Posts from — February 2008

I read a lot of news articles and scan a ton of websites every day. I have been reading a lot about obesity and its effect throughout the world. America is leading the way, but our actions are now filtering into other countries changing the way people eat. Too bad it is not changing lives in a good way.

Here is a chunk from this Canadian column that I found interesting:

The numbers paint a disturbing picture. The United Nations says there are now more overweight people in the world than starving people. Cardiovascular disease – commonly caused by obesity – kills 17 million people every year. Type II diabetes fatalities are expected to grow by 50 per cent in the next decade.

Obesity is not new, but what’s surprising is that it now plagues the developing world, too. Obesity is on a dramatic rise in poor states, as impoverished locals are increasingly introduced to mass-produced imported food that’s often cheaper than their local fare.

“It’s a huge problem,” says Erin Blanding, a development expert and head of Life in Action, a Toronto-based health and lifestyle program. “Eating unhealthy food is what you do when you are poor.”

Processed food is becoming a staple in the diets of many developing countries, much of it coming from Western factories. Visit a local market in places like Ecuador or Malawi and you’re just as likely to see imported sugary cereals and juices as local produce. Outside, Big Macs are taking the place of traditionally prepared plantains and sweet potato biscuits.

Food high in fat and low in nutrients is cheaply made and easily shipped, which undercuts local prices. But shoppers who cannot afford anything else buy it.

Even rural farmers with access to their own healthy livestock or produce commonly trade what they can for larger quantities of processed food, just to ensure their families have enough to eat.

With this cycle, Blanding explains, “We aren’t giving people the choice to create better and healthier lives for themselves.”

Obesity once was a symbol of Western abundance and indulgence. Today, just as many people are overweight because they are filling their stomachs with whatever they can afford – and what they can afford is making them obese.

No workout today. I was supposed to go swimming, but ended up missing out because I was confused on when the pool had open swim hours. Oopsie. It happens, right? It is all okay, I had a killer workout yesterday. It honestly was a great workout. Anyway, I did a lot of walking and I might go do some situps or something to make up for the missed swim. Next Saturday I will know when I can go!!

My southern neighbors are crazy, it is official.

Three legislators in Mississippi want to make it illegal for restaurants to serve obese customers in Mississippi.

House Bill No. 282, which was introduced this month, says:

Any food establishment to which this section applies shall not be allowed to serve food to any person who is obese, based on criteria prescribed by the State Department of Health after consultation with the Mississippi Council on Obesity Prevention and Management established under Section 41-101-1 or its successor. The State Department of Health shall prepare written materials that describe and explain the criteria for determining whether a person is obese, and shall provide those materials to all food establishments to which this section applies. A food establishment shall be entitled to rely on the criteria for obesity in those written materials when determining whether or not it is allowed to serve food to any person.

The proposal would allow health inspectors to yank the permit from any restaurant that “repeatedly” feeds extremely overweight customers.

The bill, written by GOP Rep. W. T. Mayhall Jr., was referred to the Judiciary and Public Health committees, but is not expected to garner much support. Hopefully it will be turned down and a REAL solution to the state’s obesity problem.

More than 30 percent of Mississippi’s population is considered obese, so this bill will affect the entire state negatively. Overall 66.7% of the state’s population is considered overweight or obese (compared to Tenessee’s 65.3% haha). Discrimination against the obese will continue to negatively affect Mississippi residents.

Honestly, I just don’t understand this bill. It is NOT HELPFUL at all! It will cause the state’s restaurants to lose tons of money. It doesn’t encourage obese people to lose weight, it just punishes them for being overweight to begin with. Ridiculous! I always thought everyone in Mississippi thought backwards, and now I know they do.

A few other bloggers, here and here, have already weighed in on the subject. I am interested in hearing what everyone else thinks of this proposed law. Let me know!

It is only February, but I am looking forward to May. That is when I will run my first 5k and when my friend will compete in the Memphis in May Triathlon. Very exciting! Since it is snowing (a tiny little bit) I am enjoying thinking about warmer weather. I can’t wait for this cold to disappear so I can get outside.

Are you a triathlete? You can check out the Memphis in May Triathlon. Race capacity is 1700 racers and registration is open now. It is a great race with professionals and amateurs and some beginners. Here is what the website says:

We expect pro and amateur athletes from around the nation and the world to compete in the 1.5K swim, 40K bike and the 10K run event at Edmund Orgill Park in Millington, TN. The race is in a park setting within a mostly rural area of Millington. The bike course is flat and the run is moderately hilly. Average water temperature is between 65-75 degrees and the average high temperature is 82 with a low of 65 degrees (bring your wetsuits). Stay with us after the race to enjoy our hospitality tent (barbecue included), DJ, band and awards ceremony with cash awards and prizes.

I love it! The race is actually in the north part of Millington, where I lived for a long time. The bike part of the course goes past my friend’s house and I used to get frustrated when they closed the street down, but realized it is actually really fun to watch the racers. Memphis in May itself is amazing. If you have never been to Memphis, or never attended Memphis in May you should definitely come!

Memphis in May is a month long, city wide celebration which includes such favored events as the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, the Beale Street Music Festival and the Sunset Symphony. The mission of the Memphis in May Festival is to unite the city and involve its citizens in a cultural exchange and celebration with an honored foreign nation. The festival provides a unique opportunity for Memphians to enhance their cultural awareness of foreign lands through exhibits, lectures, sports and the arts. Each year a different country is honored, although over the years some countries have been recognized twice. Please visit the Official Memphis In May website at http://www.memphisinmay.org.

Thanks to my running/triathlon completing friends I am now a bit obsessed with triathlons, especially Ironman. I love reading about former fatties completing the race. I want to be there, or maybe just close to there one day. For now I will just keep reading.

Slow Fat Triathlete wrote a book about her tri adventures.

Michael Pate at When Big Boys Tri is a great inspiration for bigger athletes. He wrote a book too. Go figure.

Bonnie Crawford doesn’t have a book deal or a website (that I know of), but she completed the Ironman. Read about her here.