Idea #313 for December 28th, 2009: Unpleasantly Plump or Obesity Is Always Dangerous

There’s a bit of an urban myth that some obese people are able to remain quite healthy despite their weight. But it appears to be just that — a myth. A report from cardiologists in Sweden found that overweight men were significantly more likely to develop cardiovascular disease, regardless of whether they showed symptoms of metabolic syndrome. In some circles, people who are obese yet don’t show signs of metabolic syndrome (i.e. high blood sugar, hypertension, high cholesterol) were believed to be healthy, but this report indicates otherwise.

Unlike previous studies on the matter, this one from Sweden followed patients over a thirty year period. The results underscore the notion that being overweight is always unhealthy. Having low cholesterol or good blood sugar levels will not change the fact that if you are obese, your risk of cardiovascular disease is significantly higher. Overweight individuals should not feel complacent about their health status even if their blood work looks healthy.

Read more about the study here.

Idea #292 for December 7th, 2009: Watching Waistlines or BMI May Predict Heart Disease Risk

Much has been made of the inexactness of the BMI metric and whether it should be emphasized in medicine. BMI (body masss index) is calculated from a person’s height and weight, and can quantify the degree to which the person may be over- or under-weight. A Dutch study now supports the idea that BMI is an effective tool in predicting the risk of heart disease.

The study, which spanned ten years, found that more than half of fatal heart attacks are linked to a high BMI. People with a BMI over 30 are considered obese, while those between 25 and 30 are deemed overweight. The study, which looked at over 20,00o patients, found that 53% of fatal heart attacks occurred in those whose BMI was high enough to be considered overweight or obese. This evidence underscores the urgent need to stop the obesity epidemic. It also shows that BMI may be a valuable predictor of heart disease risk.

Read more about this here:

Idea #283 for November 28th, 2009: Cloudy Future or The Ballooning Rates of Diabetes

If we think the rate of diabetes is bad now in the US, just wait 25 years and it will be unbelievably bad. By 2034 it’s predicted that twice as many people will have diabetes in America, making a total of 44 million people with the condition. And if you think that’s an exaggeration or inflated, then consider that past predictions have actually underestimated the number. For instance, in 1991 a study estimated that there would be 11 million people with diabetes by 2030. By 2009, we already doubled that number. So there is the potential that even more than 44 million will have diabetes in 25 years.

We can expect massive increases in costs associated with diabetes care to rise as well. The cost is predicted to triple to over $300 billion in 25 years. An aging and obese population is likely to lead to these levels of diabetes in the future. When we consider all the ways to fix our healthcare system in the US, a large part of the reform has to be changing our own lifestyles that are contributing to rising costs. A major contributor is obesity, so for any effort to reduce health spending to be successful, we’re going to have to tackle the obesity problem — and fast — because time is running out.

Read more about the diabetes predictions here.

Idea #260 for November 5th, 2009: More Than Meets The Eye or Avoiding Cancer Cases By Targeting Obesity

When we think of the consequences obesity has on our nation’s health, we often link it to heart disease and other cardiovascular problems. The public sometimes overlooks the other problems that obesity leads to, including cancer. Researchers suggest that more than 100,000 cases of cancer each year are caused by obesity.

Certain cancers seem to be more closely tied to obesity than others. For instance, about half of all endometrial cancers are believed to be caused by obesity. For esophageal cancer cases, about 35% are obesity-related. More than a quarter of Americans are obese, so we definitely have room for improvement. Bringing those numbers down could mean avoiding tens-of-thousands of additional cases of cancer each year. It’s imperative that we fight the root causes of our obesity epidemic to prevent the myriad health problems that stem from it.

Read more about this research here.

Idea #255 for October 31st, 2009: Making The Change or Adapting Lifestyle Still Best Way to Avoid Diabetes

As great as it would be for us to be able to take a pill and make type 2 diabetes disappear, it’s not a reality yet. Until we get to that point, the best method of staving off diabetes is through lifestyle changes. About 24 million Americans have diabetes (mostly type 2) and another 57 million have elevated blood glucose levels. A study that began a decade ago has found that changing people’s lifestyles delayed the onset of diabetes significantly longer than the use of metformin, a diabetes medication.

The lifestyle changes that were adopted by subjects in this study were decreasing fat intake, exercising 30 minutes per day, and losing 5-7% of their body weight. Subjects who implemented those changes delayed the onset of diabetes by an average of 4 years, while subjects who were on metformin delayed onset by about 2 years. For people over 60, those lifestyle changes proved especially important. Subjects who made the changes were half as likely to develop diabetes in the next ten years. This long-term study shows that there is no easy way out of the descent towards diabetes, but making sensible changes to diet and level of physical activity is our best hope of avoiding the disease.

Read more about this in the LA Times.

Idea #213 for September 19th, 2009: Listen Up or Losing Weight With Podcasts

Many people listen to podcasts to be informed or entertained, but there is also a type of podcast that may just improve people’s health. Weight-loss podcasts are being produced to help listeners shed unwanted pounds. The act of listening alone won’t melt away the fat, but instead the podcasts offer suggestions and attempt to change the listener’s mindset. But not all of the lessons are equally effective. Selecting the correct type of weight-loss podcast is key to achieving dieting success, says new research.

