The Responsibility Project^®. Exploring what it means to do the right thing

America Weighs In

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August 19, 2010 by Andrea Bennett

The numbers are out: America is becoming more obese. But is beating ourselves up about it making us fatter?

The Centers for Disease Control recently released its Vital Signs report on adult obesity, based on a telephone survey of 400,000 people, and the numbers were undeniably alarming. According to the report, about 2.4 million more adults were obese in 2009 than in 2007. In fact, more than 72 million U.S. adults—or 26.7 percent—are now obese. In nine states (a cluster of states in the South and Midwest that roughly overlap what has been called the “Stroke Belt”) more than 30 percent of adults are obese. And the medical care costs associated with the problem total about $147 billion.

In a teleconference calling for intensive, comprehensive efforts to address the problem, CDC director Dr. Thomas Frieden warned, “If we don’t more people will get sick and die from obesity-related conditions such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer, some of the leading causes of death.”

But how to treat the nation’s weight problem is eliciting very differing opinions. Do we treat obesity as a moral issue, and denounce people who aren’t helping as enablers? Or is criminalizing it, in effect, making the problem worse?

Some of the more outspoken critics, such as Dr. Dennis Gottfried, an associate professor at the University of Connecticut Medical School, say that overeating is the moral equivalent of smoking: Recalling an overweight colleague whose habit was to bring pastries to work at the hospital, he says, “I realized that in my mind bringing chubby nurses pastries was the same as bringing boxes of cigarettes to asthmatics! It was an act that reinforced harmful and potentially dangerous behavior.” Much like forcing smokers to go outside, Gottfried suggests, “Perhaps it is time to restrict the eating of donuts and soda to certain designated areas in large buildings…termed ‘High Caloric Areas.’”

Detractors of the tough approach say that by criminalizing or stigmatizing obesity, we could be creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. In this article in Psychology Today, clinical psychologist Susan Albers says, “…the more we hear about what an overwhelming problem obesity is, the more people may continue to act in ways that lead them toward overeating because they feel ‘what's the point, it's impossible anyway.’” She suggests toning down the language that calls obesity an “epidemic,” or suggests we wage “war” on it, contending it won’t help the “multi-dimensional interventions” needed to reduce our collective waistline, such as providing quality nutritional education, fixing fast food and school lunches, and encouraging the nation to move.

What do you think is the best way to solve the nation’s weight problem: tough talk or, as Albers calls it, utilizing “the power of optimistic language”?

10 Comments

What do you think? Leave a comment

• August 24, 2010 by Melanie

  i honestily think that people need to do something about people being overweight. Like look how it used to be back then and now look at us....its pretty sad to be honest with me

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  • October 18, 2011 by corey

    People have to want change before they can be changed.

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• August 29, 2010 by John P Hill USAF (RET) Disabled Purple Heart Vet

  To Whom It May Concern, I am a retired military man and love my country and used to love my state. While I was in and fighting (all the Air Force doesn't sit behind a desk) for my country thru the Blue to Green program our calorie intake was to be 3600 calories a day. That was due to the amount of activity it take to sustain life in war. Which brings me to my point about this calorie reduction. I recently moved here from Hawaii to take care of my parents and see my children because it is now my ex-wife and let me tell you, this place has it's priorities mixed up. The few months I have been home I have seen a lot and the town I loved has turned into a safe haven for prostitution, drug use, etc... So, I turn on the news and I see calorie cuts at school. Let me ask you this, what happens to that child whose mother is selling her food stamps for crack? Now he can't even get a good lunch and breakfast at school!?! How about that child that has to throw in a TV dinner to eat after school because his parents are drunk? What about that kid who only wants a good breakfast and lunch because that's all he gets because his parents are in no win jobs and don't have money for food? I understand that kids are fat and those kids that are fat should be put in a different Physical Education class. Why are we concentrating on taking away from kids and not giving? I know because it's easier to cut the calories and money at the school instead of making the kids that need a diet be active. I am getting to the point where I am about to start a law suit or contact a politician. Are ALL CHILDREN going to benefit from this diet change? I doubt it very much. You can take away the only good food that most kids live off of instead of upping the criteria in gym class. Poll for volunteers to try a better Physical Fitness program. I would volunteer and I used to run a Physical Fitness program for over a thousand people. I guess in the end this is not going to handle the problem. The only thing that you are doing is taking away from that child that doesn't have the ability to have snacks and soda at home. These are the kids that you can see that they are using these meals throughout the day because they don't eat like people with parents that care. I made sure my kids ate 3000 calories a day plus school food and a packed lunch. I also changed their habits. Instead of TV and Ice, Cream they ran with me. Instead of X-Box and PS3, they went to play basketball or skateboarded. I guess my point is the only way be fair, because the little guy that needs those calories to get through the day, is to change the habits of those children over weight and put them in a program to where they want to change and work the weight off.

