Your artical was great informative. I one thing that hit the mark listing the numbers for obesity. Yes must heavy people know they are heavy and could lose a few pounds but obese no that not them that's someone else. Several years ago I set on a wii scale and it said obese I was maybe 175 or so (I hold weight well no one would think I weighted that much) away it said obese I was shocked - 1/26/2013   8:04:53 AM

I really enjoyed this article. As I mentioned in my comments on the Huff Post site, although I'd love to say that any article that downplays the negative effects of obesity should simply be taken with a grain of salt, the reality is that they often aren't. Many people who have struggled with weight management are desperate for quick fixes and will eagerly latch onto excuses to rationalize why they're not making progress or why it's okay to accept living with their obesity. What's more, many people with weight management problems also have psychological issues (much as drug addicts or alcoholics do) that compound their struggle to attain and maintain a healthy weight. That's why I find articles that downplay the dangers of obesity so hazardous. It's almost like telling an addict that recreational drug use is okay. - 1/26/2013   4:24:48 AM

I don't think anyone is downplaying obesity. I think no one except for maybe few public health professionals fully understand the breadth of it.

We as a society don't like fat people and shame them. We have no problem eating horrible cheap food and taking pills to deal with the consequences.
It's just looking at fat people that is the problem for most people.

We have another problem of people shaming others for being stick thin and making people feel that if they aren't a size 0 they're overweight.

A study comes out that says being overweight may help then all of a sudden we all have to go nuts.

It's called a grain of salt.

- 1/26/2013   12:44:41 AM

You know, its interesting for me, as I know personally that in MY CASE genetics has to have a LOT to do with it as I was skinny yes even underweight as a kid. But BOTH my Dad and his Dad were heavy set as adults. I am NOT saying this as an excuse for what I am BUT I cannot ignore it. Not to mention I KNOW a lot of what I am carrying around even now is NOT fat. - 1/25/2013   11:15:28 PM

I have noticed these articles and I find them disturbing. I am all for not berating oneself for being overweight, but we must be realistic and take being healthy seriously. Obesity is killing people at very young ages and should not be taken lightly. - 1/25/2013   11:10:10 PM

Look up "orthorexia", there seem to be an awful lot of people out there who have that. Also, for how many years have overweight people been nagged to lose weight, you can't "nag" someone with an addiction to "knock it off", doesn't work for overeating, doesn't work for druggies or alcoholics either, and NEVER HAS ! It's an addiction, people, so putting calories on restaurant menus is useless, showing skinny broads on magazines is useless, pictures of tasteless vegetables make some of us nauseated, for heaven's sakes. Yelling at us won't changed a danged thing, get real, and also, tell us how much money you are making doing all these articles?? - 1/25/2013   9:48:51 PM

Good blog. Interesting that the second of the comments on the Huffington blog is about another fad--the 'wheat-belly diet.' I think that almost worse than downplaying obesity is making a media feeding frenzy over it (as has happened). How are people to trust any information when they get so much that is pure junk? It's all a kind of sick Ponzi scheme of weight control.

So your blog is really good, but will the voice of reason be heard? - 1/25/2013   9:37:15 PM

I've been reading a lot of articles on studies that have said that being "slightly" overweight could increase a person's life span IF that person was still physically active. More studies seem to be concluding that being sedentary does more harm than being overweight does. The question is where is the dividing line ? Is 10 pounds overweight the limit or 20 ? How overweight can a person be and still be considered healthy ?

Which is the problem. Too many studies with conflicting data. The media makes the situation worse by cherry picking the data that will grab headlines. It's true that the US (and the world) does have a serious obesity problem. I was an overweight child compared to all my skinny classmates. But, I was never morbidly obese. Type II diabetes used to be an adult disease. Now, children are being diagnosed rapidly. You'd think that would make people more aware of their own waistlines.

I don't think the obesity problem is being shoved under the rug. I think the problem is that there is just not enough education. The fact is, kids learn their habits from their parents. If the parents aren't eating right, what are the chances that their children are ? It's not only the kids we need to teach, we need to teach the adults too if we want people to be more aware of their weight.







- 1/25/2013   2:21:47 PM

The obesity epidemic is certainly downplayed. With women like Monique flaunting her size, it makes it difficult to teach young people that they mostlikely have a "fatty liver" from a poor diet of fast food and soda. There is a business now out of selling to obese people and that is one that just wants to make money. Yes, it is good to want to "look good" but they need to know that they should have this on their way DOWN to a normal BMI. Watch the BBC Documentary "THE MEN WHO MADE US FAT." - 1/25/2013   1:21:08 PM