In a study, researchers created a podcast based on social cognitive theory that included diet and excercise information, and compared the weight-loss results of their podcast listeners to those of an existing podcast. Three months later, the experimental group lost about six pounds, and a full point off their BMI while the control group did not show any major change.

The major difference between the two programs was the inclusion of social cognitive theory, which exposed listeners to the audio journals of users several weeks ahead of them in the program. The theory is that exposing listeners to the testimony of people ahead of them, they have definite goals to shoot for. The study shows that weight-loss podcasts can work, if the correct techniques are employed. This a good example of an inexpensive, easily accessible tool to help the millions of Americans who are overweight.

Read more about the study in the LA Times.

Idea #182 for August 19th, 2009: Cutting the Fat or Cost of Obesity Still Climbing

We all know that obesity and its related health ailments pose a threat to our nation’s health, but a new report highlights just how expensive the obesity crisis in this country is becoming. In 2006, the total health expenditures on obese adults was $303 billion — representing an 82% increase over the 2001 figure of $167 billion. To give some perspective on that enormous number, $300 billion represents a $1,000 contribution from every American citizen.

Obese Americans accounted for 35% of healthcare spending in 2006, up from 28% in 2001. The percentage of adults who are obese also grew in that time period, from 23% to 27%. Reeling in out-of-control healthcare spending must to some extent involve us lowering the rate of obesity in this country. Right now, the rate is climbing, which makes a gloomy healthcare future look even worse. The battle against obesity will have to be fought on several fronts, including changing the way we eat, exercise, and even changing the way our food system works in this country. Certain policies have led to the easy availability of cheap, unhealthy food. Reversing the obesity trend will be a neccessary fight in the next few decades, if we want to avoid a looming healthcare nightmare.

Read about the report from Reuters.

Idea #162 for July 30th, 2009: Tightening The Belt or Reversing The Obesity Trend

There have been a number of posts here on the topic of obesity. It’s an epidemic in this country, and while it’s undoubtedly a health concern for those who suffer from it, it is also a major contributor to ever-growing health expenditures. The journal “Health Affairs” published a study that claimed health problems related to obesity were responsible for $147 billion in health spending in 2008 — about 10% of all medical spending.

The average obese person spends 42% more on healthcare than others. When you consider that an astounding 30% of Americans are obese (the highest rate in the world) you can start to see why this is a $147 billion problem. Of course, combating this problem will take a lot effort on several different fronts, including encouraging Americans to be more physically active and changing their eating habits. Kathleen Sebelius indicated that some of the $1 billion earmarked for preventive health in the stimulus package will go towards fighting obesity. That’s a start, but this new report underscores the need for major action on the obesity crisis if we want to reduce health expenditures in the upcoming years.

For more, see this article in the NY Times and this story in the LA Times.

Idea #151 for July 19th, 2009: Weighty Topic or The Recession is Fattening Too

The economic crisis is affecting our nation’s health in multiple ways, one of which is our weight. People are turning to less expensive foods, which are often the least nutritious type, like fast food products. And some Americans have had to cut back on expenses like gym memberships, or are working longer hours and can’t make time to exercise, compounding the problem.

Stress, like that related to job-loss or financial trouble, is also related to weight gain. Regular exercise can actually combat that stress and help you lose weight at the same time. Some people are finding more economical ways to exercise too. For instance, people who once relied on personal trainers are finding it more practical to work out in groups. Reaching out to people who are having trouble making ends meet also makes sense. For instance, a Boston hospital has teamed up with a YMCA to educate people at risk for diabetes on better nutrition and exercise habits. Even something as simple as shopping seasonally for healthy produce can save money and lessen the chance of obesity. One thing is certain: forgoing exercise and healthy eating habits in a recession can only harm your overall health.

Read more about the issue here.

Idea #140 for July 8th, 2009: Widening Problem or Childhood Obesity Continues to Rise

Over the last year, not a single state recorded a decrease in its obesity rate. In 31 states, the adult obesity rate exceeds 25% (if you broaden the metric to include individuals who are considered just “overweight,” the national average is more like 66%). It’s a disturbing trend, but even more frightening is the prevalence of obesity among children. For kids ages ten to seventeen, the rate of obesity exceeds 30% in 30 states. In Mississippi, the childhood obesity rate is a shocking 44% — the highest in the nation.

Evidence shows that obese children usually carry that status into adulthood, so we can expect another big leap in adult obesity rates as this generation matures. The chronic illnesses associated with obesity like hypertension and diabetes will balloon in coming years if this epidemic is not addressed, and the costs of treating them will undoubtedly blow-up too. Whether it’s encouraging more physical fitness, steering them away from fast food, or even changing the lunchroom menu, something has to be done to make these trends go in the other direction, or we will be paying the price in a few decades.

Read more about the news here and here.