Attacking the Obesity Epidemic...

Check out this interesting article in the NY times by Jane Brody, "Attacking the Obesity Epidemic by First Figuring  Out it's Cause." A new term I learned this week, "obesogenic environment" certainly applies here as she briefly reviews the changes in American's daily lives over the past few decades.

"Many environmental forces, from economic interests of the food and beverage industries to the way our cities and towns are built, have conspired to subvert the body’s natural ability to match calories in with calories out.  And the solution to the nation’s most pressing health problem — the ever-rising epidemic of overweight and obesity at all ages — lies in the answer to this question: Why did this happen in the first place? 

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/13/health/13brody.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper

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Posted in: Health Science / News

The Weekly "Clean" Up

The Weekly “Clean” Up
Week of September 05, 2011

Hello September, end of summer, and the start of school.  I know I haven’t been posting too much the last week or so as I’ve been getting settled in to my new schedule, but now that I am actually taking courses on topics relevant to the blog, I can promise that it will only get better for here on!

To kick off this new chapter and the start of a new (academic) year, I’d like to introduce a new type of post for the Clean Health Project - a weekly “clean”-up! Each week I come across a ton of articles with relevant news, recent studies and seasonal recipes and now plan to share my favorites with all of you. So, scroll through, see what peaks your interest and click to learn more!

As always, I appreciate anything you spot as well – so keep the articles and suggestions coming!

“Expanding Waistlines May Boost U.S. Health Cost $66 Billion a Year by 2030” – Recent figures have suggested that obesity will double by 2030. Bloomberg applies a financial lens by translating the increase to health care costs. Close to my heart is a comment by Boyd Swinburn, “we are in an obesity and chronic disease crisis although it doesn’t feel like it” (too most). http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-25/expanding-waistlines-may-boost-u-s-health-cost-66-billion-a-year-by-2030.html

“Preaching a Healthy Diet in the Deep-Fried Delta” – Unfortunately the South has some of the highest obesity rates and a food culture that does not lend itself to slim waist lines.  A priest in Mississippi has taken a local, innovative approach by preaching and incorporating health and nutrition into the church’s practices, which is now spreading into the 7 million member Baptist community. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/22/us/22delta.html?ref=nutrition

“Schools Restore Fresh Cooking to the Cafeteria” – Breaking from the low cost, poor nutrition cycle offered by school food suppliers, Colorado is changing course and making school food from scratch! While there are roadblocks and cost implications, it’s a great model for teaching kids early the importance of knowing what you are eating and where you food comes from. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/17/education/17lunch.html

“Tending to a community garden may foster higher fruit and vegetable consumption” – If you are not quite ready or don’t have the space for your own garden, look for a local one in your community, pitch in and you may just up your weekly vegetable intake! http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-community-gardens-health-20110805,0,1293514.story

“Make Vegetables the Meal” – Have you ever tried stuffed peppers? There are a ton of different varieties and you won’t even notice that your meal is missing meat. I’m making the stuffed yellow pepper recipe listed  tonight!  http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/02/making-vegetables-the-meal/

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Posted in: Health Science / News