The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Obese or not obese, that is the question As we approach the Christmas holiday season, one's thoughts go out to the food, drink, and good times associated with the holiday and for many the overindulgence and increased pounds. In times past, temporary weight gain was little concern as people worked hard physically and most, including children, were active. As hockey great Eric Lindros once said: "I never watched a lot of T.V. when I was a kid, and I hardly ever read. It was just me and the rink. Saturday is God's gift to kids, I'd skip the cartoons and be out on the rinkÉthat was life!" Growing up in Flin Flon, obesity was not a factor, as being a couch potato was unheard of with one radio station, no T.V. and no computers. Most young people were active Ð skating, curling, fishing, hunting and walking everywhere. No school bus for we Hapnot students living in Creighton, we even walked home for lunch. Today, of course, this is not the case and most health organizations are constantly warning of the crisis of physically inactive kids, reportedly ravaged by obesity and the threat of a resulting lifetime of health problems. There is no doubt that inactivity among young people is a major problem as the lure of T.V., surfing the Internet, Gameboy, and the like, encourage this laxity. As well, organized active sports such as hockey are prohibitively expensive for many families. Former Blue Bomber Henry Janzen, head of the Physical Education Department at the University of Manitoba, claims the "magic bullet' to deal with the crisis is daily physical education In the schools. Former Education Minister Ron Lemieux, a former pro-hockey player, claims the answer is not that simple. He says schools, parents and governments have to find ways to keep kids active at school and after school. Most health studies cite obesity as a major problem among young and old, particularly in today's industrialized nations, leading to health problems such as diabetes, heart and circulation difficulties later on in life. Of the major risk factors for heart problems Ð smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Being overweight is always mentioned as part of the problem. A recent U.S. study of families found that obese parents have obese children and it blames bad eating habits and fast foods as the culprits. Common sense would dictate that parent's eating habits would have a major influence on their children as all studies show that parents are the greatest influence on children Ð far more than teachers, friends and others. In the United States where recent research reveals that 60% of adults and 15% of children and teens are overweight, there is a major debate among health groups, insurance companies, scientists and drug companies about whether obesity should be declared a disease. Proponents claim this would open up insurance coverage for millions who need treatment and speed up the approval of new diet drugs. They claim science has clearly established that obesity is a valid medical condition affecting health. Opponents disagree, claiming obesity is more like smoking or high cholesterol and would divert scarce resources to a non-medical condition. Still, it appears that the momentum is to declare the condition a disease, with the U.S. internal revenue ruling it is for tax purposes, and allows deductions for health expenses. As well, federal health agencies are favourable to the idea as is the World Health Organization. Skeptics argue that although being overweight can lead to a host of health problems, so do smoking and high cholesterol, which are not considered diseases. They also point out that not all heavy people develop health problems. One exercise expert claims that you can be overweight and healthy if you are active, and that an overweight person who exercises is more healthy than a thin person who is sedentary. See 'Obesity' P.# Con't from P.# A nutrition professor from Cleveland also insists that being overweight can have health benefits, citing a decrease in Osteoporosis in older heavy people, and a decrease in some cancers. The expert, Paul Ernsberger from the University School of Medicine in Cleveland, says "to call it a disease is misleading". Believe it or not he is an advisor to The National Association To Advance Fat Acceptance. In the U.S., unlike some Canadian provinces, taxpayers are not reimbursed for diet programs, counseling or drugs unless they have a related illness. Americans spend $40 billion per year on weight-loss programs with their effectiveness debatable except in making diet doctors quite wealthy. Most organizations in the U.S. and Canada agree that obesity is a major problem. They encourage physical activity (note Canada's Participaction advertising) for all, health clubs and proper nutrition, and discourage eating at fast food outlets such as McDonald's, Burger King and Wendy's. McDonald's, who has successfully fought off lawsuits such as "McDonald's made me fat" are now emphasizing their more healthy meals and downplaying the extra large burgers. One advantage of declaring obesity a disease is that it would take away the shame and stigma of being too fat, as classifying alcoholism as a disease made it easier for many alcoholics to get treatment. Recently the Manitoba Tories got into the physical activity act. A November 19 news release claims that, led by Tory Wellness Critic, MLA Mavis Taillieu of Morris, PC MLAs will walk the halls and stairs of the legislature for 10 minutes each day to promote healthy living. Taillieu claims that "physical activity is now recognized as the number one risk factor (tied with smoking) for premature death associated with congestive heart failure, diabetes, cancer and obesity. Unfortunately, 57% of Canadians are not active enough to reap health benefits" What is obese? A good measure for obesity is body mass index or B.M.I., which is the ratio of your height to weight. To determine your B.M.I., divide your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared. To convert pounds to kilograms divide your weight by 2.2. Divide your height in inches by 39.4 then multiply the answer by itself (25-29 is considered overweight while 30+ is considered obese). A happy and healthy Christmas season to all readers.
