Poll: Many in U.S. in denial about weight

[CShine]

Many Americans are in denial about their weight problems, according to an Associated Press poll, although more than half say they have been on diets at some point. Those who do watch what they eat are more likely to trim fat than take the trendier approach of cutting carbohydrates. Such issues are on people's minds with the approach of summer, when many will try to squeeze into swimsuits without wincing in front of the mirror. In an overweight nation, just 12 percent say they are on diets right now, the AP-Ipsos poll found. Most people who have been on diets say they've regained at least some of the weight they had lost. Twenty-three percent say they've gained it all back.

"I've been up and down for many years - it is hard," said Ann Burris, a 59-year-old teacher from Tallahassee, Fla. "I've tried, and I understand nutrition, but it's a lack of self-discipline. I'm going to retire this year, and I want to try to get to a healthy weight."

Who's to blame for America's weight problem? More than three-quarters said individuals bear the responsibility for themselves, while 9 percent pointed to family and 8 percent blame fast-food restaurants.
The AP poll found that six in 10 who qualify as overweight under government standards say they are at a healthy weight. Only a quarter of those who are obese consider themselves very overweight, according to the poll conducted for the AP by Ipsos-Public Affairs.

People are unlikely to admit the severity of their weight problems for fear of being seen in a bad light, said Dr. William Dietz, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. Many also may be unfamiliar with government standards. "There have been lots of changes in food intake - fast foods, increased portion sizes, soft drink consumption," said Dietz, director of the CDC's division of nutrition and physical activity. Additionally, he said, people are exercising less nowadays.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apscience_story.asp?category=1500&slug=FIT%20Obesity%20AP%20Poll

[prole_for_peace]

1. i need to loose about 30 or 40 pounds

and i admit it is 95% my fault. i just can't control myself sometimes. the other 5% is a disk problem. i used to exercise everyday: weights, walking, step, tae bo. now i can only walk and then i have to break it down into 15 minute sets with a few minutes rest in between for my back to stop hurting.

[crossroads]

2. I am in denial

but I do need to lose about 20 lbs! This is a heavy thought...lol.
:eyes:

[kysrsoze]

12. Those of us who are more a bit skinnier aren't any better off.

I'm a good six months away from being in REALLY great shape, but I can't manage to stay in the gym regularly and I still smoke too much. Granted, there have been some extenuating circumstances, but I feel bad about not being in shape. For guys, like it or not, you normally have to have at least two of the three: brain, brawns or lots of money. Women just have to look good - not fair.

Anyway...I can't imagine being someone so obsessed about my weight that I starved myself or made myself throw up, but it happens. But this culture of extremely thin people doesn't make anyone else feel good about themselves. Personally, I like a woman who has some curves.

Regardless, so many people are messed up about weight, but at the same time there is so much obesity. The problems is that people don't take care of themselves the way they should and that Hollywood pushes this ideal skinny personal.

[mumon]

23. GREAT ARTICLE FROM THE GUARDIAN ABOUT THIS

Inequality is fattening


This obesity debate is full of humbug and denial. Fat is a class issue, but few like to admit that most of the seriously obese are poor. This is not about the nanny state telling Boris Johnson to keep off the claret in his club. It's about people like us telling people down there in the underclass to eat up their greens. Health professionals say "we" must take more exercise and stop eating fast food, but mostly they really mean "them".
It's an old story - trace it back to the poor laws. The middle classes like to worry about the morals, health and drag on public expenditure of the poor. Horrendous projections for what obesity will cost the NHS naturally worry taxpayers forking out to fill hospital beds with poor fat folk.

True, many of us middle classes are overweight, but most of the dangerously obese - the 22% with a body-mass index in the red zone - are to be found carless on council estates and not in the leafy suburbs where kids are driven to school in supertanker 4x4s. It is poor children at most risk of swelling up like balloons, in danger of losing limbs and eyesight to diabetes as they grow up. It's wrong to talk about "fat cats" when the privileged are usually thin and sleek with bodies well-exercised by gyms and personal trainers on diets of radicchio and sparkling water.



Truth is, alot of articles like the "denial of obesity" are denial about what the real problems are: bad wealth distribution.

I'd say about 100% of the stories published in the US that relate to problems of wealth distribution blame those who are most affected by it.

[wickerwoman]

3. Those "government standards" were designed for soldiers not cubicle-rats.

Probably half of them are a "healthy" weight but are considered over-weight by some largely arbitrary standard.

