I hope you don’t eat fast food, but if you do, here are a few healthier options from the American Heart Association. Below that you can see some healthier choices at family restaurants.
Tips for Eating Fast Food
grilled chicken sandwich
Fast food used to mean fried food, but today food franchises are offering people more healthy alternatives. Chef salads, grilled chicken sandwiches and frozen yogurt are just three examples.
Tips
Beware of topping burgers with cheese, special (mayonnaise-based) sauce and bacon — they add saturated fat and calories.
* Pickles, onions, lettuce, tomato, mustard and catsup add flavor without the fat.
* Steer clear of fried fish sandwiches.
* A baked potato can be a healthy option, but have it with low-fat sour cream instead of butter, full-fat sour cream or cheese.
Instead of Try
Danish
Small bagel
Jumbo cheeseburgers
Grilled chicken, sliced meats or even a regular 2 oz. hamburger on a bun with lettuce, tomato and onion
Fried chicken or tacos
Grilled chicken or salad bar (but watch out for high-calorie dressings and ingredients)
Fried chicken pieces
Chicken fajita pitas
French fries
Baked potato with vegetables or low-fat or fat-free sour cream topping
Potato chips
Pretzels, baked potato chips
Milkshake
Juice or low-fat or fat-free milk or a diet soft drink. (Limit beverages that are high in calories but low in nutrients, such as soft drinks)
Tips for Eating at Family Restaurants
garden fresh salad
Too tired to cook? When you pack the family off to one of the many mid-priced "family style" restaurants, keep these healthy selections in mind.
Tips
* Avoid dishes with lots of cheese, sour cream and mayonnaise.
* Instead of fried oysters, or fried fish or chicken, choose boiled spiced shrimp, or baked, boiled or grilled fish or chicken.
* Choose bread or pita pockets over croissants.
* Salads make great meals, but be careful of the dressing.
* Split a large entree with another family member. You’ll save dollars — and calories!
* Try to avoid all-you-can-eat buffets because you're more likely to eat more than you need.
Instead of Try
Cream soups
Broth-based soups with lots of vegetables
Quiche and salad
Soup and salad
Buffalo chicken wings
Peel-and-eat shrimp
Fried chicken sandwich
Blackened chicken sandwich
Chicken fried steak
Veggie burger
French fries or potatoes and gravy
Baked potato; potatoes without gravy; rice without gravy; cooked greens made without salt pork or lard
Creamy coleslaw
Sautéed vegetables or tossed salad
Hot fudge sundae or ice cream
Non-fat yogurt, sherbet or fruit ice
End
Have a pleasant day and a fabulous weekend,
Showing posts with label fast food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fast food. Show all posts
Friday, August 7, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Eating Out....Supportively
Our next camp goes from August 3rd to August 28th.
Eating Out....Supportively
Here are some tips from Molli Rathstone who is an Adventure Boot Camp owner in California. This will give you some guidance for eating out and staying with your plan to get lean and fit with Boot Camp.
Before you give up on eating out altogether here are some simple tips and how to fix a lot of restaurant craziness.
#1 Become a picky orderer. Yes become that person that everybody rolls their eyes at, At least you'll be lean and fit.
#2 Always, always, order your sandwich dry. This is even better then saying "no mayo " because so many items come with fancy spreads, that just add sodium, fat and sugar. In many instances, skipping the spread can take off anywhere between 60-100 calories.
#3 In fact anytime there is dressing involved in any way, order it on the side, even if you know you love it.
By ordering a Caesar salad w/ salmon (or grilled chicken) and taking off the croutons, dressing and skipping the side of bread. You are still left with a good piece of fish (or chicken), a large bed of lettuce and parmesan cheese, if you squeeze a little lemon on that you won't even need the dressing and you went from a salad that started at 1010 calories, to a healthy 300 calories, That's 700 calories because you made a conscious decision to take control back and didn't just blindly eat what was handed to you. (This example comes from Red Robin. They have a great website because they allow you to play with your meal and take off even tiny things like croutons and after you customize your order the website shows you what effect that had on your meal, it’s a great way to see how little choices can make or break your diet.)
