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10 May 12
The Weight of the Nation - HBO Documentary Premiers May 14-15 HBO and the Institute of Medicine have joined forces to create a new documentary about America’s obesity epidemic. Airing in four parts over May 14 and 15, “The Weight of the Nation” considers everything from how we got here, what the experts say about obesity, what our children face and what are the driving forces behind this epidemic.  Here’s the complete description about the project, as listed on the website: Bringing together the nation’s leading research institutions, THE WEIGHT OF THE NATION is a presentation of HBO and the Institute of Medicine (IOM), in association with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and in partnership with the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and Kaiser Permanente. The centerpiece of THE WEIGHT OF THE NATION campaign is the four-part documentary series, each featuring case studies, interviews with our nation’s leading experts, and individuals and their families struggling with obesity. The first film, CONSEQUENCES, examines the scope of the obesity epidemic and explores the serious health consequences of being overweight or obese. The second, CHOICES, offers viewers the skinny on fat, revealing what science has shown about how to lose weight, maintain weight loss and prevent weight gain. The third, CHILDREN IN CRISIS, documents the damage obesity is doing to our nation’s children. Through individual stories, this film describes how the strong forces at work in our society are causing children to consume too many calories and expend too little energy; tackling subjects from school lunches to the decline of physical education, the demise of school recess and the marketing of unhealthy food to children. The fourth film, CHALLENGES, examines the major driving forces causing the obesity epidemic, including agriculture, economics, evolutionary biology, food marketing, racial and socioeconomic disparities, physical inactivity, American food culture, and the strong influence of the food and beverage industry. Currently, researchers are predicting that 42% of Americans will be obese by 2030, and yet it seems that Americans can’t go a day without reading or seeing on TV an advertisement for quick and big weight loss pills, tactics and diets, as if it’s normal to drop 20 pounds in two weeks or was easy to lose 100 pounds.  The health of those who are obese can be improved just by losing 5-10% of one’s starting weight, according to several studies. But we don’t see that touted as the “answer” to losing weight in those flashy ads, right?  Tell us, will you be tuning in? What would you like to see happen from this? Chime in on our MyNetDiary Facebook page or in our Community Forum.  Click here to watch the “Weight of the Nation” trailer. 

The Weight of the Nation - HBO Documentary Premiers May 14-15

HBO and the Institute of Medicine have joined forces to create a new documentary about America’s obesity epidemic. Airing in four parts over May 14 and 15, “The Weight of the Nation” considers everything from how we got here, what the experts say about obesity, what our children face and what are the driving forces behind this epidemic. 

Here’s the complete description about the project, as listed on the website:

Bringing together the nation’s leading research institutions, THE WEIGHT OF THE NATION is a presentation of HBO and the Institute of Medicine (IOM), in association with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and in partnership with the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and Kaiser Permanente.

The centerpiece of THE WEIGHT OF THE NATION campaign is the four-part documentary series, each featuring case studies, interviews with our nation’s leading experts, and individuals and their families struggling with obesity. The first film, CONSEQUENCES, examines the scope of the obesity epidemic and explores the serious health consequences of being overweight or obese. The second, CHOICES, offers viewers the skinny on fat, revealing what science has shown about how to lose weight, maintain weight loss and prevent weight gain. The third, CHILDREN IN CRISIS, documents the damage obesity is doing to our nation’s children. Through individual stories, this film describes how the strong forces at work in our society are causing children to consume too many calories and expend too little energy; tackling subjects from school lunches to the decline of physical education, the demise of school recess and the marketing of unhealthy food to children. The fourth film, CHALLENGES, examines the major driving forces causing the obesity epidemic, including agriculture, economics, evolutionary biology, food marketing, racial and socioeconomic disparities, physical inactivity, American food culture, and the strong influence of the food and beverage industry.

Currently, researchers are predicting that 42% of Americans will be obese by 2030, and yet it seems that Americans can’t go a day without reading or seeing on TV an advertisement for quick and big weight loss pills, tactics and diets, as if it’s normal to drop 20 pounds in two weeks or was easy to lose 100 pounds. 

The health of those who are obese can be improved just by losing 5-10% of one’s starting weight, according to several studies. But we don’t see that touted as the “answer” to losing weight in those flashy ads, right? 

Tell us, will you be tuning in? What would you like to see happen from this? Chime in on our MyNetDiary Facebook page or in our Community Forum. 

