My state is amongst the top 5 for fattest in the Nation

[RedBlaze]

Tennessee Is The Fourth Fattest State
Posted on December 09, 2009

Tennessee is ranked as the fourth fattest state in the nation, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Giles County and Lawrence County are among the highest ranked counties in the state for diabetes and obesity.

The South is a hotbed for diabetes and obesity, marked by a deep red cluster in a map in the CDC's new report. Tennessee ranks fourth fattest in the nation.

Continuously expanding waistlines at the state level have forced legislation, particularly in schools, to help change the future diabetes and obesity rates. According to an article in the Tennessean, more than 36 % of Tennessee children are obese.

A law in 2004 restricted the foods that could be served in schools and set standards for nutrition. Physical activity during the school day became mandatory.

Another state initiative to slow diabetes and obesity rates is the “Get Fit Tennessee” program. The one-stop website, www.getfittn.com offers resources to live a healthy lifestyle, though it requires personal initiative.

"To see a change in a population's behavior, what we're talking about is a culture change, and to do that is to require sustained attention at the state level, a local level and an individual level," said Dr. Veronica Gunn, chief medical officer for the state department of health.

"It has taken us generations to get this way, and it will take some long period of time to establish trends to consistently see improvements."


http://www.wksr.com/wksr.php?rfc=src/article.html&id=22734

[Kelly913]

Dec. 10, 2009 at 11:58 AM

I was going to make some smart a** comment, but couldn't think of a good one.  It surprises me though.  Maybe we'll notice while we're there next week?