Why are Many Americans Overweight?
It goes without saying that obesity is becoming a health crisis in America. There used to be a time when major news outlets would report on something having to do with obesity or a new diet fad and we, as viewers, would be greeted with the obligatory shot of hefty Americans, face out of view and only the backside visible, trudging along the streets. The sad fact is that the shots are becoming increasingly visible through a multitude of news outlets, and we as viewers can increasingly relate to the imagery we are seeing flash across our TV screens.
As an increasing number of Americans become overweight we’re left the asking ourselves whether this is due to our poor food choices or a lack of exercise. Undoubtedly both factors contribute to obesity, and fixing either one or the other will go a long way towards diminishing your waistline, but a recent study says that one of these culprits is a bigger villain in the other:
“Dr. Boyd Swinburn and colleagues at Deakin University, Melbourne, presented their findings last year at the European Congress on Obesity in Amsterdam. The ever-growing amounts of food Americans eat comprise, according to Swinburn, virtually the sole cause of the alarming increase over the past 3 decades in overweight in the U.S. The researchers looked at 1,399 adults and 963 children to see how many calories they burned daily, and compared these figures to estimates of what their daily calorie needs should be to maintain a healthy weight, based on their height and weight (30 years ago and now).” (Source Health.yahoo.net)
Given the information coming out of this study looking at our diets might be the first place to start to improve our overall health. BCBSNC has a great set of guidelines that you can click here to assess if you are overweight and if you are leading a healthy lifestyle.