Click here to watch the “Weight of the Nation” trailer. 

8 December 11
Are Our Words Contributing to Our Obesity? How Our Language and Social Status Influence What we EatEver hear of statements like “fit for a king” or “breakfast of champions”? For a long time in our history we have equated portion size with social status, and we have promoted an image that “more is better.” But where has this gotten us? Today, nearly a third of American adults are obese (with the expectation that will rise to 41 percent by 2015) and 17 percent (or 12.5 million) of children between ages 2-19 are obese. A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research took a closer look at this “bigger is better” mentality and asked if it could be related to our current obesity epidemic. In the last 20 years, researchers have found that portion sizes have increased by 52 percent for soft drinks, 27 percent for Mexican food and 23 percent for hamburgers. The notion of “super sizing” every food order is running rampant in our country, being fed by the idea that if we “eat like a king” then we must be one. The researchers at Northwestern University experimented by manipulating the status of meals to find out if consumers’ portion choices would be influenced by the perceived need for social status as it is attributed to food size. What they found is that people did choose larger portions if they felt they had a more prominent social status, and, on the other hand, they chose smaller portions if they felt they had a more negative social status. In short, choosing bigger portions was an expression of how they felt about their social status (i.e. bigger = better). So what can we do about this? First, we can remind ourselves that we have the freedom to choose our portions. If a restaurant or fast food chain offers a “Super Gargantuan Mega King Kong” option for a burger or side of fries, it’s likely they also have sizes small through large. We can exercise our power of choice and order according to our calorie goals and level of hunger. Second, we can consider the nutrient density of the foods we choose. Yes, we may be tempted to go all “XL” on a bucket wings, but why not go “XXL” on a plate of veggies too (or better yet, instead of!)? We don’t have to make our “one big thing” the most unhealthy thing on our plate. We can double up on the good stuff and choose smaller portions of the not-so-good stuff. And lastly, we can “go big” in other areas of our lives. We can literally become the “queen of our workouts,” or the “king of the running club,” or even the “pauper of Pilates.” We can “give big” too, volunteering to coach a kid’s activity or sport once a week. There are many other ways we can satiate our egos in relation to “bigger is better” instead of just choosing the biggest burger on the menu. Tell us, what healthy ways do you “go big”? Share them on the MyNetDiary Facebook page or in our Community Forum. We’d love to hear from you!

Are Our Words Contributing to Our Obesity? How Our Language and Social Status Influence What we Eat

Ever hear of statements like “fit for a king” or “breakfast of champions”? For a long time in our history we have equated portion size with social status, and we have promoted an image that “more is better.” But where has this gotten us? Today, nearly a third of American adults are obese (with the expectation that will rise to 41 percent by 2015) and 17 percent (or 12.5 million) of children between ages 2-19 are obese.

A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research took a closer look at this “bigger is better” mentality and asked if it could be related to our current obesity epidemic. In the last 20 years, researchers have found that portion sizes have increased by 52 percent for soft drinks, 27 percent for Mexican food and 23 percent for hamburgers. The notion of “super sizing” every food order is running rampant in our country, being fed by the idea that if we “eat like a king” then we must be one.

The researchers at Northwestern University experimented by manipulating the status of meals to find out if consumers’ portion choices would be influenced by the perceived need for social status as it is attributed to food size. What they found is that people did choose larger portions if they felt they had a more prominent social status, and, on the other hand, they chose smaller portions if they felt they had a more negative social status. In short, choosing bigger portions was an expression of how they felt about their social status (i.e. bigger = better).

So what can we do about this? First, we can remind ourselves that we have the freedom to choose our portions. If a restaurant or fast food chain offers a “Super Gargantuan Mega King Kong” option for a burger or side of fries, it’s likely they also have sizes small through large. We can exercise our power of choice and order according to our calorie goals and level of hunger.

Second, we can consider the nutrient density of the foods we choose. Yes, we may be tempted to go all “XL” on a bucket wings, but why not go “XXL” on a plate of veggies too (or better yet, instead of!)? We don’t have to make our “one big thing” the most unhealthy thing on our plate. We can double up on the good stuff and choose smaller portions of the not-so-good stuff.

And lastly, we can “go big” in other areas of our lives. We can literally become the “queen of our workouts,” or the “king of the running club,” or even the “pauper of Pilates.” We can “give big” too, volunteering to coach a kid’s activity or sport once a week. There are many other ways we can satiate our egos in relation to “bigger is better” instead of just choosing the biggest burger on the menu.

Tell us, what healthy ways do you “go big”? Share them on the MyNetDiary Facebook page or in our Community Forum. We’d love to hear from you!

23 June 11
Make it Fun for the Whole Family In honor of our recent winner, Peter Ollodart’s, new project, Fitness Fans of America, we thought it appropriate to list some family-friendly activities that encourage everyone to enjoy, promote and stick with exercise, from an early age and into adulthood. Childhood obesity is a serious epidemic, and it’s likely that one out of three children will be diagnosed with Type II diabetes as an adult. Diabetes is a disease MyNetDiary cares about deeply, and we want to do our part to empower people to limit their risk factors through good nutrition, exercise and healthy lifestyles. Summer is an especially critical time for children to be active, as they are out of school and looking for things to do. Too often those “things” include sitting inside on the couch playing video games or watching television. But if the weather is nice, there’s no excuse for not getting outside for some exercise. Kids need, at a bare minimum, 30 minutes of free play at least three times a week, so make this a family “play time,” full of running, jumping, hiding, seeking and discovering. Also, plan at least one highly-active family outing/activity every weekend during the summer. Make a plan as a family so the kids feel involved; they’re more likely to maximize that time and participate if they get to help make the decision. Summer is a great time to pick up a new hobby, and that can include a new sport, playing with a new friend or walking to a new park. If you can’t get your kids into an organized team sport or camp during the summer, due to cost or schedule, make up your own neighborhood league and organize some friendly kickball or dodge-ball matches. With all the sunny days we’ll have this summer, ditch the car as much as possible and travel by foot or bike. And if you or your neighborhood is planning a “Car Wash” day, encourage people to bring out their bikes for a “Bike Wash” too. This is a great activity for kids to do!Make up summer-long contests among family and friends for activities like jump roping, hula hooping and hop-scotching. Crown the winner before summer ends at a healthy Labor Day cookout. Mowing the grass is great exercise, if you’re using a push mower. Let the older kids cut grass, but not with a riding mower. Who knows, they may get inspired to start their own summer business cutting lawns in the neighborhood. Another great kid-friendly and outdoor activity is gardening.Summer is the time to get creative and get active. Share with us some of your summer plans for fostering a family-friendly and active lifestyle.

Make it Fun for the Whole Family

In honor of our recent winner, Peter Ollodart’s, new project, Fitness Fans of America, we thought it appropriate to list some family-friendly activities that encourage everyone to enjoy, promote and stick with exercise, from an early age and into adulthood. Childhood obesity is a serious epidemic, and it’s likely that one out of three children will be diagnosed with Type II diabetes as an adult. Diabetes is a disease MyNetDiary cares about deeply, and we want to do our part to empower people to limit their risk factors through good nutrition, exercise and healthy lifestyles.

Summer is an especially critical time for children to be active, as they are out of school and looking for things to do. Too often those “things” include sitting inside on the couch playing video games or watching television. But if the weather is nice, there’s no excuse for not getting outside for some exercise.

Kids need, at a bare minimum, 30 minutes of free play at least three times a week, so make this a family “play time,” full of running, jumping, hiding, seeking and discovering. Also, plan at least one highly-active family outing/activity every weekend during the summer. Make a plan as a family so the kids feel involved; they’re more likely to maximize that time and participate if they get to help make the decision.

Summer is a great time to pick up a new hobby, and that can include a new sport, playing with a new friend or walking to a new park. If you can’t get your kids into an organized team sport or camp during the summer, due to cost or schedule, make up your own neighborhood league and organize some friendly kickball or dodge-ball matches.

With all the sunny days we’ll have this summer, ditch the car as much as possible and travel by foot or bike. And if you or your neighborhood is planning a “Car Wash” day, encourage people to bring out their bikes for a “Bike Wash” too. This is a great activity for kids to do!

Make up summer-long contests among family and friends for activities like jump roping, hula hooping and hop-scotching. Crown the winner before summer ends at a healthy Labor Day cookout.

Mowing the grass is great exercise, if you’re using a push mower. Let the older kids cut grass, but not with a riding mower. Who knows, they may get inspired to start their own summer business cutting lawns in the neighborhood. Another great kid-friendly and outdoor activity is gardening.

