The Obesity Epidemic

The obesity epidemic is headline news. Nearly a third of the adult population is obese and another third is classified as overweight. A new study published last month predicts that in less than 10 years the obesity rate of adults will increase to over 40% nationally and exceed 50% in some states. Sadly the obesity epidemic is effecting more than just the adult population – approximately 16% of children and adolescents have to deal with the health and social consequences of being overweight or obese. Billions of dollars are being spent to research the cause and impact of the epidemic and what can be done to treat and prevent obesity.So why should we be concerned about obesity? Unfortunately as weight increases so does the risk for some chronic diseases – heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some types of cancer. In addition to chronic disease, obesity can cause serious damage to bones and joints. It's projected that obesity-related diseases and conditions will cost more than $300 billion, approximately 21% of all healthcare spending. As more of our healthcare dollars are allocated to the research and treatment of obesity and related conditions there will be fewer resources for researching and finding treatments and cures for other diseases and conditions. Obesity could be the reason today's children have a shorter life expectancy than their parents or grandparents.While we wait for all the research results perhaps we need to consider how we are getting our nutrition information (or misinformation). What message does it send if restaurant 'value' menus are filled with high-calorie high-fat foods but have limited 'healthy' options (fruits & vegetables may not be represented at all). Is 'super-sizing' or 'free refills' the way to teach portions? If popcorn is a healthy whole grain, low-calorie snack is it okay to eat 20 cups at the movies? Do calories really count? What about fat? What about sodium? The cooking show chefs use lots of salt and fat (butter, milk, cream) in their recipes. State and county fairs offer deep-fried butter, snack cakes and candy bars. Grocery stores are carrying less fat free and reduced fat products.Is it any wonder we have an obesity epidemic with all the contradictions? Is this how we want to get our nutrition information?Welcome to the free-market system. It's a great system, but as a consumer you need to arm yourself with sound information from credible sources. Sometimes the information that grabs all the attention isn't always the most credible. If you find yourself confused by the mixed messages or misinformation let the nutrition experts at Sound Bites Nutrition get the answers for you. We study the research and stay on top of the latest trends so that we can provide the best nutrition information to our clients..