Well, a new study from the CDC found that obesity rates have leveled off in the US.
Americans have been getting fatter since 1980, and forecasts of doom projected 50 years into the future allege that 50% of us will be obese. But the new CDC study finds rates of obesity to be between 33-35% of people in 2005-2006; roughly the same as in 2003-2004. (National rates also stalled out between 1999-2002).
So what's changed? CNN would like us to thank them for their Fit Nation Challenge. Seriously, are you or anyone you know involved in a fitness challenge? Yeah, me neither. This plateau could be the calm before the storm, or we could begin to see BMI's drop. If I had a good answer, I'd tell you.
The obesity problem is fascinating because we still don't know why we, as a planet, are ballooning up, and we still don' t really know how to get people to effectively lose weight. Heck, we're not even sure that being obese is really bad for you. There's a growing body of people seriously considering that much of what's been thought about obesity and health are myths, and I gotta agree.
There are a number of researchers interested in the concept of "healthy obese", people who are overweight, but who are metabolically healthy, with no signs of diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and all the other problems blamed on obesity. Sure, there are overweight people with these problems, but there are plenty of "normal weight" people with the same problems. Again, I wish I had a good answer for you.
OK, and was only kidding about the donuts.