Why do you think we have such a high prevalence of poor health and obesity in America? I really need your feed back. Your voice will help frame a proposal to our legislature to make nutrition education mandatory in our schools and available to individuals and parents through community, business and church workshops. We must make creating health and the prevention of disease and illness a priority. It will cost much less to teach prevention than to provide health care and disease management. It will reduce the cost of health care for individuals, families, taxpayers and Corporate America.
In the coming months we will kickoff a campaign “Conquering Obesity” that will bring our collective voice to the public and state and federal government agencies. If you have a passion for health and would like to volunteer, we could certainly use your support. Unless we can bring a change to our American way of life, our children being born today will begin to develop disease and illness earlier than ever before. Please read the information below. I hope you will take part and help make Americans healthier than ever.
You can leave your comments below , email your thoughts or select your answer in my poll at http://www.conqueringobesity.net/health-survey–why-are-we-unhealthy-.html , feel free to select more than one answer if you think it applies, however please be serious when participating in this poll. The website is still under development.
It is our goal that families begin to understand the need for a shift to a healthy lifestyle so they and their children can enjoy a long healthy life. To bring about the change we are working to educate and motivate individuals, families, churches and businesses on the consequences of the current health trends and the benefits of a shift to healthier lifestyle.
According to statics from http://www.americashealthrankings.org, in 2009 the southern states and in-particular the southeastern states made up the cellar in health rankings across all states. In fact 7 of the 10 unhealthiest, positions 40 to 50, make up what I would consider southeastern states. You can view the individual state rankings here. In addition the same health monitoring organization predicts the prevalence of obesity in the United States is estimated to increase from the current level of 31.30% obese to 42.80% obese in 2018. I am sure you can imagine where the rates of diabetes, heart disease, stroke and some cancers are headed. All of these negative health conditions are preventable, even if you have a genetic history for them. Lifestyle behavior will trump genetics almost 100% of the time. Take look at some shocking health figures.
The current health trends in this country show a decrease in health and wellness across a broad spectrum of health categories. Our health care system is seeing increasing rates of serious adult diseases and health conditions occurring in America’s youth. We have children under twelve years of age developing high cholesterol, type II diabetes and hypertension. In fact the American Academy of Pediatrics recently updated their policy to recommend that children between the ages of two and ten are screened for high cholesterol if they or their family members are overweight or have experienced high lipid profiles. This has to stop.
Young adults are developing degenerative disease earlier than ever. America’s adults, in general have higher rates of heart and cardiovascular disease than most industrialized nations. Obesity is growing and diabetes is now reaching epidemic rates.
This demands and calls for an urgent paradigm shift in our culture. We must become active in our lifestyle and involved in the process of managing dietary needs for ourselves and our families. If your heritage is from the African-American or Hispanic culture you should be alarmed, the rates of obesity and it’s related diseases and illnesses are even higher for you.
We must change how we live. It has to start today. Every mother and father should make sure you are feeding your children healthy foods and providing them the opportunity for an active lifestyle. Please join us in our efforts to change the landscape of America’s health. Every journey begins with one step. Please take yours today and lets walk together on the journey to a healthy and vibrant life.
Wally’s Daily Dose
The Unhealthiest 14 States
| Florida | 36 |
| North Carolina | 37 |
| Missouri | 38 |
| Texas | 39 |
| Arkansas | 40 |
| Kentucky | 41 |
| West Virginia | 42 |
| Georgia | 43 |
| Tennessee | 44 |
| Nevada | 45 |
| South Carolina | 46 |
| Louisiana | 47 |
| Alabama | 48 |
| Oklahoma | 49 |
| Mississippi | 50 |