CDC Study Shows Obesity Rate Is 30% or Higher in 12 States

WebMD Health News Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD

Despite a steady drumbeat of warnings that obesity causes serious health problems and increases the risk of premature death, it has become a problem in every state, the CDC says in a new report.

What is more, obesity prevalence was 30% or higher in 12 states in 2010, compared to nine states in 2009. In 2000, no states had obesity rates that high.

Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia all had obesity rates of 30% or higher in 2010. Obesity rates vary by region, led by the South at 29.4%, followed by the Midwest at 28.7%, the Northeast at 24.9%, and the West at 24.1%, the CDC report says.

Mississippi had the nation’s highest obesity prevalence at 34%, and Colorado the lowest at 21%.

According to the CDC, no state reported that less than 20% of adults were obese in 2010. That means not a single state met the national Healthy People 2010 goal to lower obesity prevalence to 15% by the end of the past decade.

The percentages are based on the most recent Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System phone survey that gathers information from 400,000 adults 18 and over.

CDC Director Thomas Frieden says in a news release that heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer are the leading causes of death related to obesity.

“It will take time and resources to win in the fight against obesity,” William Dietz, director of CDC’s division of nutrition, physical activity and obesity, says in the news release. “This epidemic is complex and we must continue to change the environments that make it hard to eat healthy and make it hard for people to be active.”

By taking such steps, “we not only help today’s adults, we also invest in our children and grandchildren, so they won’t have to endure this serious and costly health burden,” Dietz says.

The CDC says that obesity has increased dramatically in the past 20 years. Medical costs of obesity reached $147 billion in 2008. Solutions have been put forth that include research and study into healthier eating habits at all meals and during snack periods. Junk food are seen as a direct cause of obesity related diseases and with the advent of healthy vending machines healthier eating habits by kids has had an impact.

There’s been a surge of people aged 50-plus starting businesses, and it’s happening for a number of reasons. But today’s driving factor, according to the Staying Ahead of the Curve 2010 survey from AARP, appears to be “financial need.”

Americans over 55 were particularly hard hit by this past recession. Not only did their jobless rate hit record levels, but their average length of joblessness, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, was over 35 weeks, compared to 30 weeks for workers ages 25 to 34. (These stats, provided earlier this year, were the latest supplied by the bureau.)

According to a report titled “What’s the Matter With the U.S. Job Market?” — part of the UCLA Anderson Forecast, an economic outlook released last December — about 5.5 million lost jobs are not coming back. So instead of seeking jobs that don’t exist, older Americans are starting businesses. In fact, the Kauffman Foundation reports there’s an entrepreneurial boom among 55- to 64-year-olds, who are now nearly twice as likely to start successful businesses as 20- to 34-year-olds.

Understanding the risk

But before you jump into reinventing yourself as an entrepreneur, remember that starting and running a business both entail risk. And the older you are, the lower your tolerance for risk is likely to be. Obviously, success in business is not guaranteed, and younger entrepreneurs have more time to regain any money lost from investing in a venture gone bad.

- Partner up. Starting a business with someone else broadens your reach, lessens your risk, and can make the startup journey a little less scary to navigate. There really is strength in numbers.

- Buy a business. Purchasing an existing company is often less risky than starting from scratch. But do your homework (and hire a good attorney and accountant) to make sure you’re not buying a lemon.

- Become a consultant. Put your years of knowledge to work by advising others. Consultancies often have lower startup costs, and you can work your network for referrals.

- Buy a franchise. Like buying an existing business, owning a franchise can offer less risk, since the franchisor has created a successful business model.  Look at “hot categories” such as the Organic Foods or Green Energy Sectors for fresh ideas.

Two final thoughts:

1) Don’t think you know it all. While the business you start should tap into your skills and expertise, there’s often a vast difference between corporate experience and entrepreneurial behavior. In fact, you might have to break yourself of some habits that worked wonderfully when you were an employee. Entrepreneurs have to be more flexible, adaptable and decisive.

2) Make sure you are current on the “new ways” of business. As the owner, you will have to be responsible for a lot of tasks that, in your previous work life, were handled by others (accounting, technology, marketing, etc.).

