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 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
December 2014 -
Shed post-Christmas pounds just by breathing
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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