VOICE OF THE PEOPLE | July 2, 2010

We must address local obesity epidemic

In response to the recent editorial, "Rewards for dieting," I strongly agree with your assertion that "reversing the ... obesity epidemic is going to be a long, tough job." But I take serious issue with your reference to the obesity epidemic as "so-called."

1) 36.6. percent of 3- and 4-year olds enrolled in York County's four Headstart Centers for the 2009-2010 school year were either overweight or obese (i.e., BMI-for-age at the 85th-percentile or higher level)!

See www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/childrens_bmi/about_childrens_bmi.html

2) Our nation's and our state's adult weight gain pattern over the past 20-plus years is absolutely astounding to anyone's eye.

Watch the U.S. map turn from light-blue and white (1985) to orange-brown and tan (2008) at www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/trends.html.

That said, especially during the wonderful "outdoor activity months" of the year we have here in the Carolinas (mid-March through mid-November), I would like to once again remind all readers of The Herald how the human body's "energy-balance-equation" works:

Food/beverage calories taken in by a person each day (especially when dieting) simply can't be more than calories used up by that person's body each day (especially if that person has an 8-hour, sit-down job). Otherwise, our bodies store the "extra calories" as fat, little-by-little, each day!

So, all you employers out there, how about taking high-calorie -- high-sugar and/or high-fat-content -- food and beverages out of the vending machines at the office? How about offering only nutritious, lower-calorie, tasty foods and beverage choices at office meetings, training seminars, parties, etc.?

Employers, make the "default choice" the healthy choice at work! And, whoever in a household does the major food-buying each week, do the same at home!

Similarly, make the "default choice"in our local public schools to be gym class (e.g., two or three times per week) or a physically-active recess period (e.g., every school day) for every year of schooling from kindergarten through 12th grade until the serious childhood overweight and obesity epidemic in York County subsides significantly!

We can all accept and take on extra precautions individually and as families when we have a serious influenza epidemic -- so, what's the difference?

David F. Keely, M.D.

Rock Hill