Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

BeyondGeography

(39,377 posts)
Tue Aug 6, 2013, 01:27 PM Aug 2013

Broad Decline in Obesity Rate Seen in Poor Young Children

Source: New York Times

The obesity rate among young children from poor families fell in 19 states and U.S. territories in recent years, federal health officials said Tuesday, the first major government report showing a consistent pattern of decline for low-income children.

The report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the latest to find declines in obesity among American children. Several cities have reported modest drops among school-age children, offering hints of a change in course. But gains were concentrated among whites and children from middle and upper income families, and were not consistent across the country.

Tuesday’s report covered the period from 2008 to 2011 and offered what researchers said was the clearest evidence to date that the obesity epidemic may be turning a corner for 2- to 4-year-old children from low-income families. Children from poor families have had some of the highest rates of obesity, which have remained elevated even as rates among more affluent children in some cities have started to drop.

One in eight preschoolers in the United States is obese. Among low-income children it is one in seven.

The cause of the decline remains a mystery, but researchers offered various theories, like an increase in breastfeeding and a drop in calories from sugary drinks. In interviews, parents suggested that they have become more educated in recent years, and so are more aware of the health issues associated with being overweight...




Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/07/health/broad-decline-in-obesity-rate-seen-in-poor-young-children.html?hp&_r=0
37 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Broad Decline in Obesity Rate Seen in Poor Young Children (Original Post) BeyondGeography Aug 2013 OP
Stravation will do that. Myrina Aug 2013 #1
Wrong BeyondGeography Aug 2013 #5
No, in the U.S., poverty causes obesity. SunSeeker Aug 2013 #9
Actual Starvation increases obesity rates happyslug Aug 2013 #18
Wow, I'm tempted to bookmark this post for the great camera information. Jamastiene Aug 2013 #30
Most photos are bad, a National Geo article is the result of something like 20,000 photos happyslug Aug 2013 #32
And some credit should go to Michelle for leadership on on this issue. pnwmom Aug 2013 #2
Yes to you and to anyone else who recognizes the great work she has done here BeyondGeography Aug 2013 #12
i agree. over some stiff opposition. mopinko Aug 2013 #25
Thanks Obama! christx30 Aug 2013 #27
I find it odd that Michelle Obama is not mentioned in this article frazzled Aug 2013 #3
Of course not. AtheistCrusader Aug 2013 #6
She was mocked & reviled for these efforts by many right-wingers. deurbano Aug 2013 #14
No it isn't. Igel Aug 2013 #19
"The report covered the years 2008-2011" frazzled Aug 2013 #21
Sorry...She is enormously popular and influential with many poor working women BeyondGeography Aug 2013 #22
If you actually read the article, you'd see that this report, covering 2008 - 2011, pnwmom Aug 2013 #29
The NYT article today has included Michelle Obama's contribution frazzled Aug 2013 #35
+1 to everyone who responded to you. Nine Aug 2013 #37
Don't know whether to laugh or cry. cliffordu Aug 2013 #4
Why? AtheistCrusader Aug 2013 #7
Well.... cliffordu Aug 2013 #8
Ok, I guess. AtheistCrusader Aug 2013 #11
Someone should credit Michelle Obama for her efforts Hekate Aug 2013 #10
Absolutely. n/t pnwmom Aug 2013 #13
YES!!!! SkyDaddy7 Aug 2013 #17
Good news EuroGame Aug 2013 #15
Thank-You Michelle Obama!! SkyDaddy7 Aug 2013 #16
Magnificat! n/t Igel Aug 2013 #20
Michelle OBama does deserve credit, i have noticed in areas that tend to be poor and were usually JI7 Aug 2013 #23
I absolutely commend our First Lady for her efforts regarding this issue Skittles Aug 2013 #24
One quarter of DU insist they feel let down and t wasn't what they voted for.nt pkdu Aug 2013 #26
Many poor mothers look up to the FLOTUS. Ilsa Aug 2013 #28
Michelle Obama really has made it a priority to encourage American kids to eat healthier Lugal Zaggesi Aug 2013 #31
That is a fabulous book, truly beautiful! I bought it for my daughter who was planting a garden last CTyankee Aug 2013 #34
Great news! Quantess Aug 2013 #33
My kid goes to summer day camp at the Y AngryAmish Aug 2013 #36

BeyondGeography

(39,377 posts)
5. Wrong
Tue Aug 6, 2013, 01:40 PM
Aug 2013
C.D.C. researchers also have chronicled a drop in overall calories for children in the past decade, down by 7 percent for boys and 4 percent for girls, but health experts said those declines were too small to make much difference.