#4 Don't be afraid to ask for kid's portions, especially when it comes to dessert. When I do go to Cold Stone Creamery, I always ask for a kids size.
#5 Pick one fat. In other words if you just can't stand a dry turkey sandwich order it with avocado, or if you really feel like cheese that day, order it with cheese but skip the avocado, if you have one source of fat on it don't double up. Or if you're dying for mayo then skip both the cheese and the avocado, get it? The same goes for protein? Choose 1 protein, you don't need the Italian grinder with salami and 3 other meats, pick one, load up on the pepperoncini and you won't even know the difference.
#6 Learn these words and you will save yourself countless calories per year? No Bacon. They sneak it on everything and it is absolutely unnecessary. Skip it, your heart will thank you. I just say it all the time now, No Bacon, No bacon, no bacon, just anytime I order even it it's a chocolate sundae, you never know they might be sneaking it in there.
#7 Do not drink those stupid fruity lemonade, syrup laden crap drinks! (Fruitopia etc...) Just stop it!!!!!!
Learn these words, un-sweetened ice tea please or water with lime.
#8 You know my policy on Juice places, if you are going into a juice bar, ask which drinks they have that offer whole fruit and get a small or a child's size, if you must.
#9 Learn to leave at least half of your food behind. If you look at the calorie content of many of the items on the menu, if you just cut the staggering number in half say from 1200 down to 600 it's still a salvageable day. Then Fill up on side salad.
#10 Start every dinner with a side salad (order it no cheese, no croutons, No BACON, and dressing on the side) It will help you fill up on fiber.
#11 When your meal does arrive eat a bit of protein first, from the plate, protein satiates you quicker than carbs.
#12 Have an apple 20 minutes before you head out to eat. Get in the habit of carrying apples in the car with you they're a great way to add some fiber, which will start to fill you up, and the small amount of sugar will help stabilize your blood sugar levels so you don't bite off the waitress' head before your food arrives.
#13 Don't drink alone- No I don't mean as in by yourself (shoot then I'd never get to drink, Tony doesn't drink) No I mean don't drink on an empty stomach. You'll end up drinking your dinner. Instead sip on a glass of wine until your salad arrives and make sure you don't order another drink until dinner is sitting in front of you. Alcohol gives you the misconception that you're no longer hungry and that you'd rather just have another drink because the sugar in the alcohol is so much easier for your body to digest, but it's a bad, bad, choice as you find out the next day.
#14 Your mother taught you to share, so do it. If you must have dessert, share one, not two or four so everybody can taste everything, but one. Everyone take one or two bites and that's it. After the first couple bites you're really just consuming the food anyway and no longer experiencing the flavor at the same level.
#15 It sounds ridiculous but slow down and chew your food consciously. I once dated a guy that was a crab fishermen, yeah like the insane show that's on TV. Anyway I have never seen a human being consume food faster than that guy, now he had an excuse, can you imagine how fast they have to consume calories on those boats! Slow down!! .We're all in such a rush, to get where?
Have a patient day.
Eating Out....Supportively
Here are some tips from Molli Rathstone who is an Adventure Boot Camp owner in California. This will give you some guidance for eating out and staying with your plan to get lean and fit with Boot Camp.
Before you give up on eating out altogether here are some simple tips and how to fix a lot of restaurant craziness.
#1 Become a picky orderer. Yes become that person that everybody rolls their eyes at, At least you'll be lean and fit.
#2 Always, always, order your sandwich dry. This is even better then saying "no mayo " because so many items come with fancy spreads, that just add sodium, fat and sugar. In many instances, skipping the spread can take off anywhere between 60-100 calories.
#3 In fact anytime there is dressing involved in any way, order it on the side, even if you know you love it.
By ordering a Caesar salad w/ salmon (or grilled chicken) and taking off the croutons, dressing and skipping the side of bread. You are still left with a good piece of fish (or chicken), a large bed of lettuce and parmesan cheese, if you squeeze a little lemon on that you won't even need the dressing and you went from a salad that started at 1010 calories, to a healthy 300 calories, That's 700 calories because you made a conscious decision to take control back and didn't just blindly eat what was handed to you. (This example comes from Red Robin. They have a great website because they allow you to play with your meal and take off even tiny things like croutons and after you customize your order the website shows you what effect that had on your meal, it’s a great way to see how little choices can make or break your diet.)
#4 Don't be afraid to ask for kid's portions, especially when it comes to dessert. When I do go to Cold Stone Creamery, I always ask for a kids size.
#5 Pick one fat. In other words if you just can't stand a dry turkey sandwich order it with avocado, or if you really feel like cheese that day, order it with cheese but skip the avocado, if you have one source of fat on it don't double up. Or if you're dying for mayo then skip both the cheese and the avocado, get it? The same goes for protein? Choose 1 protein, you don't need the Italian grinder with salami and 3 other meats, pick one, load up on the pepperoncini and you won't even know the difference.
#6 Learn these words and you will save yourself countless calories per year? No Bacon. They sneak it on everything and it is absolutely unnecessary. Skip it, your heart will thank you. I just say it all the time now, No Bacon, No bacon, no bacon, just anytime I order even it it's a chocolate sundae, you never know they might be sneaking it in there.
#7 Do not drink those stupid fruity lemonade, syrup laden crap drinks! (Fruitopia etc...) Just stop it!!!!!!
Learn these words, un-sweetened ice tea please or water with lime.
#8 You know my policy on Juice places, if you are going into a juice bar, ask which drinks they have that offer whole fruit and get a small or a child's size, if you must.
#9 Learn to leave at least half of your food behind. If you look at the calorie content of many of the items on the menu, if you just cut the staggering number in half say from 1200 down to 600 it's still a salvageable day. Then Fill up on side salad.
#10 Start every dinner with a side salad (order it no cheese, no croutons, No BACON, and dressing on the side) It will help you fill up on fiber.
#11 When your meal does arrive eat a bit of protein first, from the plate, protein satiates you quicker than carbs.
#12 Have an apple 20 minutes before you head out to eat. Get in the habit of carrying apples in the car with you they're a great way to add some fiber, which will start to fill you up, and the small amount of sugar will help stabilize your blood sugar levels so you don't bite off the waitress' head before your food arrives.
#13 Don't drink alone- No I don't mean as in by yourself (shoot then I'd never get to drink, Tony doesn't drink) No I mean don't drink on an empty stomach. You'll end up drinking your dinner. Instead sip on a glass of wine until your salad arrives and make sure you don't order another drink until dinner is sitting in front of you. Alcohol gives you the misconception that you're no longer hungry and that you'd rather just have another drink because the sugar in the alcohol is so much easier for your body to digest, but it's a bad, bad, choice as you find out the next day.
#14 Your mother taught you to share, so do it. If you must have dessert, share one, not two or four so everybody can taste everything, but one. Everyone take one or two bites and that's it. After the first couple bites you're really just consuming the food anyway and no longer experiencing the flavor at the same level.
#15 It sounds ridiculous but slow down and chew your food consciously. I once dated a guy that was a crab fishermen, yeah like the insane show that's on TV. Anyway I have never seen a human being consume food faster than that guy, now he had an excuse, can you imagine how fast they have to consume calories on those boats! Slow down!! .We're all in such a rush, to get where?
Have a patient day.
