quote: Americans add 25 pounds WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans are getting a little taller and a lot fatter.
Adults are roughly an inch taller than they were in the early 1960s, on average, but nearly 25 pounds heavier, the government reported Wednesday.
The nation's expanding waistline has been well documented, though Wednesday's report is the first to quantify it based on how many pounds the average person is carrying.
In 1960-62, the average man weighed 166.3 pounds. By 1999-2002, the average had reached 191 pounds.
Similarly, the average woman's weight rose from 140.2 pounds to 164.3 pounds.
The report also documented a dramatic increase in weight when measured by body mass index, a scale that takes into account both height and weight. Average BMI has increased from about 25 to 28 over the 40-year span.
Anyone with a BMI of 25 and up is considered overweight, and those with BMIs of 30 and up are considered obese.
Americans are also getting a little bit taller.
Men's average height increased from 5 feet 8 inches in the early 1960s to 5 feet 9 1/2 inches in 1999-2002.
The average height of a woman went from just over 5 feet 3 inches to 5 feet 4 inches.
The report defines men and women as those ages 20 to 74 years old.
Did people in the 60's care about their weight more than they do now? It seems like diets are a big part of society nowadays.
posted
I suspect eating habits changed quite a bit - fast food wasn't common and restaraunts didn't serve mega portions of food which we still feel compelled to finish, otherwise we're wasting (waisting?) food.
posted
I think Trevor is absolutely correct that our culture has changed dramatically, and that change is to an infratructure which fosters excessive calorie intake.
- fast food restaurants - fast food restaurants with drive-thrus - fast food restaurants with drive-thrus and super-sized menus - fast food restaurants with drive-thrus, super-sized menus, and open until 2am
- grocery stores - multiplex grocery stores - multiplex grocery stores open 24 hrs a day
- restaurants - restaurants with extra portions - restaurants with double (or triple) sized portions
- television - color television - cable color television - cable color television with movies
- video games (pong) - nintendo - doom - evercrack
- push mowers - gas-powered mowers - riding gas mowers - riding gas mowers with automatic bagging
Every step leads to further steps to facillitate lots of calories, 24/7, with little exercise.
This isn't all bad, of course. But the world is verrrry different in day-to-day calorie/energy terms than it used to be.
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posted
A good portion of it may be attributable to the introduction of high-fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated vegetable oils over the last 45 years or so.
Almost every manufactured food features one or both of these ingredients.
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posted
Combine the sedentary style of life in the U.S. today with the hectic pace of work life in the U.S. (when you feel so very pressed for time that you cannot eat without doing something else at the same time), and you begin to see a pattern that perpetuates our fast-food lifestyle.
Work also impedes on free time that might (not would, but might) have otherwise been used for physical activity (long walks, jogs, etc). Instead, we have 24 hour gyms open for people who want to feed their egos on the beaches, and fad diets that promise you'll lose "10 pounds in a week without working out". What they forget to mention is that you'll regain 12 pounds in the next 2 weeks after.
We have become a nation of people that want quick and easy fixes, and what is so hard to face is that there are no quick and easy fixes. That being said, yes, I am one of those people who are technically overweight (yet do not look anywhere near as bad as many of the people I work with). Yes, I would not mind losing 20 pounds or so. Yes, I work (on average) 50 - 60 hour weeks in order to keep up with what is expected.
Any suggestions on exercises that can be done during work will be listened to and possible even tried out.
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posted
Maybe it's the type 2 diabetes epidemic, though, which might come from a number of things, for instance, the emphasis the food pyramid places on carbohydrates. High carb diets can definitely interact with genetics to promote type 2 diabetes, and the American diet is very high carb compared to other countries, I believe.
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posted
Didn't OSC write an article about how this was all the fault of liberals and we should return to the 1950's?
Posts: 22497 | Registered: Sep 2000
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posted
I did read somewhere that dieting does in fact play a part. Dating back to prehistoric times, the human body interprets a reduction in total intake as the beginning of a famine situation and its reaction is to store up extra fats against future need. But since modern humans are not hunter-gatherers who have to kill and butcher and cure every meal, we never entirely reach that future need. Add our more sedentary lifestyle and it's a recipe for obesity.
As I've posted briefly before, I am in the process of shedding some major weight. Like Elf, I don't look anywhere as heavy as I actually am. I've dropped 15 so far, my doctor's goal is for me to lose a total of 50, but I'd like to lose a total of 75. That will put me back to the weight I was when I became pregnant with my eldest. Under the advice of my doctor, I'm workign with a somewhat modified South Beach program and walking between my train and my office, which adds up to almost 3 miles a day 5 days a week. I've recently noticed that the bulge is slowly being replaced with jiggle instead, so I'm looking into some low-impact exercise videos in hopes of toning up as I lose the bulge. Admittedly, I don't work quite as many hours as Elf, but my commute does bring me up to being out of the house that long.