Sorry to disappoint you, but the informed people quoted in the article (apart from the loon from Baylor) see this as a result of positive trends in the culture.

SunSeeker

(51,664 posts)
9. No, in the U.S., poverty causes obesity.
Tue Aug 6, 2013, 01:44 PM
Aug 2013

All poor people can afford is high calorie starch, like 25-cent a pack Ramen noodles. And their kids live in neighborhoods with few parks or opportunity to play outside. Sports have been curtailed at schools, particularly elementary schools. I know. I have a 9 year old and it costs a fortune to keep him signed up for all the teams he wants to play on. Poor families could never afford that.

But they appear to be learning not to just give their kids soda, that water is better. That alone can make a significant difference. Also, in some areas, a chubby kid was considered a healthy kid. That has slowly been changing.

 

happyslug

(14,779 posts)
18. Actual Starvation increases obesity rates
Tue Aug 6, 2013, 04:51 PM
Aug 2013

One of the old jokes of the Soviet Union was all the fat people on the beaches of the Black Sea, Why were they fat? They had starved during WWII. some almost to death. When food became avaliable they over ate and never lost the excess weight gained.

Similar situation are noted in the US, if you starve to lose weight, you lose the weight, but when you return to a "normal" diet you tend to over eat and put on even more weight. Thus the key is NEVER to get over weight, and if you do get overweight, lose the weight by reducing food intake to that the supports you at your "ideal" weight.

Side note: US Weight tables are considered by some experts to be about 10% UNDER what people's weight should be. The main rationale behind this is that when death rates are viewed in regards to weight, your life expectancy INCREASES till you are about 10% overweight (by traditional weight tables), then drops. i.e. if you are at your "Ideal" Weight or less you will DIE earlier then someone who is 10% over that weight. Now people who are more than 10% over weight also die earlier then someone who is only 10% over weight.

This has been known for over 50 years, but there has been a refusal to change the weight tables. Several reasons for this, first Doctors are used to the existing tables and hate changes, second the if someone is at their "Ideal" weight, their look better on film (Film has a tendency to make people look slightly fatter then in real life, mostly due to use of 50mm or smaller lens. The "Ideal" Lens for taking photos of people was and is 85mm for 35mm film. The problem is 85mm lens is a little use lens for most people opt for 50mm for it tends to take very good all around pictures. The 85mm lens with 35mm film tends to crop to much out of most photos, it is best used for photos of individuals not the out doors. The 50mm provided a wider field of view and thus better to take photos of people in motion and in the out doors (a 35mm lens, being even more wide angle, was best for indoor shots).

Yes, I know most people are using digital today, but most digital cameras are using lens derived from 35mm film cameras (or even smaller cameras), thus the distortion continues.

Second Side Note: 35mm lens are that a small lens. 35mm FILM is just that, film that is 35mm across. Other then width there is nothing in common between the 35mm in a 35mm lens and a 35mm film. I mention this so people do NOT confuse the two.

Jamastiene

(38,187 posts)
30. Wow, I'm tempted to bookmark this post for the great camera information.
Tue Aug 6, 2013, 10:18 PM
Aug 2013

I suck at photography, but that doesn't stop me from trying to get good pictures of all the wildlife that lives around me. This post contains some great info in case I ever get to buy a good camera. Would you mind if I ask you for more info when that time comes?

 

happyslug

(14,779 posts)
32. Most photos are bad, a National Geo article is the result of something like 20,000 photos
Wed Aug 7, 2013, 01:35 AM
Aug 2013

Last edited Wed Aug 7, 2013, 02:24 AM - Edit history (1)

And then National Geo uses something like 20-30 of them in the article and that was in the days of FILM. Today, with digital cameras who knows how many photos their take for an article.