Friday, July 3, 2009
2009 Obesity Rankings
Today’s Re-Powering Information. The obesity rankings were just posted this week. They statistics are NOT improving. Obesity did NOT decrease in a single state – including Texas. Eight of the 10 states with the highest percentage of obese adults are in the South. Lori you will be happy to hear that Colorado has the lowest percentage of obesity. I believe that part of the high obesity in the south has to do with the fast food chains. I was in shock when we moved here and saw so many fast food options. My town in NJ had a burger king (almost 50 years old) and a Duncan donuts. That was it! 2 choices. Flower Mound has over 50 options for fast food.
I am thankful that you have not chosen to be part of the statics!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
State by state obesity rankings are out
Washington, D.C. - Adult obesity rates increased in 23 states and did not decrease in a single state in the past year, according to F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing in America 2009, a report released today by the Trust for America's Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). In addition, the percentage of obese or overweight children is at or above 30 percent in 30 states.
"Our health care costs have grown along with our waist lines," said Jeff Levi, Ph.D., executive director of TFAH. "The obesity epidemic is a big contributor to the skyrocketing health care costs in the United States. How are we going to compete with the rest of the world if our economy and workforce are weighed down by bad health?"
Mississippi had the highest rate of adult obesity at 32.5 percent, making it the fifth year in a row that the state topped the list. Four states now have rates above 30 percent, including Mississippi, Alabama (31.2 percent), West Virginia (31.1 percent) and Tennessee (30.2 percent). Eight of the 10 states with the highest percentage of obese adults are in the South. Colorado continued to have the lowest percentage of obese adults at 18.9 percent.
Adult obesity rates now exceed 25 percent in 31 states and exceed 20 percent in 49 states and Washington, D.C. Two-thirds of American adults are either obese or overweight. In 1991, no state had an obesity rate above 20 percent. In 1980, the national average for adult obesity was 15 percent. Sixteen states experienced an increase for the second year in a row, and 11 states experienced an increase for the third straight year.
Mississippi also had the highest rate of obese and overweight children (ages 10 to 17) at 44.4 percent. Minnesota and Utah had the lowest rate at 23.1 percent. Eight of the 10 states with the highest rates of obese and overweight children are in the South. Childhood obesity rates have more than tripled since 1980.
"Reversing the childhood obesity epidemic is a critical ingredient for delivering a healthier population and making health reform work," said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D., M.B.A., RWJF president and CEO. "If we can prevent the current generation of young people from developing the serious and costly chronic conditions related to obesity, we can not only improve health and quality of life, but we can also save billions of dollars and make our health care systems more efficient and sustainable."
The F as in Fat report contains rankings of state obesity rates and a review of federal and state government policies aimed at reducing or preventing obesity. Some additional key findings from F as in Fat 2009 include:
* The current economic crisis could exacerbate the obesity epidemic. Food prices, particularly for more nutritious foods, are expected to rise, making it more difficult for families to eat healthy foods. At the same time, safety-net programs and services are becoming increasingly overextended as the numbers of unemployed, uninsured and underinsured continue to grow. In addition, due to the strain of the recession, rates of depression, anxiety and stress, which are linked to obesity for many individuals, also are increasing.
* Nineteen states now have nutritional standards for school lunches, breakfasts and snacks that are stricter than current USDA requirements. Five years ago, only four states had legislation requiring stricter standards.
* Twenty-seven states have nutritional standards for competitive foods sold a la carte, in vending machines, in school stores or in school bake sales. Five years ago, only six states had nutritional standards for competitive foods.
* Twenty states have passed requirements for body mass index (BMI) screenings of children and adolescents or have passed legislation requiring other forms of weight-related assessments in schools. Five years ago, only four states had passed screening requirements.
* A recent analysis commissioned by TFAH found that the Baby Boomer generation has a higher rate of obesity compared with previous generations. As the Baby Boomer generation ages, obesity-related costs to Medicare and Medicaid are likely to grow significantly because of the large number of people in this population and its high rate of obesity. And, as Baby Boomers become Medicare-eligible, the percentage of obese adults age 65 and older could increase significantly. Estimates of the increase in percentage of obese adults range from 5.2 percent in New York to 16.3 percent in Alabama.