As for the diabetic epidemic, and according to the South Beach book, this is also definitely and directly related to the prevalence of simple carbs in our diets. Too much processed foods, too much white bread, too much sugar. Not enough whole grain, not enough vegetables and fiber. The way the book explained this was that our pancreas releases insulin to break down these carbs. Simple carbs take less insulin to be broken down, which leaves an excess in our systems. This is what makes some of us who are not already genetically predisposed to diabetes likely to develop it later in our lives.
quote:Part of the problem is the misconception of "diets" - any short-change alteration in your lifestyle or food intake will have a change.
However, if you revert to old habits, you revert to the old weight, plus a little more.
Which is part of the reason that weight loss surgeries are becomming more and more popular. 3 years ago people waited 3 months from their first visit until their surgery, now people are lucky if they get scheduled within 2 years and if you are grossly overweight it helps immensly. But it is a lifestyle change.
Posts: 153 | Registered: Aug 2002
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posted
Two things about this story really bother me.
First, he wants to get down to 300 so he can have gastric bypass. Why would he want gastric bypass? He has obviously changed his lifestyle over a long period of time. He eats 1200 calories a day and is losing weight. If he continues to do this at 300 pounds he should continue to lose weight. It should actually be easier at that time, because he will be able to exercise more as he becomes healthier. Instead of realizing he can conquer this problem himself, he will take the first opportunity to have a very risky surgery and let a doctor fix the problem.
Secondly, why should Medicare pay for gastric bypass. I just will never understand how this is the governments job. Socially liberal / fiscally conservative. I think I'll vote for Kang or Kodos.
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posted
I had a co-worker die after this surgery, and she was healthy otherwise. THis is not a minor surgery; people die from it all the time.
Posts: 26077 | Registered: Mar 2000
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posted
I did Weight Watchers for about six months a few years ago, and lost close to 40 pounds, but couldn't afford to continue it ('tis not a plan for the horribly impoverished, as I was then). I think most of that has crept back on during the intervening time. I'm lucky, though, I have enough spare time that I can go swimming after work three or four days a week, and I've finally found a form of exercise I can stick with. I don't know if I've lost any weight, but my muscle tone and posture are getting better, and I can swim an entire mile during my workout now Posts: 957 | Registered: Aug 2002
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posted
I think people focus too much on what they eat in losing weight and not enough of getting active/building muscle. They also get into fast results.
Granted, the life expectancy of pre-industrial man was shorter, but the fact is that we all used to diet every winter. Periodic calorie restriction by itself isn't bad- the way we do it now where we panic when the scale fluctuates causes us to lose weight when we should be gaining it.
And then in winter we are more likely to implement an exercise routine (new years) boosting the metabolism when it would be the natural thing for the metabolism to slow down. Not only does this freak out our metabolism, it causes us to waste Neurotransmitters that we don't have means of replenishing.
I should just write a book someday.
Posts: 11017 | Registered: Apr 2003
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posted
I had this surgery 3 years ago- and I almost died - twice. I cannot eat foods containing more than 6 grams of sugar, but it was well worth it. And yes I tried everything else first - it had to be documented before my insurance would approve it to be medically necessary. I also had to have a second (minor) surgery to correct what the 1st suregon screwed up but I wouldn't tell anyone to go into it lightly.
[ October 28, 2004, 01:28 PM: Message edited by: Arthur ]
Posts: 153 | Registered: Aug 2002
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posted
I completely agree with everything that Sara wrote.
I am especially worried about American children. Working in child care, I have seen first-hand how terrible these kids' eating habits are and how sedentary their lifestyles are. I looked at the nutritional information on their snacks and it is staggering - so many empty calories, sugar, preservatives, and carbs. It's so disheartening to see overweight children playing a football video game, when they should be out playing football.
Posts: 3037 | Registered: Jan 2002
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posted
Kung fu should be taught in all schools. That's the answer. Damn I WISH they had taught martial arts instead of stupid ol gym.
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posted
Since most people don't have access to farm fresh food all of the time, many people rely on processed items as part of their daily sustenance. Food additives help maintain the freshness and shelf life of such food products because without them, they would spoil quickly due to exposure to air, moisture, bacteria, or mold. Either natural or synthetic substances may be added to avoid or delay these problems.
Food additives may be used in a variety of ways, including:
(1) To maintain consistency or texture — to sustain smoothness or prevent the food from separating, caking, or clumping. (2) To improve or retain nutritional value: Enrichment replaces nutrients lost in processing — this occurs with grains, as some vitamins and minerals are lost in the milling process. Fortification adds a nutrient that wasn't there before and may be lacking in many people's diets. Iodized salt is an example. This has proven useful in preventing goiter, a thyroid disease caused by a deficiency in iodine. Enriched and fortified foods are labeled as such. (3) To delay spoilage (4) To enhance flavor, texture, or color Preservatives are centuries old. Since ancient times, salt has been used to cure meats and fish, and sugar has been added to fruits to conserve them. Herbs, spices, and vinegar have also served as preservatives. Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates food additives and preservatives. Granted, mistakes have been made, which have resulted in taking some food additives and preservatives off the market. That is because at the time of approval, prevailing testing methods proved the substances as safe. As science continued to evolve and testing methods improved, changes were made. Technology has also assisted in the approval process as it has become more sophisticated over the years as well. In addition, Food Additive Laws are reviewed and revised according to advancing scientific research.