As to your question of asking me about taking photos, I have no problem with you asking me but let me go over some comments about taking photos:

Just remember that most photos are bad when taken. This is especially true of "Action" shoots, such as taking photos on animals. Accept that fact and you will enjoy taking photos and will sooner or later find one you took that is great.

Digital Cameras often use Single Lens Reflex (SLR) terminology as "equivalent". Most SLR are and were 35 mm (Through many are now digital) thus it is a good reference point.

Presently I am using a simple digital camera, that are one step below SLR, for I have a habit of breaking them. I dislike the real cheap ones, so I go the step below SLR Cameras. I dislike them for their f-stops are to "high". The lower a lens "F-Stop" the quicker it can operate and take action photos (and night photos). I once owned a SLR with a 50mm 1.7 F stop lens. It worked nice on action shots, animals and at night. I was into photography at that time and thought about replacing it with a 1.4 f-stop 50mm lens, but the price kept me back (the 1.4 f-stop was twice the cost of a f stop 1.7 50mm lens I was using),

When I was using a SLR, my favorite lens was a 70-210 variable lens with a 4.0 f Stop. Could not take good photos with it at night and hard to use in quick action shots, but for most Photos good enough. Larger zooms were just to heavy, smaller zones brought with them the question of "Why" given most of the smaller variable lens, had higher f-stops then a 50mm lens.

At present, I am using a zoom lens with a 2.8 f-stop (2,8 to 4 f-stop, not only the zoom varies so does the f-stop). Please note it is NOT an SLR and does NOT use interchangeable lenses. It is NOT a great lens, but good enough for most photos I want to take, of bike trails, bikes, my dogs and any animals I run across. It cost just under $200 so when I break it (and I will) it will not be like if I broke a $500 SLR with a $1200 zoom lens. You must keep things in prospective. My sister has an SLR that runs $800 and I brought her a 70-200 zoom F4 lens for it for about $1200. It is a Digital Camera and a very good camera. If I wanted a SLR, it is the combination I would get. The Camera is about 10 years old (it uses one of first screens a digital camera had to review your pictures, but the same model today has a much larger screen then she has).

On non-SLR cameras, you have to try to get the lowest F-stop you can. Most bottom at, at about f 2.8. When buying a Zoom, check the lens zooming ability. Now, in recent years I do NOT see Camera bragging about their "Electronic" zooms like they did about 10 years ago. People had caught on that electronic zooms can be done at home on your computer IF THE PHOTO IS SHARP ENOUGH, and to be sharp enough the LENS (Optical) ZOOM has to be the highest possible with the lowest f-stop. i.e. Optical Zoom is more important then electronic zoom.

Here is roughly what I am using today: This is what B&H Photo is selling for $194. The Fuji I am using is about three years old (about time for me to break it) and has only a 18 x zoom, unlike the 40 x this one has.



http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/919913-REG/fujifilm_16301535_finepix_s4800_digital_camera.html

Notice when you read the write up, f stop is f/3.1-5.9 (it is mentioned in the write up BUT not the list of Highlights&quot . 30x Optical Zoom in Mentioned, "35mm Equivalent Focal Length:24-720mm" is mentioned. given 720 divided by 23 equals 30, the 30 x means 30 times what you would get from a 24mm wide angle lens NOT a 50mm "Normal" lens. Thus its real zoom is 720 divided by 50 or 14X. It is a high end NON-SLR camera. Do NOT compare it with a SLR.

Please note mega pixels is 16.2 mega pixels. Anything over 10 is considered good. Kodachrome, the premier film is considered to be the equivalent of 20 megapixels. Other Color Films are NOT as high in mega Pixels equivalence, generally around 10 mega pixels, thus 16 is very good.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodachrome

Please Note Kodachrome is no longer in production AND no longer can not be processed. This is the result of low end Digital cameras both breaking the 10 megapixel level AND high end cameras (see Hasselblad below) doing 2-3 times as good as Kodachrome use to do.