Key report recommendations for addressing obesity within health reform include:
* Ensuring every adult and child has access to coverage for preventive medical services, including nutrition and obesity counseling and screening for obesity-related diseases, such as type 2 diabetes;
* Increasing the number of programs available in communities, schools, and childcare settings that help make nutritious foods more affordable and accessible and provide safe and healthy places for people to engage in physical activity; and
* Reducing Medicare expenditures by promoting proven programs that improve nutrition and increase physical activity among adults ages 55 to 64.
The report also calls for a National Strategy to Combat Obesity that would define roles and responsibilities for federal, state and local governments and promote collaboration among businesses, communities, schools and families. It would seek to advance policies that
* Provide healthy foods and beverages to students at schools;
* Increase the availability of affordable healthy foods in all communities;
* Increase the frequency, intensity, and duration of physical activity at school;
* Improve access to safe and healthy places to live, work, learn, and play;
* Limit screen time; and
* Encourage employers to provide workplace wellness programs.
The report was supported by a grant from RWJF.
State-by-State Adult Obesity Rankings
Note: 1 = Highest rate of adult obesity, 51 = lowest rate of adult obesity. Rankings are based on combining three years of data (2006-2008) from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to "stabilize" data for comparison purposes. This methodology, recommended by the CDC, compensates for any potential anomalies or usual changes due to the specific sample in any given year in any given state. States with a statistically significant (p<0.05) increase for one year are noted with an asterisk (*), states with statistically significant increases for two years in a row are noted with two asterisks (**), states with statistically significant increases for three years in a row are noted with three asterisks (***). Additional information about methodologies and confidence interval is available in the report. Adults with a body mass index, a calculation based on weight and height ratios, of 30 or higher are considered obese. 1. Mississippi*** (32.5%); 2. Alabama* (31.2%); 3. West Virginia (31.1%); 4. Tennessee*** (30.2%); 5. South Carolina (29.7%); 6. Oklahoma*** (29.5%); 7. Kentucky (29.0%); 8. Louisiana (28.9%); 9. Michigan*** (28.8%) 10. (tie) Arkansas (28.6%) and Ohio* (28.6%); 12. North Carolina*** (28.3%); 13. Missouri (28.1%); 14. (tie) Georgia (27.9%) and Texas (27.9%); 16. Indiana (27.4%); 17. Delaware*** (27.3%); 18. (tie) Alaska (27.2%) and Kansas*** (27.2%) 20. (tie) Nebraska (26.9%) and South Dakota*** (26.9%); 22. (tie) Iowa (26.7%) and North Dakota* (26.7%) and Pennsylvania** 26.7%; 25. (tie) Maryland*** (26.0%) and Wisconsin (26.0%); 27. Illinois 25.9%; 28. (tie) Oregon (25.4%) and Virginia (25.4) and Washington*** (25.4%); 31. Minnesota (25.3%); 32. Nevada* 25.1%; 33. (tie) Arizona** (24.8%) and Idaho (24.8%); 35. Maine* (24.7%); 36. New Mexico*** (24.6%); 37. New York** (24.5%) 38. Wyoming (24.3%); 39. (tie) Florida* (24.1%) and New Hampshire (24.1%); 41. California (23.6%); 42. New Jersey (23.4%); 43. Montana** (22.7%); 44. Utah (22.5%); 45. District of Columbia (22.3%); 46. Vermont** (22.1%); 47. Hawaii* (21.8%); 48. Rhode Island (21.7%); 49. Connecticut (21.3%); 50. Massachusetts (21.2%); 51. Colorado (18.9%)
State-by-State Obese and Overweight Children Ages 10-17 Rankings
Note: 1 = Highest rate of childhood overweight, 51 = lowest. Rankings are based on the National Survey of Children's Health, a phone survey of parents with children ages 10-17 conducted in 2007 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Additional information about methodologies and confidence intervals is available in the report. Children with a body mass index, a calculation based on weight and height ratios, at or above the 95th percentile for their age are considered obese and children at or above the 85th percentile are considered overweight. States with statistically significant (p<0.05) increases in combined obesity and overweight since the NSCH was last issued in 2003 are noted with an asterisk (*).