When I first saw the study reported in the media, my take on it was that the overweight and grade 1 obese people that the study found to be longer lived were probably large framed, muscular, sturdy type of people whose BMI puts them overweight/obese, but by body fat percentage, are healthy. I have family who are of sturdy stock and tend to be very long lived. Because of their frame and musculature, they tend to weigh heavy, even though they are healthy. They also tend to not break bones, despite being outdoorsy/active types. The BMI metric is very flawed and I don't understand why, with all of the advances in technology, there aren't reliable body fat measuring devices so we can start talking about that, rather than a mathematical expression of the old height/weight charts that no longer takes frame size into account. I bet if those old studies had actually measured body fat, rather than BMI, the results of the meta analysis would have been quite different. - 1/25/2013   12:00:00 PM

Great article. I wish the Daily Spark was a little more science-minded. Sometimes I feel like the research-related articles here are dumbed down and don't require critical thinking - science lite. The problem with the misrepresentation of research in the news is that a lot of those writers are not scientifically oriented. There's no way of knowing if the study was poorly designed or methodologically flawed. They just want to cover it from the most sensational angle possible. - 1/25/2013   11:45:00 AM

The trouble is, those studies about weight generally don't take time to explain what BMI is, and how as a measure, it can be flawed. For example, Arnold Schwarzenegger, during his body building days, was technically obese according to his BMI. Of course that's absurd! It was pure muscle. Some people have very dense bodies, with lots of muscles, and solid bones...THEY are probably healthier than folks who starve themselves to get to a "healthy" BMI. - 1/25/2013   11:40:24 AM

I am one of those people who seems to hover in the overweight weight range; it's a real struggle to get to and maintain a normal BMI even when I am eating well and exercising regularly. So on the one hand, I can vouch for the limits of the BMI scale. However, what is motivating me to try to get back to that range are health markers. What started me on this journey was an elevated cholesterol level; I'm now 30 pounds less and cholesterol is normal. However I'm also noticing that as I am getting older my blood pressure seems to be slowly rising, and there is a history of hypertension in my family. I'm going to be very interested to see *when* (not if!) I get back to a normal BMI if there is a drop in my blood pressure. Even though I'm not yet considered hypertensive, I'd rather do all I can to not go there! - 1/25/2013   11:39:28 AM

Good article with likes of information. I have not seen the stories about the studies. However, I have seen and hear those types of stories in the past. I assumed the overweight they talked about was being 10-20 pounds over, not obese people. - 1/25/2013   11:13:46 AM

Good article. I've been telling people for years that this downplaying of obesity is crazy. As a retired nurse with considerable experience working with morbidly obese patients, I know the devastation obesity can cause. Wake up people! Putting on "just a few pounds" annually adds up in no time. While it is true that eating good food is one of the joys of life, there are many others. In all too many cases obesity prevents enjoyment of many of the others. If you loved that huge meal, save half of it, and enjoy it again tomorrow. - 1/25/2013   10:56:05 AM

Very well-written article. People are always looking for the "easy way out" & unfortunately the media is quick to try & sale them one. Thank you for presenting FACTS. As a person who has drifted back & forth from overweight to stage 1 obese the last 10 years, I agree that we need to talk about quality of life & actually being able to live while alive that matters. - 1/25/2013   10:17:03 AM

Becky: Great blog. I am not so certain that obesity is downplayed but like all things, the subject is complex. The studies were done and the results were published. I think this was the intention of the study being published. But as thinking adults, we should know that the subject is complex and it takes multiple indicators to evaluate health and the impact of obesity. At some point, as all sparkers know, we have to be accountable for our behaviors. We can't keep blaming the capitalist, the government, the media, the etc. I do feel like when a editorial/blog implicates that the root cause of an issue is the media/govt/capitalist - it gives the general public a pass on their own accountability. - 1/25/2013   9:49:35 AM

Great article. I agree with you that it is quality of life and not quantity of life. I believe if you eat healthy, are active and look normal weight even if the BMI chart says otherwise then that weight is right for you. BMI charts don't take into account small bones or large bones, muscular, etc. - 1/25/2013   9:42:58 AM

I don't believe it is a matter of downplay, I believe it is intentional. i am not a conspiracy advocate but as I get older I see that money truly is the root to all things that make the world and here the body 'go round'. America has some products that many of the competative nations do not have...corn, cattle, porcine and tobaccco. I have not done research on this, it is just my educated deduction. If we promote eating less of these exported goods they would suffer popularity ($). Americans are idealized as the rich kings, portly and overindulgant. I imagine much of the funding for many of the absurd studies comes from the deep pockets of those at risk of losing popularity if we all lost weight and got healthier. One has to wonder why cigaretts are still legal and popular in this country! - 1/25/2013   9:21:29 AM

I went from 197 pounds to 117. Everything they say in this article is true. I feel 10 years younger and have probably added years back to my life. - 1/25/2013   9:20:34 AM

I think we need to look at behavior not weight in these studies. We need to see if eating a poor diet and lack of exercise is more important than weight. If it is, which a few studies have shown, we need to help overweight and obese people focus on improving their diet and exercise patterns. We need to learn to divide the obesity and the person. Vilifying the obesity is saying that obese people are weak, bad, etc. We need to focus on habits and let the weight take care of itself. There will be less obese people and far more healthy people. - 1/25/2013   9:18:58 AM

I am a bit confused at the advice at the end: "Have regular visits with your doctor and review your complete treatment plan for optimal health and well being. " My husband is obese, has chronic issues and he sees a doctor on a regular basis. However, all he is instructed is to lose weight. The doctor knows little about nutrition. Now, with the affordable healthcare act, doctors are going to see more patients which will mean less quality time with each.

If we are going to see a change in the trend of obesity, it will need to be by the individuals to start taking responsibility for their health and well-being. Get enough individuals making changes by not eating at at restaurants (especially the fast food ones), stop buying the most processed foods and start eating real food (food that is closest to its natural state) and making a decision to move more, then we will start seeing healthier choices being offered.. - 1/25/2013   9:17:59 AM

THESUBY took the words right out of my mouth. Of course I'm more likely to die than someone sitting on the couch all day. I'm out hiking and walking, traveling to great destinations (that I can enjoy more now that I've lost weight), etc. I'm much more likely to die in an accident than when I went to work, came home and sat on the couch all night. - 1/25/2013   8:49:41 AM

That's another example of how studies show a correlation, not causation, and how hidden variables can skew results. People really need to learn about statistics, especially writers.
It's very simple. Very heavy people probably live longer because they are less active and more likely to be homebound. Your risk of dying on the couch from an accident is much lower than that of dying in traffic, on the job, or being out in the world in general. However, what kind of life is that?
To truly get a useful correlation, the data needs to be separated into people who die from obesity-related diseases and people who die from other causes (accidents, etc.). Once the other causes are eliminated, we will get a better picture of what's going on.
Those bloggers and journalists better take a statistics class before they let their uneducated views loose on the unsuspecting public. - 1/25/2013   8:01:01 AM

I don't know about how things are stated in the media in the U.S. but in the U.K. it is the tone of judgemental hysteria that I object to, especially when combined with the lack of sensible knowledgeable assessment of "information" presented. This is not unique to articles about weight loss but applies to almost all health topics. It is counter-productive and scaremongering and the sole aim of these irresponsible media activities is to provoke panic sales to increase their advertising revenue with no consideration of the harm they are causing, for instance: how many women died as a consequence of scare stories about the contraceptive pills over the years when pregnancy is far more dangerous? - 1/25/2013   7:59:55 AM

I totally agree. And yet the government doesn't seem to do anything about improper or misleading nutritional information. Add in the fact that budget cuts have eliminated many physical extracurricular activities within the school as well as their own physical education. Elementary students don't even get to have recess. Then they are filled up with crap for food and can't understand why the kids misbehave and become so hyper after lunch. Hmmm. Hasn't anyone figured a link here? - 1/25/2013   7:54:09 AM

The so called "news" can be so misleading. We all need to read beyond the headlines and read articles by trusted professionals, like you, Becky. Thank you for your analysis. I know this wasn't your main focus, but one thing I took away from this was the dividing line between overweight and obesity. I am close to that line and my new short term goal is to get below that line. It is the small victories that get us to our larger goals. Thank you! - 1/25/2013   7:53:32 AM

The so called "news" can be so misleading. We all need to read beyond the headlines and read articles by trusted professionals, like you, Becky. Thank you for your analysis. I know this wasn't your main focus, but one thing I took away from this was the dividing line between overweight and obesity. I am close to that line and my new short term goal is to get below that line. It is the small victories that get us to our larger goals. Thank you! - 1/25/2013   7:53:32 AM

I don't think it is being downplayed. I rarely watch tv news, but it seems every time I turn it on, there is a story about it. What I wish would be a priority in the news, is how to be healthy, make healthy choices in the face of the ease of NOT making the right choices. I do think obesity is a problem, but it still seems to me that what most media outlets do, is still vilify the person. - 1/25/2013   7:05:04 AM

I find the contradictions very confusing for those of us who are learning/challenged to eat healthier. I think we need to focus more on the overall heath and lifestyle part, and I think your points in the article are well said and clear. - 1/25/2013   6:38:48 AM

Excellent article. The media has downplayed obesity. I want to be around for my great grandkids. - 1/25/2013   6:37:16 AM

Go, Becky! There are too many folks who believe anything on tv or the Internet. It is even worse if a professional individual or organization said it. We have to think for ourselves. Of course,obesity is a major health issue! - 1/25/2013   6:33:28 AM

I agree. Downplaying obesity makes people think that it is not a big problem. Most people do not understand that just 20 pounds of excess weight is unhealthy. Obesity is a silent killer. Our country needs to change in order to have a healthy future for our children. - 1/25/2013   6:30:53 AM