The jury's still out whether obesity is caused by a virus. But we do know of the established links between obesity and chronic illness. Even so, the rate of dangerously overweight people in the majority of U.S. states continues an upward trend. According to the Trust for America's Health, more than 20 percent of residents in all but three U.S. states are obese.
This is an alarming statistic considering the health consequences of obesity such as diabetes and heart disease. Such health problems significantly drive up health care costs, which should be a concern to all consumers.
Yet, there is no resounding public outcry about obesity. Smoking, and to a lesser extent, excessive alcohol consumption, have been assailed in public health circles in recent years, which has helped reverse those trends. Apparently, there is not a similar degree of comfort discussing obesity in the public arena, even though the health consequences are just as dire.
That relative silence may be particularly harmful to children. They to understand the consequences of obesity. They need adults to introduce them to healthy habits such as eating healthy diets. They need to be taught that sweets and junk food can be eaten sparingly or on special occasions but not as a part of the daily diet.
Just as important, physical activity needs to be a part of every day living. This is more important than ever because many schools have drastically cut physical education programs. Some parents, out of fear for their children's safety, have curbed their children's outdoor play time. They tend to enroll their children in organized sports leagues. That's one option for keeping kids fit and healthy, but it doesn't address the everyday need for exercise when the respective sports season ends.
Brisk walking is perhaps the best option for most people. It's simple. It requires no special equipment. It's something families can do together. Even moderate amounts of walking can have some health benefits.
The obesity rankings compiled by the Trust for America's Health suggest a few rays of hope. Utah ranked No. 8 and had one of the lowest childhood obesity rates nationwide. While the Beehive State fared better than many states, it still had a 21.1 percent obesity rate. That can certainly improve.
While some public health think tanks label America's obesity problem as a "disaster," the nation tends to tiptoe around this problem, to its peril. That means reversing this trend is up to individuals, who should try to improve their health habits for their own sake and to set a good example for today's youth. They are a generation of children growing up at a time that they have significantly more spending money than their predecessors and at a time when unhealthy food choices are available in cheaper, larger portions. They need to be guided to make lifestyle choices that can set them on healthy course for life.