1. Mississippi* (44.4%); 2. Arkansas (37.5%); 3. Georgia (37.3%); 4. Kentucky (37.1%) 5. Tennessee (36.5%) 6. Alabama (36.1%); 7. Louisiana (35.9%); 8. West Virginia (35.5%); 9. District of Columbia (35.4%); 10. Illinois (34.9%); 11. Nevada* (34.2%); 12. Alaska (33.9%); 13. South Carolina (33.7%); 14. North Carolina (33.5%); 15. Ohio (33.3%); 16. Delaware (33.2%); 17. Florida (33.1%); 18. New York (32.9%); 19. New Mexico (32.7%) 20. Texas (32.2%) 21. Nebraska (31.5%); 22. Kansas (31.1%); 23. (tie) Missouri (31.0%) and New Jersey (31.0%) and Virginia (31.0%); 26. (tie) Arizona (30.6%) and Michigan (30.6%); 28. California (30.5%); 29. Rhode Island (30.1%); 30. Massachusetts (30.0%) 31. Indiana (29.9%) 32. Pennsylvania (29.7%); 33. (tie) Oklahoma (29.5%) and Washington (29.5%); 35. New Hampshire (29.4%); 36. Maryland (28.8%); 37. Hawaii (28.5%); 38. South Dakota (28.4%); 39. Maine (28.2%); 40. Wisconsin (27.9%); 41. Idaho (27.5%); 42. Colorado (27.2%); 43. Vermont (26.7%); 44. Iowa (26.5%); 45. (tie) Connecticut (25.7%) and North Dakota (25.7%) and Wyoming (25.7%); 48. Montana (25.6%); 49. Oregon (24.3%); 50. (tie) Minnesota (23.1%) and Utah (23.1%)
Trust for America's Health is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to saving lives by protecting the health of every community and working to make disease prevention a national priority.
I am thankful that you have not chosen to be part of the statics!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
State by state obesity rankings are out
Washington, D.C. - Adult obesity rates increased in 23 states and did not decrease in a single state in the past year, according to F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing in America 2009, a report released today by the Trust for America's Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). In addition, the percentage of obese or overweight children is at or above 30 percent in 30 states.
"Our health care costs have grown along with our waist lines," said Jeff Levi, Ph.D., executive director of TFAH. "The obesity epidemic is a big contributor to the skyrocketing health care costs in the United States. How are we going to compete with the rest of the world if our economy and workforce are weighed down by bad health?"
Mississippi had the highest rate of adult obesity at 32.5 percent, making it the fifth year in a row that the state topped the list. Four states now have rates above 30 percent, including Mississippi, Alabama (31.2 percent), West Virginia (31.1 percent) and Tennessee (30.2 percent). Eight of the 10 states with the highest percentage of obese adults are in the South. Colorado continued to have the lowest percentage of obese adults at 18.9 percent.
Adult obesity rates now exceed 25 percent in 31 states and exceed 20 percent in 49 states and Washington, D.C. Two-thirds of American adults are either obese or overweight. In 1991, no state had an obesity rate above 20 percent. In 1980, the national average for adult obesity was 15 percent. Sixteen states experienced an increase for the second year in a row, and 11 states experienced an increase for the third straight year.
Mississippi also had the highest rate of obese and overweight children (ages 10 to 17) at 44.4 percent. Minnesota and Utah had the lowest rate at 23.1 percent. Eight of the 10 states with the highest rates of obese and overweight children are in the South. Childhood obesity rates have more than tripled since 1980.
