Page 3 of 5
Ironically, in looking at the general population, it's the poor and minorities who tend to be the heaviest, with the Southeast leading the way in the country's growing weight problem. Many experts blame the fast food industry for this development, particularly how their aggressive marketing techniques crowd out access to healthier foods in inner cities. Some even compare it to how tobacco companies targeted inner-city minority communities in the 1990s.
"Income level has a lot to do with one's awareness of obesity and what you do about it," said Schumacher. "The more education and money you have, the easier it is for you to join a health club or purchase exercise equipment for your home. It's also easier to afford the lower-calorie foods."
"Have you ever really looked at the price of fruits and vegetables?" asked Dr. John Cleek, of the Carolina Weight Management and Wellness Center. "They're relatively expensive compared to macaroni and cheese, hot dogs and beans. A lot of it is just pure and simple economics."
Another big culprit contributing to our expanding waistlines is our sedentary lifestyle. According to TV Free America, the average American watches at least four hours of TV a day -- of course, for many folks that's after sitting at the computer for eight hours during work. Making matters worse is that only one in five Americans exercise on a regular basis, according to NPD Research.
There is also the little matter of our growing reliance on the automobile. Remember walking? Most folks don't. Even if it's just down the block for a loaf of bread, we're going to drive. And we're going to park as close to the front door as possible. And can you imagine having to actually move your arm to raise or lower the car windows? Of course not. Just flip the switch.
Then there's genetics, perhaps the most debated part of the obesity equation. Are some folks genetically doomed to be obese? Or is it an excuse to cover up for laziness and lack of control? The consensus seems to be that while genetics certainly play a role, it's not the determining factor in one's weight. At least it doesn't have to be.
"The best estimations from scientific literature say that only about 30 percent of obesity cases are accounted for by genetics," said Cleek. "Our gene pools haven't changed over the last 10 to 20 years, during which time we've seen this dramatic surge in obesity. Gene pools take thousands of years to make big changes. The only thing that's changed is our lifestyle."
"There is no doubt genetics play a role," added Schumacher. "If it didn't, then why is it that most people have the same body type as their family and relatives? So while there is a genetic component to obesity, it still needs to be looked at as how many calories is someone consuming, and how many are they burning."
Lifestyles and choices
It's 6am on Monday. While most of us are still some time away from hitting the snooze button, George Holt and Kris Eldred are both working up a sweat on the treadmill. They're at the Carolina Weight Management and Wellness Center in Pineville, which is managed by Dr. Cleek. Holt and Eldred are with about a half-dozen other folks who have ventured out to exercise during the pre-dawn hours. All of them have been diagnosed as obese. When Holt, 43, first started coming to the Center last November, he weighed over 500 pounds, was essentially immobile, had severe sleep apnea, and was a social recluse.
"I was about as bad as you could get," Holt said. "My joints hurt all the time. I was always tired. I couldn't even get a haircut or go to the movies because I was too big for the seats. Just going to the grocery store was a major ordeal. I could only buy enough food for one meal because I couldn't stand to be on my feet. By the time I got to the register my back would be killing me and I'd be out of breath."
Like most folks doing battle with the bulge, it's been an ongoing struggle, and Holt's weight has fluctuated greatly. In 1990 he weighed 300 pounds. He went on a crash diet, started exercising obsessively, and eventually got down to an unhealthy 150 pounds, going from a size 46 to a 29-inch waist in less than a year. "I was skin and bones," he said. "I looked like I just came out of a death camp."
Then, as is often the case with folks who use extreme measures to lose weight, he started packing the fat back on. By November of last year, he surpassed 500 pounds. Holt's regular physician referred him to Cleek. An initial assessment was done, and in addition to various health problems caused by his weight, Holt was also diagnosed with a thyroid disorder, which, at least in part, was contributing to his weight gain. Cleek put Holt on the Center's multi-disciplinary weight management program, which consists of nutrition, lifestyle counseling and access to an exercise facility. Holt jumped in with both feet.