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The CDC recently released results from a new survey that indicates that Mississippi, once again, holds the shameful title of “The Most Obese State,” a title they’ve had since 2004. In fact, the South in general seems to have some issues with buttoning their pants – the highest rates of obese adults are all found in this region.
Sadly, the article also points out that the rate holds true for children as well. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has recently recommended that children as young as two years of age have their cholesterol levels checked and that cholesterol-lowering drugs be considered in children eight years of age or older that cannot lower high cholesterol levels in more conventional ways. Their explanation is that children who are in danger of becoming obese or are already need to take better care of their cardiovascular health.
This is scary, indeed. I can remember when there was maybe one “fat kid” in the classroom, and it was pretty much accepted that there was nothing s/he could do about the situation (although this understanding didn’t quite assuage the class bullies and/or the generic child trying to gain a tenuous foothold in the delicate hierarchy that is grade school politics). Now when I observe elementary school classes, I cannot help but notice that at least 25% of the kids are obese (and not just “big for their age”). And I think we all know that there is something that can be done about their situation; obviously the AAP thinks so.
Although California was not one of the most obese states, we do carry our share of overweight individuals and quite possibly, considering this survey was conducted over the phone, the most liars. There is a ton of pressure around here to look a certain way, and all one needs to do is look in any “free” publication and see all the advertisements for various forms of plastic surgery. It seems that the message is sent is not so much, “Be healthy,” but rather, “Look a certain way that may be categorized as ‘healthy.’”
Obviously something is amiss here – mass media keeps sending out “thin thin thin,” yet we all keep getting more and more “fat fat fat.”
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“…Mississippi, once again, holds the shameful title of “The Most Obese State,” a title they’ve had since 2004. In fact, the South in general seems to have some issues with buttoning their pants…”
I’m already laughing/crying after the first sentence lol. Good Lord, are we heading for an era where 2 year olds have heart attacks? The pharmaceutical companies are going to love this… get ready for ridiculous commercials! But seriously, maybe if we didn’t treat obesity as a disease and told some of those fatties to go for a jog, things might be different. You should read a book called “Sissy Nation” I think you’d enjoy it.
“Obviously something is amiss here – mass media keeps sending out “thin thin thin,” yet we all keep getting more and more “fat fat fat.”…”
Maybe its a new anti-mainstream subculture… “ob-emo-sity”? No joke, it does seem like a lot of fat young people choose to be a part of subcultures like emo-ism to help themselves cope with slash defend their fat status…