"Reversing the childhood obesity epidemic is a critical ingredient for delivering a healthier population and making health reform work," said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D., M.B.A., RWJF president and CEO. "If we can prevent the current generation of young people from developing the serious and costly chronic conditions related to obesity, we can not only improve health and quality of life, but we can also save billions of dollars and make our health care systems more efficient and sustainable."
The F as in Fat report contains rankings of state obesity rates and a review of federal and state government policies aimed at reducing or preventing obesity. Some additional key findings from F as in Fat 2009 include:
* The current economic crisis could exacerbate the obesity epidemic. Food prices, particularly for more nutritious foods, are expected to rise, making it more difficult for families to eat healthy foods. At the same time, safety-net programs and services are becoming increasingly overextended as the numbers of unemployed, uninsured and underinsured continue to grow. In addition, due to the strain of the recession, rates of depression, anxiety and stress, which are linked to obesity for many individuals, also are increasing.
* Nineteen states now have nutritional standards for school lunches, breakfasts and snacks that are stricter than current USDA requirements. Five years ago, only four states had legislation requiring stricter standards.
* Twenty-seven states have nutritional standards for competitive foods sold a la carte, in vending machines, in school stores or in school bake sales. Five years ago, only six states had nutritional standards for competitive foods.
* Twenty states have passed requirements for body mass index (BMI) screenings of children and adolescents or have passed legislation requiring other forms of weight-related assessments in schools. Five years ago, only four states had passed screening requirements.
* A recent analysis commissioned by TFAH found that the Baby Boomer generation has a higher rate of obesity compared with previous generations. As the Baby Boomer generation ages, obesity-related costs to Medicare and Medicaid are likely to grow significantly because of the large number of people in this population and its high rate of obesity. And, as Baby Boomers become Medicare-eligible, the percentage of obese adults age 65 and older could increase significantly. Estimates of the increase in percentage of obese adults range from 5.2 percent in New York to 16.3 percent in Alabama.
Key report recommendations for addressing obesity within health reform include:
* Ensuring every adult and child has access to coverage for preventive medical services, including nutrition and obesity counseling and screening for obesity-related diseases, such as type 2 diabetes;
* Increasing the number of programs available in communities, schools, and childcare settings that help make nutritious foods more affordable and accessible and provide safe and healthy places for people to engage in physical activity; and
* Reducing Medicare expenditures by promoting proven programs that improve nutrition and increase physical activity among adults ages 55 to 64.
The report also calls for a National Strategy to Combat Obesity that would define roles and responsibilities for federal, state and local governments and promote collaboration among businesses, communities, schools and families. It would seek to advance policies that
* Provide healthy foods and beverages to students at schools;
* Increase the availability of affordable healthy foods in all communities;
* Increase the frequency, intensity, and duration of physical activity at school;
* Improve access to safe and healthy places to live, work, learn, and play;
* Limit screen time; and
* Encourage employers to provide workplace wellness programs.
The report was supported by a grant from RWJF.
