate as well. Missouri
was ranked the 12th worst state in
the US with an obesity rate of
26.3%. There is only one state
in America that has an obesity
rate below 20%which is Colo-
rado with an obesity rate of
17.6% (www.msnbc.com). The
maps of the surveys findings
can be found on the next page of
this newsletter.
The influence of location and
personal background is often
overlooked by most Americans.
In this same CDC survey, statis-
tics were also calculated based
on ethnicity, location, and age.
The results were actually quite
fascinating. The survey found
that African-Americans had the
highest amount of obesity. Cau-
casians were the healthiest and
Hispanics were right in between
the two. When compared to
Page 2
The Importance of Maintaining a Healthy Weight
www.cdc.gov
Picture from:
http://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/
ex/template_content_corner/ex107/
lg.html
“There is only one
state in America that
has an obesity rate
below 20%...”
The Growing Epidemic
While this epidemic has not
gotten the full understanding it
truly deserves, there are many
institutions that are focused on
stunting obesity. The CDC has
completed some of the most
comprehensive studies ever con-
ducted for almost three decades.
The CDC uses this information
to educate the public so that
these percentages go down.
Schools are also working hard to
keep their students healthy. At
Mary Institute and Country Day
School, a private school in St.
Louis Missouri (MICDS), much
is being done. MICDS is very
concerned with the health of
their students. From Junior Kin-
dergarten to Eighth Grade stu-
dents participate in a daily physi-
cal education class. This helps
assure the school that their stu-
dents are engaging in some sort
of physical activity. In high
school students are required to
take two seasons of team sports.
Eighth graders also take an eight
day nutrition course. High
school freshman are required to
take a health class all year where
they discuss multiple topics in-
cluding exercise, nutrition, men-
tal health and various topics
relevant to today. But while this
may seem adequate, it still has
room for improvement.
What is Being Done
You You You You Are the Force Behind Changing Our Country
Fit where students may play
football for a half hour and then
can go home. This programs
has many flaws as once again, it
all depends on how serious the
student gets involved. So, in the
end, it all depends on the person
themselves. No amount of pro-
gram and structure will ever add
up to the sure devotion of a per-
son truly motivated. People
must eat a healthy diet and get
plenty of exercise. To maintain
weight there must be a balance
of calories burned. The benefits
of living a healthy lifestyle are
astounding. Being healthy is
often taken for granted but just
knowing the fact that someone is
healthy can lead to infinite
possibilities.
MICDS is certainly paving the
way for other schools if America
is going to lessen the problem of
obesity. But even a system so
well designed has flaws. The
hard is getting the necessary
devotion so that students can
benefit from these programs,
especially in physical education.
In high school there is an option
to do a program called Rec and
Page 3
Volume 1, Issue 1
Picture from:
http://www.marathon-training-
schedule.com/treadmill-running.html
The maroon color indicates > 30% obese in
African Americans.
John Moore
• CDC: Obesity and Overweight. 20, November 2009. Centers for Disease Control. 13 November 2009.
<http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/trends.html#County> *common links chosen, data and statistics, obesity in children*
• “Obesity Rates Rise in 31 States in US.” msnbc. 27 August 2007. 13 November 2009. <http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20461564/>
• The Obesity Society. 2009. The Obesity Society. 13 November 2009. <http://www.obesity.org/statistics/obesity_trends.asp>
• Orr, Tamra. "Lighting a fire under couch potatoes: get off the couch and get on your feet! Your health depends on it.
(fitness+exercise)." Current Health 2, a Weekly Reader publication. 30. 4 (Dec 2003): 23(4). Student Resource Center - College Edition.
Gale. MARY INSTITUTE & ST LOUIS DAY SCHOOL. 24 Nov. 2009 <http://find.galegroup.com/srcx/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-
Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T003&prodId=SRCCE-
1&docId=A111504021&source=gale&srcprod=CCRA&userGroupName=sain62671&version=1.0>.
• “The Missouri Council for Activity & Nutrition (MoCAN).” 13 November 2009. <http://www.dhss.mo.gov/Obesity/Council.html>
Bibliography