| Poverty And Obesity: A New Study Finds | | | | the healthproblems we worry about at greater |
| | | | rates." |
| A Remarkable Connection | | | | |
| | | | The five states with the highest obesity |
| While the rich and the affluent still face | | | | ratesin the 2005 consensus include |
| manyof the problems that come with the | | | | Mississippi, |
| "king'slifestyle", a new pattern is emerging | | | | |
| in the | | | | Alabama, West Virginia, Louisiana and |
| | | | |
| United States and, predictions state, Europe. | | | | Kentucky. |
| | | | |
| A new study shows that the trend of | | | | These same five states have higher ratesof |
| ill-healthand obesity is shifting rapidly to | | | | poverty than the national norm. |
| the poor andless educated portions of the | | | | |
| country. | | | | Meanwhile, the five states with the |
| | | | lowestobesity have less poverty. They are |
| The reason this is important to us all, | | | | Colorado, |
| otherthan a concern for our nation's health | | | | |
| as awhole, is the economic strain this will | | | | Hawaii, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and |
| placeon our already burdened health care | | | | |
| system. | | | | Vermont. |
| | | | |
| By the year 2012, if this trend increases, | | | | Each of these states also have more |
| themiddle and upper classes will be looking | | | | collegegraduates and stronger education |
| atmassive increases in taxes to fund | | | | programs. |
| proposedgovernment plans to address the | | | | |
| problem. | | | | Education in health and fitness does notneed |
| | | | to be expensive, and it certainly doesnot |
| This is a problem that flat-out does NOT | | | | take a rocket scientist to figure it out. |
| needto exist. Everyone who can afford food at | | | | |
| 'all'can easily eat healthy and exercise. | | | | However, many fitness professionals |
| | | | andnutrition 'gurus' lend that impression. |
| Part of the confusion is due to the fact that | | | | |
| thebillion dollar fitness industry has | | | | If you visit a gym today, especially in |
| created amyth -- that expensive food | | | | alarger city, you'll see a myriad of |
| supplements andorganic foods are mandatory | | | | devicesthat, frankly, would give you a better |
| for good health. | | | | workoutif you tried to pick them up and move |
| | | | themout to the garbage dump. |
| While I believe in both, neither are | | | | |
| mandatory. | | | | It can be daunting and confusing for anyone! |
| | | | |
| It's the TYPE of food, and the COMBINATIONof | | | | But, this doesn't have to be the case. In |
| the foods that make all the difference -- | | | | fact,as so many people report in "Fit Over |
| that,and moderate calories, exercise, and | | | | 40",workouts can be done in your own homethat |
| propermental disposition. | | | | will more than satisfy the needs ofmost |
| | | | people. |
| This is covered in detail in the | | | | |
| best-sellinge-book, "Fit Over 40", by Jon | | | | The same goes for nutrition. While a |
| Benson and | | | | fewpeople require "high-tech", expensive |
| | | | foods |
| Tom Venuto, CSCS. | | | | |
| | | | (for medical reasons usually), the |
| Get it here -- | | | | vastmajority of us can easily get the job |
| | | | doneat the local grocery store. |
| In regards to the study, Dr. Janet Collins of | | | | |
| the | | | | The best way to inspire change is to |
| | | | createchange in yourself. Start there, set |
| Centers for Disease Control and Preventionhad | | | | theexample, and the word will spread. |
| this to say -- | | | | |
| | | | Anyone can be fit and healthy, and theycan do |
| "Populations are no longer equal in terms | | | | it at ANY age, and at ANY incomelevel above |
| ofexperiencing health problems. | | | | absolute poverty. |
| Low-incomepopulations tend to experience all | | | | |