FED UP - Health leaders take aim on Logan County obesity problem

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[January 27, 2015]  LINCOLN - Today's health statistics indicate that a shocking 30 percent of America is obese.

What's more disturbing, in Logan County 50 percent of adults and children have reached the definition of obese. That's 20 percent more of our population is obese compared to the national average.

Additionally, Logan County is the fattest county in Illinois.

Not only does obesity lead to serious health affects, but healthcare costs go up as well. Currently, 75 percent of healthcare dollars go to treating diseases related to dietary practices.

During the last five-year health assessment which reviews local statistics, the Logan County Department of Public Health identified obesity as the number one health issue that needed to be addressed.

As part of an initiative to fight against the obesity epidemic, the Healthy Community Partnership offered a free viewing of the documentary “FED UP” at the Lincoln Theater on Saturday, January 24.

A website for the movie states “Everything we’ve been told about food and exercise for the past years is dead wrong. FED UP is the film the food industry doesn’t want you to see.” The movie notes that even as Americans have spent billions of dollars to lose weight and even with the emphasis on fitness, obesity has become an epidemic with two out of every three Americans being obese. One expert claims that more people now die from obesity than starvation.

The documentary reveals many other interesting and surprising facts about these problems:

In 1977, the McGovern report released the first dietary guidelines, which recommended decreasing sugar intake. Since 1977, Americans have actually doubled their sugar intake and approximately 80% of foods have added sugar.

Food addiction is a biological problem. Studies show that sugar is like a “drug” and is eight times more addictive than cocaine.

In 2002, the World Health Organization wrote a Trial Report Series (TRS) 216 that showed sugar to be the cause of metabolic syndrome and recommended that no more than 10% of daily calories come from sugar.

The WHO report was never published because of a threat from the U.S. government to withhold funds.

Subsequently, the U.S. published guidelines recommending no more than 25% of calories from sugar.

In the movie it explains that all calories are not created equal. For instance, 160 calories of almonds is much better for you than 160 calories of sugar sweetened cola, because all the calories in cola are from processed simple sugars.

There are counter studies denying the link between sweet drinks and obesity. Not surprisingly, those studies are funded by beverage companies partnering with government agencies.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has the sometimes conflicted task of both increasing consumption of farm products and teaching healthy eating through nutrition guidelines.

From 2006-2010, there was an increase in marketing processed food to children, while no commercials for broccoli or carrots were shown.

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Over the years, many school cafeterias went from cooking whole foods to heating processed convenient foods. By 2010, over 50% of U.S. high schools served some kind of fast food. That same year, revised school lunch guidelines doubled the fruit and vegetables and limited salt, fat and calories. Many schools systems are no longer participating in school lunch programs because they have lost funding from contracts with various companies.

Children as young as 13-years-old are now undergoing bariatric surgery. Four obese children were interviewed in the movie and all discussed how difficult it is to lose weight with the many processed foods available to them. For example, by dinner many people have already exceeded the recommended daily allowance of sugar.

Among the approximately 50 people attending the Saturday event were several families.

Russell and Linda Bottom brought their two daughters. Linda says, “We brought our children to the movie so they would be more aware of the dangers of sugar and processed food."

After the movie ended, Healthy Communities Partnership executive director Angie Stoltenzenburg shared how the HCP is working to counteract the problem.

She cited the “5-2-1-0 Campaign,” which “promotes 5 fruits and vegetables, no more than 2 hours of screen time, at least 1 hour of activity, and 0 sugar-sweetened beverages to address the county's high obesity rate.” She said HCP is also working with the Logan County Regional Planning Commission to “bring outdoor trails to our community.”

Jennifer Dipasquale, ALMH’s certified diabetes educator, offered a Q and A time, answering questions about the differences in sugars in fruit and fruit juice, how to read labels, and how we can learn to cook healthier.

[Angela Reiners]

For further information:

Dipasquale encouraged attendees to visit www.fooducate.com  or download the app to help guide you toward healthier food choices.

Healthy Communities Partnerships is a community coalition in Logan County funded by the Abraham Lincoln Healthcare Foundation. To learn more about efforts and initiatives of the HCP, "like" HCP on Facebook or visit www.healthycommuntiespartnership.com

Related health articles

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December 2014 - Mediterranean diet linked to longer life

March 2014 - WHO tries added sugar guideline again: 10% of daily calories!

January 2013 - New studies show free sugars or sugar sweetened beverages a determinant of body weight  http://www.bmj.com/content/ 346/bmj.e7492

Overview of the "Sugar" Issues

 

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