Mississippi's still king of cellulite, but an ominous tide is rolling toward the Medicare doctors in neighboring Alabama: obese baby boomers.It's time for the nation's annual obesity rankings and, outside of fairly lean Colorado, there's little good news. Obesity rates among adults rose in 23 states over the past year and didn't decline anywhere, says a new report from the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
And while the nation has long been bracing for a surge in Medicare as the boomers start turning 65, the new report makes clear that fat, not just age, will fuel much of those bills. In every state, the rate of obesity is higher among 55- to 64-year-olds — the oldest boomers — than among today's 65-and-beyond.
That translates into a coming jump of obese Medicare patients that ranges from 5.2 percent in New York to a high of 16.3 percent in Alabama, the report concluded. In Alabama, nearly 39 percent of the oldest boomers are obese.
Health economists once made the harsh financial calculation that the obese would save money by dying sooner, notes Jeff Levi, executive director of the Trust, a nonprofit public health group. But more recent research instead suggests they live nearly as long but are much sicker for longer, requiring such costly interventions as knee replacements and diabetes care and dialysis. Studies show Medicare spends anywhere from $1,400 to $6,000 more annually on health care for an obese senior than for the non-obese.
"There isn't a magic bullet. We don't have a pill for it," said Levi, whose group is pushing for health reform legislation to include community-level programs that help people make healthier choices — like building sidewalks so people can walk their neighborhoods instead of drive, and providing healthier school lunches.
"It's not going to be solved in the doctor's office but in the community, where we change norms," Levi said.
On the other end of the spectrum, among the lowest Obesity Rate is Colorado 19%, Massachusetts 21% and Connecticut 21%. All Blue States!
The study doesn't say, but is there a correlation between Red versus Blue when Obesity is concerned? Do Liberals have a more progressive health and fitness philosophy than Conservatives? Do Liberals workout more and live an active lifestyle?
Taking a look at a different angle, the rate of Obese Children. Again, Mississippi has the highest rate of FAT children at 44%. It is followed by Arkansas 37.5% and Georgia, 37.3%. Again Red States!
What is the lifestyle and the philosophy of Life among Conservatives?
Why are Bible-thumping Conservative right-wing Christians eating themselves to illness and death?
Is this the new way to get to Heaven faster??
Do they think burning calories is the same as burning in hell?
What is the new unspoken motto - Laziness is next to Godliness? Is John 3:16 interpreted as "For God so Loved the World, He gave His only begotten buffets and fast-foods at low price, in that whoever consumes of it will get Everlasting Life" (and coronaries, diabetes and heart attacks).
Well all you Rush Limbaughs out there, if you have to watch that 700 Club or the Evangelical channels - watch it while buring calories on a stationary bike or an EFX. Get off that couch and start moving. Exercising is not bringing your hands from the kitchen table to your mouth. Chewing is also Not a form of exercise.
Remember, giving thanks for the abundance of food can be a curse to your health.
Stop thanking God and start following Him to a better health and fitness. If the Liberal left-wing idolaters can do it - so can God's people!