SLR 35mm like digital camera are hitting 20 megapixels.

Now my sister has a EOS 50 (no longer made) it was replaced by the EOS 60 (18 megapixels), which is in the process of being replaced by the EOS 70 (20 megapixels), Here is the EOS 60, which sells for $599 with no lens.



http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/732047-REG/Canon_4460B003_EOS_60D_DSLR_Camera.html

About 5-10 years ago I purchased for her a zoom lens, autofocus f-4.0



http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/919915-REG/fujifilm_16303014_finepix_s6800_digital_camera.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/12129-USA/Canon_2526A004_400mm_f_5_6L_USM_Autofocus.html

I suspect the lens will outlast the Camera Body, AND can be used on later Canon Autofocus Cameras.

Notice, the total comes to over $1800 dollars. She gets very good photos, but some of mine are as good.

If you want sticker shock, look at the Hasselblad. Hasselblads digital cameras have 40-60 megapixels capacity but at $16-42,000 dollars, way out of my price range.

I like my sister's camera, but I also like mine. I am more willing to risk breaking mine then she of hers. Technically my camera has more zoom then she does, but given her lens are that much larger then more they take in more light and thus better photos. The issue is one of give and take. In most situation I would opt for the high end NON-SLR camera like I am using. I really do NOT see an real advantages to SLR EXCEPT if you are a professional photography (or want photos like a professional).

The real advantage of a Camera is you USING IT. Expect a lot of bad photos to go with the few great ones (most will be just "good&quot . Practice helps. i.e. the more photos you take the better photos you will take.

One last comment on f-stops Technically a F-stop is the ratio between how LARGE the lens is and its "focal point". The Focal point is the point behind the lens where the image comes into focus (in Camera where the film is, or in digital photography where the image is created). In cheaper lenses, to increase magnification the focal point is pulled rearward (or the lens forward), this has the side affect of increase the focal point length and with it the f-stop of the lens. In better lenses, the focal point remains the same as does the f-stop for the glasses in the lens increase the magnification (Generally by having the distance between the glasses in the lens increase, thus you have many pieces of glass in such lenses, but the distance from the final glass to the focal point remains the same. Not only more pieces of glass are needed, you also need larger pieces of glass in such lenses and why they cost so much).

As to cheaper lenses. Makers of Camera and their lenses often try to LIE about their F-Stops, for example the following:

f/2.9 (W) - 6.5 (T) to f/19

Sounds like it has a F-stop of 2.9, but only it is wide angle mode (in this camera when it is a 24mm). Its "Telephoto" (the (T) in the above specification) F-stop is 6.5 to 19 i.e its f-stop for anything over 50 mm equivalence is 6.5 to 19. Terrible numbers, only usable in bright sun light. i.e. if it is sunny you can use the Zoom, if it is overcast, all you will get is a blur at moderate to high zooms. 16 is considered a cut off on f-stops. Higher F-Stops means Sunlight is NOT bright enough. F8 is considered a good balance in most situations assuming bright sunlight and little action. More action or less sunlight means you need a lower f-stop.

Canon produces a 800 mm telephoto (NOT a Zoom) lens with an F stop of 5.6 for over $12,000. Why? To take long distance photos. a F-stop of 5.6 is about the max you want unless you are taking a photo under "ideal" circumstances, i.e. full sunlight and the subject is standing still.

More on F-stops:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-number

Please note, high f-stops do have good points. For example if you have some question as to the distance, a high f-stop minimize any chance of blurring by having the increase depth of field obtained with higher f-stops. A lot of photos of mountains, lakes etc are done with high f-Stops to get the whole mountain or lake in the photo.

mopinko

(70,198 posts)
25. i agree. over some stiff opposition.
Tue Aug 6, 2013, 09:32 PM
Aug 2013

i have a friend who does inspection and enforcement for free lunched. he says the pushback on the new regs, and against michelle personally, have been just incredible.

frazzled

(18,402 posts)
3. I find it odd that Michelle Obama is not mentioned in this article
Tue Aug 6, 2013, 01:32 PM
Aug 2013

She has been focused very audibly and visibly on this subject for 5 years now. Does she get no credit for a part of what is instigating these changes?

deurbano

(2,895 posts)
14. She was mocked & reviled for these efforts by many right-wingers.
Tue Aug 6, 2013, 02:10 PM
Aug 2013

Somehow the giving her credit part is not as loud. (Or audible at all.)

