The chunkiest generation...
The thickest generation...
The plumpest generation...
If the post World War 2 Americans were known as "the greatest generation" then surely we shall be known as the fattest. The latest federal government statistics were just released, and its not looking too good. The National Center for Health Statistics (which is part of the Center for Disease Control... the CDC) posted numbers within the last week showing that 34% of Americans are now considered OBESE. Thats a huge number to me, but that only counts "obesity". There are another 32% of Americans who are overweight. Obese being described as grossly overweight... and 6% of the nation is "extremely" (morbidly?) obese, according to those statistics. Last May, the CDC said that 32% of children were overweight (16% obese / 11% extremely obese).
Going in order of severity... overweight... obese... extreme obesity... 72% of the American population (59% of children) are considered to be AT LEAST overweight. That is astounding. And unnerving, as far as how much we know about weight problems... particularly later in life; making people more susceptible to health problems... in particular... heart disease and diabetes.
According to the CDC... the number of obesity cases has more than doubled since 1980. What is the cause? That I dont know... but, my first thought is technology. Convenience causing a lack of activity in most people. A lot of kids are playing less, more internet, more television, more cable, more video games. The second of course would be diet. Im not sure if there is any consensus, but I hear diet is even more important than physical activity. Portion sizes are getting larger and larger... (I wont even mention trans fat!!!) and (if you didn't know) American food portions are larger than in Europe. (Click here for an interest article from the Harvard Crimson)
But, what I do know... this is a "growing" problem... bad pun intended... and something we all need to be aware of.
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