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