Igel

(35,350 posts)
19. No it isn't.
Tue Aug 6, 2013, 05:18 PM
Aug 2013

Her efforts have been well publicized among some, but invisible to others.

The change has been happening over 10 years. Do you really want to say that what she's been doing for 3 years had an effect 4 years before her husband was elected President?

What has changed has been a collective effort by many thousands of people. She gets 1/ several-thousandths of the credit.

Hagiography is best left to the theologians and monks and AFAIK her name hasn't been sent to the proper committee for even beatification. In this case, the real change has been among parents. What MO has said is basically "eat organic." What's changed is probably more in line with Bloomberg's "don't drink large quantities of sugar."

And, as the article points out, seeing somebody aged 16 that weighs 300 lbs and has Type II diabetes and a very expensive, very restricted diet to keep him out of a coma has a certain focusing effect. When this one kid came to class with a very nasty diet instead of his usual pocket of candy, when he asked to be allowed to go to the nurse to stick his finger instead of being sent to the principal's office because he needed that dose of candy 30 minutes after he polished off a 1000 calorie lunch, it had an impact. He was worth a thousand Michelle Obamas.

frazzled

(18,402 posts)
21. "The report covered the years 2008-2011"
Tue Aug 6, 2013, 05:26 PM
Aug 2013

Not ten years. That's right in the NYT article linked in the OP (and the CDC report its based on, below). Did you read it? Vitriol is best left to the ideologues and haters.

Results: During 2008–2011, statistically significant downward trends in obesity prevalence were observed in 18 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Florida, Georgia, Missouri, New Jersey, South Dakota, and the U.S. Virgin Islands had the largest absolute decreases in obesity prevalence, each with a decrease of ?1 percentage point. Twenty states and Puerto Rico experienced no significant change, and obesity prevalence increased significantly in three states.

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm62e0806a1.htm


BeyondGeography

(39,377 posts)
22. Sorry...She is enormously popular and influential with many poor working women
Tue Aug 6, 2013, 05:41 PM
Aug 2013

who decide what their babies eat and drink. This was a great and good use of her power as First Lady and it's not a stretch at all to think she has played a role in the improvement documented by this study.

pnwmom

(108,990 posts)
29. If you actually read the article, you'd see that this report, covering 2008 - 2011,
Tue Aug 6, 2013, 09:56 PM
Aug 2013

was the FIRST time the statistics have shown a reduction in obesity rates.

So you're flat wrong in saying that the change has been happening for 10 years.

Some people just can't stand to give any credit to the Obama's no matter what.

frazzled

(18,402 posts)
35. The NYT article today has included Michelle Obama's contribution
Wed Aug 7, 2013, 10:40 AM
Aug 2013

and mentions the 10,000 day care centers across the nation that signed on to her program.

That's a lot of poor young kids who are getting better nutrition and exercise because of the intense focus she put on the subject and the specific programs she was able to put into place.

It was the most effective campaign I've ever seen a first lady conduct.

Hekate

(90,779 posts)
10. Someone should credit Michelle Obama for her efforts
Tue Aug 6, 2013, 01:48 PM
Aug 2013
The cause of the decline remains a mystery, but researchers offered various theories, like an increase in breastfeeding and a drop in calories from sugary drinks. In interviews, parents suggested that they have become more educated in recent years, and so are more aware of the health issues associated with being overweight...

Such a mystery, when Michelle has made healthy eating by kids and educating their parents her most visible priority.

You go, girl.

SkyDaddy7

(6,045 posts)
17. YES!!!!
Tue Aug 6, 2013, 03:46 PM
Aug 2013

I did before I saw your post!!