And "diet" is becoming an antiquated term. I'm trying to eat healthier so my allergies aren't as bad but I don't really care about losing weight, so it's not a diet. It's just a nice side-effect of changing my eating patterns. I think more and more people are rejecting the term diet. So it doesn't mean anything that only 12% consider themselves on one.

[bemildred]

4. If said "obese" persons are not worried about it,

what business is it of the governments? Why is the nanny-state
a good thing for citizens but a bad thing for corporations?
When did it become a requirement that citizens measure up to
government standards in their private lives?

[nodehopper]

6. it's a health issue

just like any other epidemic. Obesity is the fourth highest cause of death in the US.

[bemildred]

8. No shit? nt

[nodehopper]

18. Whoops, I responded to you below.

[TreasonousBastard]

21. No shit-- and here's what the government has to say about it...

http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/

[nodehopper]

17. No shit. Maybe even higher. Check this out:

Check this out:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A43253-2004Mar9.html



America's weight problem is rapidly overtaking cigarette smoking as the leading cause of preventable deaths, federal health officials reported yesterday.


Although tobacco is still the top cause of avoidable deaths, the widespread pattern of physical inactivity combined with unhealthful diets is poised to become No. 1 because of the resulting epidemic of obesity, officials said.

"Obesity is catching up to tobacco as the leading cause of death in America. If this trend continues it will soon overtake tobacco," said Julie L. Gerberding, director of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which conducted the study.

If current trends continue, obesity will become the leading cause by next year, with the toll surpassing 500,000 deaths annually, rivaling the number of annual deaths from cancer, the researchers found.

[jpgray]

5. I think the rallying cry of America these days is 'it's not my fault'

And with the example our government is currently setting, who can blame us?

;-)

(I'm pretty lean, but I apply the above to other problems liberally, believe me)

[stevedeshazer]

7. *burp*

Huh? You talkin' to me?

[PartyPooper]

9. I'm guilty as sin.

:spank:

[JayS]

10. AH!!!! We are fat...and we can't vote!!! :) n/t

n/t

[vajraroshana]

11. am I in denial?

I feel I'm on track, but could speed it up a bit. Jan. 2003, I was 5'6", 190 lbs. I decided to lose 10 lbs a year until I get to a healthier 145 or so. I'm down to 170, and think I can go a little faster. I just don't want that "yo-yo" effect to happen, so I'm wary of trying to lose it too fast. Lose a little and then maintain, lose a little and then maintain....It's hard getting out of a lifetime of sedentary habits, but it's starting to feel good.

Good luck everyone trying to become healthier by losing weight.

[Scottie72]

20. You are doing just fine....

You have the right approach!

In Jan. 2002. (I am 5'3") I weighed in at about 185 I don't believe I got my top weight because of how heavy I was at that time.

I was already going to the gym prior to that, I just used to go half-a@#. My diet was awful the year prior. I was probably eating at fast food type places 4-5 times a week for dinner. Though the year previous in Jan 2001 I quit smoking and still haven't had a smoke.

Now I decided to really try to lose weight. I just started to cut back on a lot. (Drink mainly water (very little soda 2-3 cans a week if that, I didn't eat out during the week. ) I started to watch my portion sizes. I stopped eating when I felt full, and saved the rest for later.

Now two years later I am currently 137 with about 15.5% body fat. It took my over two years to get below 140. It worked out to be about 20 pounds a year. I would of loved to have lost it faster, but I knew if I just kept at it that the weight would come off, and I would become healthier.

Remember to take it slow, and make changes to your diet that you are able to live with. Watch your portion sizes! You really only need to be overly concerned about carbs later in the day, get your carbs early in the day!

[amberdisc]

13. no prob

Last year I lived sometimes a week or more on bread and tea. I'm not blaming anything really. Attempts at a middle-aged paunch though didn't get far.;-)

[AndyTiedye]

15. If They'd Stop Shutting Down Raves We'd Get More Exercise

you can burn off quite a bit dancing all night.

[reprobate]

14. Denial is a river in africa. Do like I do.

Ignore it.

Works wonders for your attitude..

[Media_Lies_Daily]

16. Many Americans consider their weight to be the least of their worries.

[BiggJawn]

19. Weight's #3 worry for me...

Right behind "when will that asshole in the White House be gone" and "when am I gonna get laid again?"
Then comes the concern over weight.

I think #'s 1 and 3 have something to do with #2....

[JCMach1]

22. Glad to see they are polling the IMPORTANT issues this election

year


:grr: