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



 
 
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  #1  
Old May 29th, 2004, 05:35 PM
Neutron
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Default Poll: Many in U.S. in denial about weight

Friday, May 28, 2004 =B7 Last updated 7:57 p.m. PT

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

By WILL LESTER
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

WASHINGTON -- 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 blamed
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.

About two-thirds in the poll said they have tried to start regular programs=

of physical exercise in the last year.

When asked which health risk posed the greatest danger to Americans today,
most in the AP-Ipsos poll said unhealthy eating habits.

The AP-Ipsos poll asked people their height and weight and used a
government formula to determine if they were overweight.

About half, 49 percent, qualified as overweight or obese, based on their
reported height and weight. However, respondents in a telephone poll could
be inclined to understate their weight, and men were more likely than women=

to report weights that would make them officially overweight.

Only 36 percent in the AP poll described themselves as overweight, just
over half the number considered overweight by government standards.

A 1999-2000 government study of nutrition found that almost two-thirds of
Americans are either overweight or obese.

Almost one in six said being overweight is a major problem for them or
someone in their family. More than half said it was at least a minor
problem.

A majority in the poll, 56 percent, said they attempt to restrict fat in
their diets, while 33 percent said they try to restrict carbohydrates,
foods like bread and pasta. Low-carb approaches like the Atkins diet have
been around for decades but have grown increasingly popular in the last few=

years.

"It's not surprising that a good percentage are sticking with the lowfat
diets they knew about when they grew up," said Eric Rimm, a nutrition
specialist at the Harvard School of Public Health.

Jennifer Bryan, a 36-year-old massage therapist in Coronado, Calif., said
exercise is the key component since she has had to focus more on her weight=

in recent years.

"I'm not overweight on anybody else's standards," said the former NFL
cheerleader. "I've always had a magnificent, fantastic body. But it's all
about exercise."

In that group of people who have dieted in the past, almost four in 10 said=

they gained back most of the weight they lost, and about as many said they
gained back some of the weight.

"My problem is that I have no approach to it at all," said Jim Lunger, a
44-year-old market researcher from Louisville, Ky. "I know it can be a
health problem, but what a way to go."

The AP-Ipsos poll of 1,000 adults was taken May 17-19 and has a margin of
sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

---



  #2  
Old May 30th, 2004, 05:36 AM
Steve Bukosky
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Posts: n/a
Default Poll: Many in U.S. in denial about weight

On 29 May 2004 16:35:51 -0000, Neutron wrote:


More than three-quarters said individuals bear the responsibility for
themselves, while 9 percent pointed to family and 8 percent blamed
fast-food restaurants.


Does it matter? I don't think so. I was raise by parents that went
through the depression. When in high school and college, student
discounts usually amounted to two food items for the price of one.
When I married, the in-laws always treated us like we weren't eating
enough. Any church celebration was around food. So, there are many
reasons why a person get overweight.

In our free society, a fault of it is that we do not look out for our
brothers and sisters. Once I became diabetic, my doctor gave me a
pamphlet on cutting down on calories. As my blood pressure went up,
more medication was prescribed. Yes, my weight was taken and mentioned
at each visit but no one really told me that my weight was getting
out of control. In my eyes, I did not appear all that heavy. Does it
matter? After all this is a free society. I am free to eat myself to
an early death, or worse.

We do not live in a vacuum. My being overweight has been a burden on
my health insurance company, family and coworkers. I sit here
recovering from expensive foot surgery due to my overweight condition.
Ironically, it is from doing many miles of hiking on the weekends in
an attempt to burn off calories!

Being overweight affects more than the individual so I think it is the
communities responsibility to help and support those headed in the
wrong direction. More emphasis on wellness would go a long way. We
tax cigarettes and booze. Maybe it is time to tax the blubber food
purveyors.
  #3  
Old May 30th, 2004, 01:38 PM
Steve
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Posts: n/a
Default Poll: Many in U.S. in denial about weight

Steve Bukosky wrote:

Being overweight affects more than the individual so I think it is the
communities responsibility to help and support those headed in the
wrong direction. More emphasis on wellness would go a long way. We
tax cigarettes and booze. Maybe it is time to tax the blubber food
purveyors.


I agree.