State-by-State Adult Obesity Rankings
Note: 1 = Highest rate of adult obesity, 51 = lowest rate of adult obesity. Rankings are based on combining three years of data (2006-2008) from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to "stabilize" data for comparison purposes. This methodology, recommended by the CDC, compensates for any potential anomalies or usual changes due to the specific sample in any given year in any given state. States with a statistically significant (p<0.05) increase for one year are noted with an asterisk (*), states with statistically significant increases for two years in a row are noted with two asterisks (**), states with statistically significant increases for three years in a row are noted with three asterisks (***). Additional information about methodologies and confidence interval is available in the report. Adults with a body mass index, a calculation based on weight and height ratios, of 30 or higher are considered obese. 1. Mississippi*** (32.5%); 2. Alabama* (31.2%); 3. West Virginia (31.1%); 4. Tennessee*** (30.2%); 5. South Carolina (29.7%); 6. Oklahoma*** (29.5%); 7. Kentucky (29.0%); 8. Louisiana (28.9%); 9. Michigan*** (28.8%) 10. (tie) Arkansas (28.6%) and Ohio* (28.6%); 12. North Carolina*** (28.3%); 13. Missouri (28.1%); 14. (tie) Georgia (27.9%) and Texas (27.9%); 16. Indiana (27.4%); 17. Delaware*** (27.3%); 18. (tie) Alaska (27.2%) and Kansas*** (27.2%) 20. (tie) Nebraska (26.9%) and South Dakota*** (26.9%); 22. (tie) Iowa (26.7%) and North Dakota* (26.7%) and Pennsylvania** 26.7%; 25. (tie) Maryland*** (26.0%) and Wisconsin (26.0%); 27. Illinois 25.9%; 28. (tie) Oregon (25.4%) and Virginia (25.4) and Washington*** (25.4%); 31. Minnesota (25.3%); 32. Nevada* 25.1%; 33. (tie) Arizona** (24.8%) and Idaho (24.8%); 35. Maine* (24.7%); 36. New Mexico*** (24.6%); 37. New York** (24.5%) 38. Wyoming (24.3%); 39. (tie) Florida* (24.1%) and New Hampshire (24.1%); 41. California (23.6%); 42. New Jersey (23.4%); 43. Montana** (22.7%); 44. Utah (22.5%); 45. District of Columbia (22.3%); 46. Vermont** (22.1%); 47. Hawaii* (21.8%); 48. Rhode Island (21.7%); 49. Connecticut (21.3%); 50. Massachusetts (21.2%); 51. Colorado (18.9%)
State-by-State Obese and Overweight Children Ages 10-17 Rankings
Note: 1 = Highest rate of childhood overweight, 51 = lowest. Rankings are based on the National Survey of Children's Health, a phone survey of parents with children ages 10-17 conducted in 2007 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Additional information about methodologies and confidence intervals is available in the report. Children with a body mass index, a calculation based on weight and height ratios, at or above the 95th percentile for their age are considered obese and children at or above the 85th percentile are considered overweight. States with statistically significant (p<0.05) increases in combined obesity and overweight since the NSCH was last issued in 2003 are noted with an asterisk (*).
1. Mississippi* (44.4%); 2. Arkansas (37.5%); 3. Georgia (37.3%); 4. Kentucky (37.1%) 5. Tennessee (36.5%) 6. Alabama (36.1%); 7. Louisiana (35.9%); 8. West Virginia (35.5%); 9. District of Columbia (35.4%); 10. Illinois (34.9%); 11. Nevada* (34.2%); 12. Alaska (33.9%); 13. South Carolina (33.7%); 14. North Carolina (33.5%); 15. Ohio (33.3%); 16. Delaware (33.2%); 17. Florida (33.1%); 18. New York (32.9%); 19. New Mexico (32.7%) 20. Texas (32.2%) 21. Nebraska (31.5%); 22. Kansas (31.1%); 23. (tie) Missouri (31.0%) and New Jersey (31.0%) and Virginia (31.0%); 26. (tie) Arizona (30.6%) and Michigan (30.6%); 28. California (30.5%); 29. Rhode Island (30.1%); 30. Massachusetts (30.0%) 31. Indiana (29.9%) 32. Pennsylvania (29.7%); 33. (tie) Oklahoma (29.5%) and Washington (29.5%); 35. New Hampshire (29.4%); 36. Maryland (28.8%); 37. Hawaii (28.5%); 38. South Dakota (28.4%); 39. Maine (28.2%); 40. Wisconsin (27.9%); 41. Idaho (27.5%); 42. Colorado (27.2%); 43. Vermont (26.7%); 44. Iowa (26.5%); 45. (tie) Connecticut (25.7%) and North Dakota (25.7%) and Wyoming (25.7%); 48. Montana (25.6%); 49. Oregon (24.3%); 50. (tie) Minnesota (23.1%) and Utah (23.1%)
Trust for America's Health is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to saving lives by protecting the health of every community and working to make disease prevention a national priority.
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