In America waistlines are expanding, with 31 states showing an increase in obesity.
Washington is one of them.
Washington has adult obesity rates of 22.4 percent, ranking it the 31st heaviest in the nation, according to a new report by Trust for America’s Health (TFAH).
Mississippi is the heaviest state, with an obesity rate of 29.5 percent, while Colorado is the fittest, with a rate of 16.9 percent.
It’s a problem that’s being noted on Whidbey Island, as well.
“We’re not gonna solve this obesity epidemic without getting people moving,†said Jay Bryan, an exercise physiologist and the general manager at Island Athletic Club.
Most experts expect all states will fail to meet the national goal of reducing adult obesity levels to 15 percent by the year 2010. And the recently released report, “F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing in America, 2006,†finds that government policy efforts have consistently failed to provide viable solutions to the obesity crisis.
It’s up to individuals to make a difference.
“As a society, our lives are set up to move too little and eat too much,†Bryan said. “As we become more overweight, it becomes harder to move. It’s a cycle.â€
To fight the plump problem, people on South Whidbey can participate in a weight-loss challenge sponsored by Island Athletic Club in Freeland.
Beginning Sept. 8, Island Athletic Club will be conducting a 10-week fitness challenge with prizes valued at over $6,000 in both men’s and women’s weight-loss categories.
Incorporating nutrition coaching with the StayInStep program and specific exercise training, the challenge is open to both members and non-members of the gym.
“We do the challenge because it kind of gives people a reason to focus on weight loss over a defined period of time. That’s easier for many,†Bryan said.
“It’s fun to see people get excited. People always lose weight in those things. It’s most exciting when people make changes that stick with them,†he said.
The athletic club will use a program designed by John Hibbard.
Hibbard weighed 388 pounds in 2001. But the death of a friend served as a wake-up call, and Hibbard lost more than 100 pounds.
He now wants to help others lose weight and achieve their health and fitness goals.
With a background in software, Hibbard started a company called Health Inspire to build an online solution that would make it easy to track how many calories you are consuming and how many calories you are burning through exercise.
Hibbard will speak at the challenge kick-off on Thursday, and the athletic club will use Hibbard’s software to support individuals in their efforts to eat right and exercise effectively.
The study, “F as in Fat, 2006,†offers recommendations to curb the obesity crisis, including a 20-step action plan to address the obesity epidemic’s health burden and financial costs. The plan highlights a comprehensive approach where individual efforts to lead healthier lives are supported by families, communities, schools, employers, the food industry, health professionals, and state and federal governments.
While personal responsibility is critical to adopting and sustaining healthy behaviors, the report notes that “individual behavior change will not work in isolation.â€
Island County health officials are aware of that.
Even though Whidbey Island is a few percent points below the state average, the population is not meeting the goals set by the county health department.
The goal in Island County is to have 60 percent of adults at a healthy weight. Unfortunately, the county is not making progress to meet that goal.
The county published a report in 2005 that focused highlighted the numbers on those who were overweight, but not obese. Still, it showed that instead of losing weight, many Island County adults are putting on the pounds.
The county rate showed 26 percent of the population was overweight in 1996; that changed to 53.9 percent in 2000.
A new definition of overweight was used in 2000, however, which sets a lower weight threshold for those considered overweight. Overweight is defined as having a Body Mass Index greater than 25 and less than 30. Obesity is defined as a BMI of 30 and above.
Though this may have contributed to the large jump, but health officials are still concerned.
Karen Grossman of the Island County Health Department said the county supports a number of programs to cut down on obesity.
The Environmental Health Assessment Team has identified “walkable communities†as one of their priority focuses.
The Island County Health Department continues to support a Website, www.whidbeyinmotion.org, which contains information on the importance of physical activity, plus downloadable trail maps, local events, and tips for children, families and seniors on ways to be more active.
The Community Health Advisory Board also continues to support community and county planning efforts to raise awareness and provide opportunities to network with others, Grossman said.
The percentage of adults in Island County who are overweight or obese dramatically has increased over the past years.
Island County school districts have policies and procedures in place to address physical activity and nutrition changes in order to help children be healthier, Grossman said.
Each of the four county school districts are also addressing concerns about childhood obesity and inactivity. Some districts are doing more than others.
“As far as I’m aware the Oak Harbor School District is currently the only district regularly measuring BMI on students. There have been discussions within other districts to measure BMI’s, but I’m not sure where they’re at with that,†she said.
“All our schools have focused on increasing physical activity hours and reducing sugar/fat content in vending machines,†Grossman added. “Some districts are addressing school lunch programs, as well.â€
However, the county is also having trouble on meeting its goal to cut down on child obesity.
The county hoped to reduce the percentage of overweight or obese children to 5 percent. Still, data from 2002 indicates that overweight figures for Island County youth show that island youth are doing slightly better than their counterparts throughout the state and nation.
In Island County, 8 to 9 percent of children are overweight or obese; statewide it’s 11 percent and 12.9 percent in the nation.
“Personally, I think it’s a good idea to measure BMI’s at periodic times on elementary, middle and high school aged children, but only if a mechanism is in place to ensure proper guidance and counseling to families who’s children may be outside the normal range,†Grossman said.
Schools need nursing staff to talk with parents and children about the meaning of the information, she added.
“I do not believe they currently have this capacity. However, schools are not the only place to stress the importance of good nutrition and healthy, active lifestyle activities,†she said.
Improving Island County health is a team effort.
“Parents, Parks & Rec, media and county and local government all have important roles to play,†Grossman said.
Info boxes
Beginning Sept. 8, Island Athletic Club will be conducting a 10-week Fitness Challenge with prizes valued at over $6,000 offered for winners in both men’s and women’s weight loss categories.
STATE-BY-STATE ADULT OBESITY RANKINGS
1: Mississippi*; 2: Alabama; 3: West Virginia; 4: Louisiana*; 5: Kentucky*; 6: Tennessee; 7: Arkansas*; 8 (tie): Indiana*, South Carolina*; 10: Texas; 11: Michigan; 12: Georgia*; 13: Oklahoma*; 14: Missouri*; 15 (tie): Ohio*, Alaska; 17: North Carolina*; 18: North Dakota; 19: Pennsylvania*; 20: Nebraska*; 21: Iowa; 22: South Dakota*; 23: Illinois*; 24: Maryland*; 25: Virginia; 26: Kansas; 27: Minnesota; 28: Wisconsin*; 29: Delaware*; 30 California*; 31 (tie): Idaho*, Washington*; 33: Oregon*; 34: Maine; 35: Florida*; 36 (tie): Wyoming*, New Hampshire*, New York; 39: D.C.; 40 (tie): New Jersey*, New Mexico*; 42: Nevada; 43 (tie): Arizona, Utah*; 45: Montana; 46: Connecticut*; 47 (tie): Rhode Island*, Vermont; 49: Massachusetts*; 50: Hawaii; 51: Colorado.
The full report with complete state rankings in all categories is available on TFAH’s Web site at www.healthyamericans.org. The report was supported by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Rankings are based on combining three years of data (2003-2005) from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Behavioral Risk Surveillance System to “stabilize†data for comparison purposes. States with statistically significant increases are noted with an asterisk (*).