But don’t let that discourage you. Help is everywhere. And it’s never too late to learn something new. As the old saying goes, “Knowledge in youth is wisdom in age.”

Jolly Backer, CEO of Fresh Healthy Vending “weighs in” on new franchise trends that he foresees for this year and beyond.

“As part of our research prior to the launch of Fresh Healthy Vending in 2010 we did substantial research into the trends most likely to impact the franchise industry in the years ahead and the following is a ‘snapshot’ of what we found” notes Backer.

Key franchising trends that we indentified fell into several categories but we see these three particular ones enjoying 7-10 years of robust growth before we start seeing any market saturation.

Innovative healthy food offerings

“Green” products and services

Health and wellness businesses

Franchising has seen a recent influx of trendy foodservice concepts. Some of the most notable of those include gourmet hamburger restaurants, as well as the return of frozen yogurt shops, many offering a new self-service spin on a concept that was first made popular back in the 1980s. Healthier foodservice concepts are also making impressive headway in franchising, such as our own Fresh Healthy Vending franchise and healthy pizza franchises such as Pizza Fusion and Naked Pizza featuring fresh and organic ingredients, as well as newer ethnic food franchise entries including Middle Eastern and Indian cuisine.

Of course, innovation and appeal isn’t limited to restaurants and foodservice. An influx of environmentally-aware franchisors and franchise buyers is carving out a new niche in franchising. Analysts believe some new leaders will soon start emerging, especially those that focus on solar technology and other energy savings-oriented businesses. With more and more people aware of and concerned about minimizing the negative impacts businesses have on the environment, it’s not surprising we’re seeing new franchise systems come along that focus on earth-friendly products and services, and that help consumers and businesses alike find ways to reduce their carbon footprint.”

Health and wellness businesses overall continue to focus on expansion through franchising. We’re seeing more wellness concepts in general coming into the franchise market. And of course, as the population continues to age, with more Baby Boomers fast approaching retirement age, we feel that senior-oriented franchise programs still have a lot of room to grow. Economic conditions that will remain, as the effects of the Great Recession slowly begin to abate, will also create new opportunities in franchising.

Franchise systems that take advantage of the new market realities, whether they are services designed to make healthier snack options available in vending machines or franchises that assist homeowners with energy cost savings and wellness related franchises will be well-positioned this year and likely in years to come.

Healthy eating habits best achieve when start young

Obesity starting from childhood keeps on increasing at a high level, and more parents are becoming concern about this. One way to help kids overcome the overweight epidemic is by encouraging them to engage to physical activities. But this alone cannot solve the problem. If a child does not combine active lifestyle into healthy eating habits, then it will not stop him from being obese. Exercise cannot prevent obesity alone. It is important for kids to learn how to choose healthy foods and avoid high calorie foods as much as possible because it offers less nutritional benefits yet contribute well in excessive weight gain.

Because of weight problems, certain health issues can arise. It is not a good idea to wait for it. As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. It is hard for parents to notice right away that their children are gaining extra weight. It takes time to realize that there is already a problem, and during the time of realization, it may not be that easy to handle.

Another thing is that it is easier for parents to train their kids on eating healthier foods while they are young, than correcting their eating habit when they are old. Simple choosing of foods to eat like choosing a healthy low calories tea from fresh vending options is healthier rather than buying coke and other sodas from a regular vending machine helps them see the difference of good food choices. When they get older, they will know what to choose even without you assisting them. When they get hungry, instead of choosing M&M’s and Coke, they will choose carrot sticks and fresh juice from a nearby fresh healthy vending machine.

When it comes to weight, it is a sensitive issue when it comes to teenagers; it is something that is hard to broach. It is hard to deal for parents on how to let their kids know what they want to tell them, without making them feel bad about their size and weight; excessive anxiety may lead to anorexia or bulimia.

