Honey, You're Fat!

No doubt, you've been placed in that awkward situation when you've been asked to comment on some one's appearance. Most of us have learned to answer diplomatically, and if you're a husband, wisely, lest we experience unwelcome wrath, scorn, or pouting.

No one is safe from the topic. We've developed or altered the meaning of terms like "big boned", "healthy", "stocky", and "full figured" to provide us more gentle, but plausibly truthful responses.

Perhaps it is time we stopped worrying about feelings and started to worry about the health of our friends and loved ones. We'd warn them about numerous other health hazards, even physically become involved to prevent harm, yet, in staggering numbers we are watching our loved ones move towards an early death due to eating habits or lethargy.

Obesity is defined as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 30 (http://www.consumer.gov/weightloss/bmi.htm), and according to the U.S. Surgeon General, 300,000 deaths per year may be attributed to obesity. Obese individuals are 50 to 100% more likely to suffer a premature death than those whose weight is in the healthy range, however, you don't have to be obese to face problems, even being 10 to 20 pounds overweight increases the risk of death in adults aged 30 to 64.

In 2005 cancer replaced cardiac arrest as the number one killer of individuals under 85. Surely this is a sign that we have turned the corner and are eating healthier and exercising more. Then again, maybe not. One third of the deaths are attributable to nutrition, obesity, and inactivity. Take a look at the top killers in America; cardiac related, cancer, infection, and adult-onset diabetes are the top four. As you can see, three of the four can be heavily influenced by weight, nutrition, and inactivity.

While we are looking at the health issues surrounding obesity, let's look at the list, of related illnesses, our Center for Disease Control (CDC) has compiled.

• Hypertension
• High Cholesterol
• Type 2 diabetes
• Coronary Heart Disease
• Stroke
• Gall Bladder Disease
• Osteoarthritis
• Sleep Apnea/Respiratory Conditions
• Some Cancers.

Now that we've covered all the bad things that can happen to you, how big of an issue is it? Here's some stats from the American Heart Association.

In the period of 1960-1962, 10.7 percent of men and 15.7 percent of women, aged 20-74 were obese. 1971-1974 the percentages were 12.2 for men and 16.8 for women. 1976-1980, 12.8 and 17.1. From 1988-94, 20.6 for men and 26 percent for women. In 2001 through 2004, 30.2 percent of American men and 34 percent of American women were obese. Not just overweight, but obese.

Now if you think the problems only affect the households of the obese person, and of course the poor guy (James) stuck beside them on a small regional jet, here are some figures for you. According to the CDC, obesity accounts for an estimated $7.1 to $12.8 billion dollars of out of pocket, health care related, expenses every year. Through in what insurance and providers cover and the total is estimated at $51.5 to $78.5 billion dollars per year. Hey, when was the last time your health insurance premiums went down? I thought so.

When lung cancer was linked to smoking, there was a national outcry for changes. We encouraged our friends and family to give up the habit. When MADD convinced America of the impact drunk driving was having on our roadways, we clamored for tougher sentencing and encouraged or demanded our friends and family not to drink and drive. Now that our family meals are more likely to come from a fast food restaurant than from our own ovens. Now that women's clothing manufacturers have altered how they size their clothes. (Men's sizes are standardized by the industry, women's sizes are not. Therefore, a size 10 now is larger than it was in 1960, because marketers discovered women were more apt to buy when they were able to buy a smaller size. Check out http://www.snopes.com/movies/actors/mmdress.asp. Did you know Marilyn Monroe wore a size 16? Actually she is listed as anywhere from a 12 to a 16, but almost always the sizing difference is referenced. Google it.)

What are we going to do? I'm not suggesting we ostracize overweight people, but just maybe we should be a little more honest with ourselves, our family, and our friends. The problem has spread to our children, and those figures are even scarier than the adult numbers. For those with children, were you aware that for the first time in American history a generation, theirs, has a shorter life expectancy than their parents.

Just maybe it is time for a little bit of honesty. Maybe our loved ones don't want to hear that they are putting on some pounds, maybe we don't want to hear it, but just maybe it is what we need to hear.

A little food for thought!