One more reason to use Traineo. And here's the report itself.

This cannot be surprising though ... can it?

This could turn into a nasty political debate of the causes and the solutions. In the end though it is up to the individual to make the effort to change. Which is probably the toughest aspect as people tend to be highly resistant to change.

I for one and I would argue the majority of people signed up here see the effort and sacrifice as the cost of admission to a healthier and ultimately more fulfilling lifestyle.

Those are my 2 cents.

The figures themselves were not surprising to me, either, but I thought some here might be interested in the state by state grade (misery loves company?)

One thing did strike me as noteworthy: the description of obesity as an "epidemic". It's not clear whether those quoted are using that word in a purely descriptive sense (obesity is spreading "like" an epidemic) or asserting that obesity is itself a disease. If the latter, does that suggest that some policymakers who are considering this issue are treating the very factor that you highlighted--individual efforts to change--as somehow irrelevant to the problem or as less important than the average Traineo member would surmise? Or are they excusing other factors (restaurant portion sizes, etc) in an attempt to avoid looking for answers?

Food for thought. (pun intended!)

im not gona be part of it anymore... i have done a 360 for about 5-6 months now... from 320 too 280(I THINK) havent weighed in a while... so i say that... but no more

Way to go, Chris!

I think the main use of epidemic is that the media tends to sensationalize things. They like to make it sound like a disease that is spreading, and it isn't. It is all about personal responsibility and being conscious of our dining decisions.

We focus on what we like, instead of what our body needs. Food is a source of comfort, not a source of nourishment. We say we are hungry because we caught a whiff of someone else's hamburger instead of actually being hungry. We are a culture where food is readily available, and we don't keep in mind the affect it will have on our bodies. Not in the way we look, but the actual internals of what it changes.

Foods can be favorites, just like movies can be favorites and that is a problem for most people. Mainly because those favorites generally revolve around grease and preservative soaked foods. People crave hamburgers, and rarely spinach. These are the people that help the report have the affect that it has. So, there is something to blame: The restaurant industry. But placing the blame entirely on that isn't right. We can choose not to have those foods, and if enough people don't want the bad food they offer, they will begin offering healthier options.

It is tough, and most people don't want to spend the time thinking about what they put in their bodies. That is why a site like traineo with motivation and support really helps. Remind us lazy people where we actually stand with our diet.

I too am tempted to point fingers at the restaurant and junk food industry. The point that keeps coming to mind for me is that marketing and advertising only works if you allow yourself to believe the messages that are being messaged through our media in takes. A while ago I had to make a budget choice, I could either have cable TV or Internet access. I went with the internet. The difference it has made when I do watch TV is Ads are now entertainment versus a commercial mechanism. Not sure if that makes sense or not.

It's not bad to have sweets once in a while, even having a little something yummy once a day isn't bad. We, and by we I mean Americans and just people in general have to know how much we should have of that something sweet and let that be it. It one or two little sweets instead of the whole box. ;)