I just read a study that said that 30% of Americans classified as overweight say they are a normal weight. And 70% of the obese say they are simply overweight. People are in DENIAL!
In a Harris Interactive/HealthDay survey, respondents were asked to provide their height and weight, from which pollsters calculated their body-mass index (BMI), a ratio of weight to height. Respondents were then asked which category of weight they thought they fell into.
These findings may help to explain why overweight and obesity rates in the United States continue to go up, experts say.
As one of the study authors noted – if you do not recognize the problem you are less likely to do something about it. In a culture were most people are overweight that would seem to be the norm. In fact I attended an Advisory Board presentation on health care reform and it was shocking to see in just a few short years how we went from just a few states where the majority of the population was overweight to ALL states where the population is overweight.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 34 percent of adults aged 20 and older are obese, and 34 percent are overweight. Among children, 18 percent of teens aged 12 to 19 are obese, 20 percent of children aged 6 to 11 are obese, as are 10 percent of kids aged 2 to 5.
59 percent of people who responded said they should be getting more exercise and lack of exercise not eating habits was what they blamed their predicament on. As for weight-loss interventions, the respondents deemed surgery the most effective method, followed by prescription drugs, then drugs and diet-food supplements obtained over-the-counter. And that makes my blood boil too. Because we have become a culture that says I can let myself go because there will be a pill, procedure or implant to fix it.
As my wife tells people “Suck It Up Cupcake!” and start taking responsibility for your actions. I am all of 5 foot 5 so I have always carried an extra 10 pounds around. To keep it from getting way out of control I exercise every day. Aerobics, pilates, weights – it’s a constant battle but you have to enter the battle first!
As a new season of The Biggest Loser begins take some inspiration from the contestants. But then get off the couch and follow their lead.