The fat and obesity epidemic impinges on the welfare of society as a whole

I disagree.

It is not the responsibility of society to turn people going in the
wrong direction around.

Aside from the super tiny minority with medical issues it was the
individual who made fattening choices and it in the end it will be the
individual who makes the decision to slim down.

If someone is an adult it was their decision making, their choices.

It behooves society to provide support for individualls who want to
change and it behooves society to encourage people to change, but it is
not socieities responsibility.

Steve
  #4  
Old May 30th, 2004, 03:03 PM
*bicker*
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Posts: n/a
Default Poll: Many in U.S. in denial about weight

A Sun, 30 May 2004 08:38:17 -0400, Steve
escribió:
It behooves society to provide support for individualls who want to
change and it behooves society to encourage people to change, but it is
not socieities responsibility.


Sounds good to me, but with one add-on. It behooves society
to find a way to place the costs of unhealthy behaviors
squarely on those who exhibit those behaviors, and relieve
society of those costs.


--
bicker®
Watch Good Morning America on June 1 to meet members of
the National Weight Control Registry, who share their
experiences losing weight and keeping weight off for
life.
  #5  
Old May 30th, 2004, 03:30 PM
Steve
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Poll: Many in U.S. in denial about weight

*bicker* wrote:
A Sun, 30 May 2004 08:38:17 -0400, Steve
escribió:

It behooves society to provide support for individualls who want to
change and it behooves society to encourage people to change, but it is
not socieities responsibility.



Sounds good to me, but with one add-on. It behooves society
to find a way to place the costs of unhealthy behaviors
squarely on those who exhibit those behaviors, and relieve
society of those costs.


My add-on to your add-on....spread the cost to the organizations that
encourage those behaviours as well.

Amen.
  #6  
Old May 30th, 2004, 03:45 PM
*bicker*
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Poll: Many in U.S. in denial about weight

A Sun, 30 May 2004 10:03:00 -0400, *bicker*
escribió:
bicker®
Watch Good Morning America on June 1 to meet members of
the National Weight Control Registry, who share their
experiences losing weight and keeping weight off for
life.


Ack. Sorry folks. Just got word from Good Morning America
that this will probably be on June 2 instead. Surely
sometime during the week, but they're reluctant to
specifically say which day.


--
bicker®
Watch Good Morning America on June 2 to meet members of
the National Weight Control Registry, who share their
experiences losing weight and keeping weight off for
life.
  #7  
Old May 30th, 2004, 07:53 PM
Lady Veteran
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Poll: Many in U.S. in denial about weight

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

On Sun, 30 May 2004 04:36:13 GMT, Steve Bukosky
wrote:

On 29 May 2004 16:35:51 -0000, Neutron wrote:



More than three-quarters said individuals bear the responsibility
for themselves, while 9 percent pointed to family and 8 percent
blamed fast-food restaurants.


Does it matter? I don't think so. I was raise by parents that went
through the depression. When in high school and college, student
discounts usually amounted to two food items for the price of one.
When I married, the in-laws always treated us like we weren't eating
enough. Any church celebration was around food. So, there are many
reasons why a person get overweight.

In our free society, a fault of it is that we do not look out for
our brothers and sisters. Once I became diabetic, my doctor gave me
a
pamphlet on cutting down on calories. As my blood pressure went up,
more medication was prescribed. Yes, my weight was taken and
mentioned at each visit but no one really told me that my weight
was getting
out of control. In my eyes, I did not appear all that heavy. Does
it matter? After all this is a free society. I am free to eat myself
to an early death, or worse.

We do not live in a vacuum. My being overweight has been a burden
on my health insurance company, family and coworkers. I sit here
recovering from expensive foot surgery due to my overweight
condition. Ironically, it is from doing many miles of hiking on the
weekends in an attempt to burn off calories!

Being overweight affects more than the individual so I think it is
the communities responsibility to help and support those headed in
the
wrong direction. More emphasis on wellness would go a long way. We
tax cigarettes and booze. Maybe it is time to tax the blubber food
purveyors.


No. taxing the hell out of something is not the answer. When people
learn that positive reinforcement works much better then ridicule
people will lose weight. Regardless, eating, just like most any other
things is an individual choice and one must live with the result
unless one does something about it. Only idiocy will try to force the
issue and try ridicule as a solution.