The shift of making the kids choose eating healthy snacks than junk foods is not instant. You cannot simply drag them to a fresh vending machine and ask them to eat this and that, without making them feel bad. It would be much wiser if you start by talking to your kids about healthy food choices, the good effects contrary to the bad effects of junk foods in terms of health. Before going out, it would be better if you will make a deal with them that you will try the foods from a fresh healthy vending machine rather than regular vending machines. It will give them a good amount of excitement to try healthy snacks and feel good about themselves.

Letting your children know ways to minimize and as much possible prevent the factors that contribute in excessive gaining of weight will allow them to feel a measure of success when they overcome a temptation of eating unhealthy foods. This will give them a good encouragement in having a healthy outlook throughout their life.

The White House found an ally with Catholic Charities USA for the implementation of Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act

President Barrack Obama found an ally with the Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) after signing the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. Unlike other organization doubtful of the said bill, CCUSA lauded the bill last week because it will improve the quality of meals sold in schools and vending machines will strengthen nutrition programs serving young children across the nation. We have been looking for healthier vending options for some time and now this bill will now push private and religious base schools to keep step with federal guidelines.

Rev. Larry Snyder, President and CEO of CCUSA said that the critical legislation ensures that more of American children will have access to healthy nutritious food and reaffirms their organization’s commitment in addressing the problem of childhood hunger.

According to Fr. Snyder, 1 in 4 children in poverty in America are hungry and that the passage of the bill is an important measure in helping the 43.6 million American household struggling to feed their children everyday.

Championed by First Lady Michelle Obama to address the obesity epidemic and hunger in the US, Pres. Barrack Obama signed the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 on December 13, 2010 at the Harriet Tubman Elementary School in Washington. D.C.

The bill which was unanimously approved in the Senate and a House vote of 264-157 aims to increase the nutrition standards of school meals being served to students. It will give an extra 6-cents increase per child meal.

CCUSA is one of the nation’s largest social service networks since 1910. It has served as an advocate in improving the lives and attending to the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable persons in society. The organization is a professional association and social justice movement helping and creating hope for every 9 million people each year regardless of religious views, social and economic background.

Food and nutrition is a top priority of CCUSA which provided food to over 7 million people in 2009. CCUSA believes that eliminating childhood hunger is central to their work in reducing poverty in America. Fr. Snyder added that with the nation’s safety nets stretched to their breaking points, it is a must that continuous delivery of essential services to Americans is being given while simultaneously looking for innovation not only to alleviate poverty but to prevent it.

2010 coincides with CCUSA’s celebration of centennial year which is dedicated to the exploration of the most effective and innovative measures in poverty alleviation and prevention programs focusing on childhood hunger.

Healthier snacks in school

As more schools become aware of the importance of a fresh healthy vending machine in encouraging students to eat healthy foods and become more active, most of them eliminate sodas from their vending machine and replace them with fresh healthy vending options. It is a good thing that schools where kids usually spend every day of their life have become involve in the fight against obesity, acknowledging how important exercise and healthy eating habits and choices to a child’s health.

Healthier Snacks and Exercise in SchoolsAs more schools become aware of the importance of a fresh healthy vending machine in encouraging students to eat healthy foods and become more active, most of them eliminate sodas from their vending machine and replace them with fresh healthy vending options. It is a good thing that schools where kids usually spend every day of their life have become involve in the fight against obesity, acknowledging how important exercise and healthy eating habits and choices to a child’s health.There are some schools that already became health warriors in pushing healthy eating habit for every kid. They find creative ways to encourage kids to do more physical activities and improve their food choices. Different schools have different strategies in helping their students. One school made an experiment by moving the recess time before lunch period, and the result—the kids eat better. The reason behind is because kids can eat better if they are not rushing in eating their foods to play. Another school implemented a longer recess time that gives them enough time to play around and make their daily exercise by being physically active. Things like these are not major breakthroughs, but these little things make a positive impact to the health of the students.
Many schools are now giving their students a healthy food option and healthier snacks via the fresh vending machines. So instead of regular chips and sodas, the students have a healthier choice of Pop chips which is a healthier alternative snack to regular potato chips. It has half less than the calories that typical chips have and it neither baked nor fried. It’s crispy and crunchy texture is the reason why kids love it! This pop chips is one healthy product that can be found in a fresh healthy vending machine.  Now, even the fresh vending companies are doing their part by placing healthy vending machine in convenient and easily accessed location like gas stations and strip mall where people of all ages, both kids and adults can have a healthy snacks even when they are on the go. With this healthy vending machine scattered everywhere, and good encouragement from parents and schools, more likely that the kids will choose eating healthy snacks and develop good eating habits.