Food additives in and of themselves don't connote something "bad." For example, ascorbic acid refers to vitamin C and alpha-tocopherol is actually vitamin E. Some uses and examples of food additives are:
Anti-Oxidants: prevent spoilage, flavor changes, and loss of color caused by exposure to air. Vitamin C and Vitamin E are used as antioxidants.
Emulsifiers: used to keep water and oil mixed together. Lecithin is one example used in margarine, baked goods, and ice cream. Mono- and diglycerides are another found in similar foods and peanut butter. Polysorbate 60 and 80 are used in coffee lighteners and artificial whipped cream.
Thickening Agents: absorb water in foods and keep the mixture of oil, water, acids, and solids blended properly. Alginate is derived from seaweed and is used to maintain the texture in ice cream, cheese, and yogurt. Casein, a milk protein, is used in ice cream, sherbet, and coffee creamers.
For a complete guide to information about food additives, including the approval process, click onto the FDA Web sitePosts: 153 | Registered: Aug 2002
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posted
Another reason I'm glad for my farm-fresh eggs every morning from my own chickens.....
Goody - I have heard many friends of mine lately saying their doctors recommend the South Beach. I did the Atkins for awhile -- maybe I should check out the South Beach book....
posted
My first recommendation when friends want to lose weight is to cut down on eating out. I have a few friends that eat out the majority of the days of the week. With fried appetizers.
It's important to look at what you're eating in a given day or a given week, and decide what you can live without. Try whole milk instead of cream in coffee, leaving out a sugar packet, and just not getting that morning donut. Most pre-made baked goods and restaurant meals are absurd in terms of calorie and fat content. But many of us feel constricted by time.
It's not the truth, really. Cooking doesn't have to take 3 hours. It can be healthy and tasty. Use canola oil and olive oil to cook instead of other oils. Eat regular sized portions intead of restaurant helpings. Have one scoop of ice cream, not two.
But what it comes down to is making changes you can still feel good about and maintain. Dropping your morning cream&sugar coffee might lose you the weight, but if your coffee makes you happy then just pick something else to drop.
See a nutritionist if you're interested in losing weight. A good one will come up with a plan that will fit you.
Posts: 1261 | Registered: Apr 2004
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posted
My wife lost 89 lbs for our wedding. She was in a car accident and gained a lot of weight because she was unable to work or exercise due to the back pain.
So once she recovered from the surgery, we walked a bit several times a day, either around the mall if it was raining or outside, weather permitting. We also swam a few times a month.
She continued eating her Fruity Pebbles every morning....and lost almost 90 lbs. She said having a little bit of sugar in the morning helped her avoid snacking or sugar cravings the rest of the day...lol...
I am planning on going on a diet this winter, as I has gained a bit of weight since the wedding. I will probably do a modified South Beach, which itself if a modified Adkins. Almost all the low-carb diets are derivatives of the Adkins. Most of the newer ones are a bit safer, although if you actually follow the Adkins it is safe too. Most people who went on it didn't listen to what the book told you....that the induction phase is not a permanent phase , just a short term kick start.
So they would stay on the induction phase for months, and then they complained it was dangerous and depleted their strength...
My mom did a modified low-cal diet, and she lost 40 lbs in 8 months, and kept it off for 3 years. It didn't come back until she lost her mobility due to neuropathy in her feet, and even then it didn't all come back.
I think the newer modified low-cal diets, along with a Md's supervision, is the best way to diet because it isn't just a quick fix, it is a lifestyle change.
posted
Pooka - Americans tend to be into fast results with no effort. Arthur represents the minority of people who may require the operation as a medical necessity, but far, far too many people buy into fads and "quick weight loss, no pain and no sweat!" gimmicks.
Which is why products like the "Tummy Tiger" and the endless repetitions of ab machines are a multi-million dollar business annually.
SouthBeath - it's getting good reviews as basically Atkins-light. I haven't used it personally, but it uses many of the same principles but with a less strict outlook.
Since it is less strict, people may find it easier to stick with.
Ya think high school brawls are bad now, wait until people start miming bizarre dance steps and can't utter sentences for a full minute after their mouths start moving.
posted
Dabbler, that's some very true wisdom there.
Over the course of one summer, I dropped 50 pounds of weight simply by working non-stop in a restaurant. I ate like a horse and ate well (daily slice of cheese cake, steak or chicken two out of three meals a day and a three-egg omelet with cheese and mushrooms every morning, plus what I grazed on as I went). The tricks to it were:
1) Everything was homemade without extra fat. Most everything was all-natural, too.
2) The job kept me on my feet and moving constantly. I worked breakfast, lunch and dinner each day.
3) And I enjoyed the heck out of every minute of it.
You want to know what was probably the most important part? The third reason. I enjoyed myself. And I've found that in life, when I am really enjoying it, I snack less, keep active more and generally feel better. Even if I don't lose weight, a lighter soul can do wonders.
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