I am assuming you are talking about your own situation and blubber
and no one else's, right?

Why do you think that the other groups listed here are interested in what the
original poster had to say? You like being troll bait?

LV


Lady Veteran
- -----------------------------------
"I rode a tank and held a general's rank
when the blitzkrieg raged and the bodies stank..."
- -Rolling Stones, Sympathy for the Devil
- ------------------------------------------------
People who hide behind anonymous remailers and
ridicule fat people are cowardly idiots with no
motive but malice.
- ---------------------------------------------
"To Do Is To Be" Socrates
"To Be Is To Do" Plato
"Do Be Do Be Do" Sinatra
- -------------------------------


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  #8  
Old May 30th, 2004, 07:56 PM
Lady Veteran
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Poll: Many in U.S. in denial about weight

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

On Sun, 30 May 2004 10:03:00 -0400, *bicker*
wrote:

A Sun, 30 May 2004 08:38:17 -0400, Steve
escribió:
It behooves society to provide support for individualls who want
to change and it behooves society to encourage people to change,
but it is not socieities responsibility.


Sounds good to me, but with one add-on. It behooves society
to find a way to place the costs of unhealthy behaviors
squarely on those who exhibit those behaviors, and relieve
society of those costs.


I think the cost should be share by those who deliberately go out of
their way to ridicule people who happen to be obese. It only
intensifies the problem. That way there would be a solution to both
problems-the people who WANT to lose weight can get assistance and
the idiots who can't keep their opinions to themselves when they hurt
others can feel the pain they cause to some.

LV


Lady Veteran
- -----------------------------------
"I rode a tank and held a general's rank
when the blitzkrieg raged and the bodies stank..."
- -Rolling Stones, Sympathy for the Devil
- ------------------------------------------------
People who hide behind anonymous remailers and
ridicule fat people are cowardly idiots with no
motive but malice.
- ---------------------------------------------
"To Do Is To Be" Socrates
"To Be Is To Do" Plato
"Do Be Do Be Do" Sinatra
- -------------------------------


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Version: PGP 8.0 - not licensed for commercial use: www.pgp.com

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  #9  
Old May 30th, 2004, 07:58 PM
Lady Veteran
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Poll: Many in U.S. in denial about weight

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

On Sun, 30 May 2004 10:30:42 -0400, Steve
wrote:

*bicker* wrote:
A Sun, 30 May 2004 08:38:17 -0400, Steve
escribió:

It behooves society to provide support for individualls who want
to change and it behooves society to encourage people to change,
but it is not socieities responsibility.



Sounds good to me, but with one add-on. It behooves society
to find a way to place the costs of unhealthy behaviors
squarely on those who exhibit those behaviors, and relieve
society of those costs.


My add-on to your add-on....spread the cost to the organizations
that encourage those behaviours as well.


And which organizations are those? Who is going to define these
"unhealthy behaviors?" Not you, for sure...


LV


Lady Veteran
- -----------------------------------
"I rode a tank and held a general's rank
when the blitzkrieg raged and the bodies stank..."
- -Rolling Stones, Sympathy for the Devil
- ------------------------------------------------
People who hide behind anonymous remailers and
ridicule fat people are cowardly idiots with no
motive but malice.
- ---------------------------------------------
"To Do Is To Be" Socrates
"To Be Is To Do" Plato
"Do Be Do Be Do" Sinatra
- -------------------------------


-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: PGP 8.0 - not licensed for commercial use: www.pgp.com

iQA/AwUBQLou1ukoPZAZfLgsEQK5vwCgzqXxU0bnBM2D8W2DuJVpwc OStosAn1v2
02sG6v5TCa7YBLMFq957nYOa
=laR1
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  #10  
Old May 30th, 2004, 11:00 PM
polar bear
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Poll: Many in U.S. in denial about weight

Steve Bukosky wrote:
Being overweight affects more than the individual so I think it is the
communities responsibility to help and support those headed in the
wrong direction. More emphasis on wellness would go a long way. We
tax cigarettes and booze. Maybe it is time to tax the blubber food
purveyors.


You mean it's time to tax the fat who raise welfare costs ? No one is
forcing you to eat junk food.

--
polar bear
 




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