High-fiber fruits and vegetables help promote and maintain healthy weight

With the rise in obesity rate across the US, the Obama administration is keen on combating the most serious epidemic in America by enjoining every Americans to live a healthy lifestyle. Concerted effort made by the government, educational institutions, health advocates, private organizations, and corporates with new healthy food companies proliferating across the country.

Obesity if not prevented can cause detrimental effects leading to serious illnesses such as hypertension, heart disease and diabetes. It can also give psychosocial consequences such as low self esteem and depression. Centers for Disease Control and Preventions shows that 12.5 million American kids whose ages range from 2 to 9 years are obese making up 17% percent of the population which triples the percentage three decades earlier.

Because of these facts, millions of Americans have responded to the call by embracing a variety of diet trends and shifting to a healthier lifestyle. According to recent report, the whole grain and high-fiber food industry will benefit the most from this change.

According to a new market report from Global Industry Analysts Inc., the global market for whole grain and high-fiber food will reach $24 billion by 2015 because of heightened concerns about obesity and other diseases and the shift in healthy diet. In addition, US Dietary guidelines and the new pyramid food system are expected to make a push on the sale of fresh and healthy food products particularly involving whole grains.

Whole grain and high fiber foods market felt insignificant impact from the sluggish economy in the past years. It experienced a slower growth rates in 2008 and 2009 compared to 2007. Bread withstood the recession in 2009 with bread sales increasing by more than 5 percent over the previous year. Breakfast cereal also made an impact because of its nutritional content.

In the United States, cereals with fruit variation are the most preferred breakfast because of its healthy content. This is the reason why branded breakfast cereals decided to have a make-over to fare well with less-expensive private-labels in the market. General Mills and Kellogg have already committed to reformulate their major brands to contain more whole grains and fiber.

With an improved health-conscious society, United States’ dominance in the market for whole grain and high-fiber food will likely to continue in the years to come.

Who shouldd ecide when it comes to children's nutrition?

It was on the first quarter of 2010 when First Lady Michelle Obama announces the ambitious national goal of resolving the epidemic of child obesity in America. The campaign is called “Let’s Move” and it aims to provide schools, families and communities simple tools to help kids be more active, eat better, and get healthy. Since then, several other healthy campaigns from various sectors followed across all states. And before the year ended, President Obama enacted into law a new nutrition bill – Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act 2010 – that would help improve the quality of foods served in schools.

Another noteworthy event that happened in line with Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign was the launching of Fresh Healthy Vending a healthy snacks vending franchise offering where most of the healthy vending machines are placed in schools and in locations where children spend time after school like YMCAs.

A recent article spreading on several headlines revealed that the American diet is shifting and more of our meals are “on the go”. It also doesn’t help that parental influence is becoming weak when it comes to what children are eating these days when they’re out of the house. Many factors are said to impact the children’s eating habits which include friends, schools, area stores and advertisers, among others. Having said that, are parents willing to allow the First Lady and the Federal government to take charge of what the kids should be eating?

Quite a few skeptics react by saying that the parents are responsible for laying the right foundation to their kids when it comes to nutrition. And that if you need expert advice as to which foods are healthy and which are not, then you should seek for the help of professional doctors and nutritionist – not by government.

In reality, the issue of child obesity involves everyone – parents, children, government, health care, education, and so on. Of course, each sector may only have the best interest of the American people in mind. Perhaps, there’d be more health-related programs to come and there’d be more debates to arise. Even an average family household would agree that when dealing with a critical issue like this, it’s not inevitable to hear two sides of the story. But what’s important is that we see everyone’s cooperation in addressing the problem of obesity in children.

Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act requires food served in schools to be nutritious.

The new school lunch law that President Obama started is a good start, but fact still remain that healthy eating begins at home.