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• August 31, 2010 by Dee

  It is not up to anyone else but yourself to control what you eat. It is not up to anyone else but the parents of children to decide what they eat. Once again, people look to outside sources like school and government to determine what's best for us. Use your brains! We all know fast food isn't a well-balanced dinner but we eat it anyway. We have the knowledge, we know it's bad for us but we do it anyway! Parents buy fast food and frozen dinners for their kids because it's convenient; I'm a busy mom so I totally understand it. But if you're going to do that then at least schedule some exercise/outdoor play time every single day and make it a point to make wholesome healthy dinners on the weekend when you have time. Simply having the knowledge of what is good and bad to eat is not enough, you have to put in the effort, too. As for schools changing their lunch menus, I'm all for it. It's only been 10 years since I was in high school and I remember being able to choose from potato chips to burritos to chili cheese fries to ice cream at lunchtime. However, I don't ever remember having the choice of salad, sandwich, low fat frozen yogurt, etc. You don't have to get rid of the junk food (chili cheese fries once in a blue moon isn't going to hurt anyone), just add healthy choices, too. Then, it's up to the parents to teach their kids what choices to make at lunchtime.

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• September 26, 2010 by moseha

  well some time ppl mess with other ppl becaus the way they look

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• September 27, 2010 by Ilya

  I completely agree with Dee! Being healthy is about making healthy choices - just like anything else -- smoking, drinking, or drugs. Sure, people are born into poor families, but they still have a choice. These days you can order a salad even at McDonald's -- so you can chose that over French fries or a Big Mac (but go easy on the calorie-packed dressing). You are what you eat! So make that choice next time you're having lunch or a snack. And if you're a parent, educate your kids about it. And cook more often. Large government programs and lunch changes at school can help, but that's not enough: it's going to take little steps from everyone.

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• September 28, 2010 by Angela Molina

  I think people should start thinking about their life. This is not only in America, it is in a lot of other countries too. Start learning about life and be HEALTHY. ;)

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• October 22, 2010 by Juli

  I don't think the issue is calories or exercise. We have a vast lack of knowledge about food. Most of us have a vague notion of what's good and bad (orange - good, muffin - bad) but don't understand the mechanisms by which food sustains us or keeps us full.

  200 calories of candy and 200 calories of oatmeal are two very, very different things and until we acknowledge that divide and stop counting calories, we'll continue to be an overweight nation.

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• June 2, 2011 by April Barfield

  I am writing in response to a comment made by Dr. Dennis Gottfried in the article above. When he says that "overeating is the moral equivalent of smoking", I feel that he is really showing a biased view of what he finds to be unacceptable.

  It is interesting that some people feel such strong emotions concerning the topic of being overweight. First it is important to note that just the determination of who is, or who is not overweight is so up to personal scrutiny. One only has to look at a talk show or view a commercial to see the vast differences in what qualifies as anorexic or obese. It is such a non-quantifiable concept. Secondly, it is absolutely amazing just how intensely emotional or critical some people are in concerning themselves with the personal physical state of unknown and random people whom they themselves have no immediate connection to. For example, one would never feel the freedom to comment on race, religion or nationality for fear of being politically incorrect or morally reprehensible. However, it seems that many feel no shame or harm in commenting or making assumptions about an overweight individual. It seems that this is a topic that many feel is an open free for all. To say that overeating has a measurable moral equivalent is heinous. It is a direct acknowledgement of hatred towards something that this particular person does not like or accept. It is very sad to hear someone who is an associate professor at a medical school preach his poison to others, especially since he has the direct ability to influence the way his students/mentors feel in reference to a topic that will be an integral part of their experience and careers in their field of study. These same students will be the ones that many overweight people depend on for health advice. It is also unforgivable to make assumptions that all overweight persons are indulgent, and unwilling to help themselves. These very patients sometimes have sought treatments for underlying illnesses that affect the weight they carry. Shame on you sir!

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• October 30, 2011 by Ashley Nebel

  this is what i do i have a one yr old and a 22 yr old and 21 yr old and me and my husband i work 50 hrs a week and i am a full time mother and wife i will make healthy dinner 3 night in a row with leftovers and that leave them a choice on what they want for the next 3 day it help me to do that it might help you lady too

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