Thank-you Michelle!! Obviously that COMMUNIST idea that kids should get off the couch & exercise while schools should provide healthy food must be working!! LOL!!

EuroGame

(10 posts)
15. Good news
Tue Aug 6, 2013, 02:16 PM
Aug 2013

Whatever the reason. If this means poor families, because of even bigger poverty, have to cut back on sugary drinks and lays chips etc, it's all for the better. It's the reason there wasn't much obesity in the previous century also. These non-essential, unhealthy 'foods and drinks' have to become a much smaller part of Westnern 'cuisine'. If the financial crisis and sluggish economy are the cause of it, so be it.

PS, as a European, there isn't much difference between US and European eating patterns. There are McDonalds and Burger Kings around every corner here as well. The difference might be in food regulations. When your administration (Obama makes big steps here) regulates a lot of crap OUT of food, you'll see obesity decline even more. Things like pink slime, that would raise the cost only a few cents, need to be yesteryear's news. Regulate and subsizide healthy foods for lower income people. Mandate healthy foods for schools and government dependents. Make sure food stamps and cards can only be used to buy healthy foods, and not a single drop of sugary drinks etc. This might sound 'too intrusive' to those great American individualist h/zero's, but that's the way to get things done. The government has a VERY big role to play in ordinary peoples lives, and even more so when those people are dependent on the government.

JI7

(89,262 posts)
23. Michelle OBama does deserve credit, i have noticed in areas that tend to be poor and were usually
Tue Aug 6, 2013, 05:59 PM
Aug 2013

full of mostly fast food crap starting to get some better alternatives.

and i have read about poorer areas holding farmers markets, encouring riding a bike and there have been more bike lanes created.

 

Lugal Zaggesi

(366 posts)
31. Michelle Obama really has made it a priority to encourage American kids to eat healthier
Tue Aug 6, 2013, 10:54 PM
Aug 2013


As she's done for the last three years, First Lady Michelle Obama is getting her hands dirty sowing seeds in the White House kitchen garden this spring. When Mrs. Obama began envisioning a garden during the 2008 presidential campaign, "it was just a pipe dream," she said. "And then it started unfolding in a way that I couldn't have imagined, where we've produced thousands of pounds of food." The garden was one of the first efforts in her "Let's Move" campaign to help kids eat healthier, exercise more and encourage food manufacturers to offer healthier options. Mrs. Obama tells the story of the garden, including how daughters Sasha and Malia helped inspire its creation, in her new book American Grown (Crown, May 2012). The book features easy garden plans and mouthwatering recipes from White House chefs.

http://www.eatingwell.com/food_news_origins/food_news/a_recipe_from_first_lady_michelle_obamas_cookbook_american_grown


On Wednesday, First Lady Michelle Obama launched her third “Let’s Move!” tour to combat childhood obesity. Before she kicked off the tour in Mississippi, Illinois, and Missouri, Mrs. Obama appeared on “Good Morning America” to praise her campaign’s success in changing children’s eating and exercise habits. She also unveiled Let’s Move latest initiative, the MyPlate Recipe Partnership geared toward parents looking for easy, nutritious recipes.

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/02/28/1642911/big-food-lets-move/

CTyankee

(63,912 posts)
34. That is a fabulous book, truly beautiful! I bought it for my daughter who was planting a garden last
Wed Aug 7, 2013, 08:26 AM
Aug 2013

summer when the book came out. I gave it to her for her birthday. Her garden is going great guns. She's learning what to plant less of, however, since she has been inundated by her kale crop! Her neighbor has been her inspiration. She plans to put in a few fruit bearing trees in the future...

 

AngryAmish

(25,704 posts)
36. My kid goes to summer day camp at the Y
Wed Aug 7, 2013, 02:55 PM
Aug 2013

THey have kids from preschool through grade school.

I am shocked at how many of these kids are obese. Not a little tubby but with guts hanging over their pants, thighs rubbing together all of it. When I was a kid every class had a fat kid, now it seems 1/2 the kids are fat.

I feel really bad for them - those that can hardly run.

Now excuse me while I get that onion on my belt...

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Broad Decline in Obesity ...