Summer is the time to get creative and get active. Share with us some of your summer plans for fostering a family-friendly and active lifestyle.

14 April 11
Being a Good Role Model to Our Children Sometimes we focus our weight loss journey inwards so much (“I’ve got to plan time to exercise. I’ve got to start eating right”) that we don’t always take time to reflect on its impact on those around us, especially our children. Sure, many of us look to our children for inspiration (“I’m losing weight so I’ll be around for them in their later years, or so I can play with them more”), but we should always remember that our children watch everything we do - so let’s be good role models and include them in our journey as much as we can, which also equips them with the knowledge of good nutrition and exercise.  Obesity rates among children have been on the rise. In 2008 it was reported that nearly one child out of five ages 6 to 11 is obese, and 18% of teens 12 to 19 are obese. Additionally, a staggering two-thirds of obese children will also become overweight adults. These stats have prompted growing attention to this epidemicand the launch of initiatives like the First Lady’s Let’s Move program and Kid’s Health by Nemours. These sites provide great tools for teaching kids the importance of nutrition and exercise, but who kids really learn from is us.  Your family can be the best support team for your weight loss journey, and there are great ways to get them involved more so than just being cheerleaders. Below are a few things you can do with your kids so they can be part of your success: Bring Them Grocery Shopping with You Have your kids find the foods you should be eating. Don’t just tell them what’s on your list. Let them get creative in the store, perhaps even letting them create a meal once a week. You can even turn a shopping trip into a scavenger hunt. Give them clues about what nutritional value you are looking for in a food and see what they bring back to match it.  Let Them Weigh In with You Don’t hide the numbers on the scale from your family. Ask your kids to read them aloud to you. You can even create a chart in the bathroom on which they can record your changes (or let them enter your weight on MyNetDiary.com or in your App).  Play-xercise with Them Have your kids ride their bikes while you jog a mile or two, or take turns timing sets of jumping jacks, push-ups, etc. Create a family-friendly Olympics-themed picnic one Saturday, with each family member creating an active, competitive game. Not all your exercise needs to happen at the gym and away from your family.  Let Them Make YOU Lunch How many lunches have parents made for their children - millions! Why not ask them to return the favor every once in a while? Again, by communicating your nutritional goals and calorie needs, let your kids get involved with your food and come up with a healthy (and tasty) lunch you will take to work.  These ideas are just a springboard. We would like to hear from you about other ideas or tips you do to keep your kids part of your healthy lifestyle. Drop us a comment on our Facebook page!

Being a Good Role Model to Our Children

Sometimes we focus our weight loss journey inwards so much (“I’ve got to plan time to exercise. I’ve got to start eating right”) that we don’t always take time to reflect on its impact on those around us, especially our children. Sure, many of us look to our children for inspiration (“I’m losing weight so I’ll be around for them in their later years, or so I can play with them more”), but we should always remember that our children watch everything we do - so let’s be good role models and include them in our journey as much as we can, which also equips them with the knowledge of good nutrition and exercise. 

Obesity rates among children have been on the rise. In 2008 it was reported that nearly one child out of five ages 6 to 11 is obese, and 18% of teens 12 to 19 are obese. Additionally, a staggering two-thirds of obese children will also become overweight adults. These stats have prompted growing attention to this epidemicand the launch of initiatives like the First Lady’s Let’s Move program and Kid’s Health by Nemours. These sites provide great tools for teaching kids the importance of nutrition and exercise, but who kids really learn from is us. 

Your family can be the best support team for your weight loss journey, and there are great ways to get them involved more so than just being cheerleaders. Below are a few things you can do with your kids so they can be part of your success:

Bring Them Grocery Shopping with You

Have your kids find the foods you should be eating. Don’t just tell them what’s on your list. Let them get creative in the store, perhaps even letting them create a meal once a week. You can even turn a shopping trip into a scavenger hunt. Give them clues about what nutritional value you are looking for in a food and see what they bring back to match it. 

Let Them Weigh In with You

Don’t hide the numbers on the scale from your family. Ask your kids to read them aloud to you. You can even create a chart in the bathroom on which they can record your changes (or let them enter your weight on MyNetDiary.com or in your App). 

Play-xercise with Them

Have your kids ride their bikes while you jog a mile or two, or take turns timing sets of jumping jacks, push-ups, etc. Create a family-friendly Olympics-themed picnic one Saturday, with each family member creating an active, competitive game. Not all your exercise needs to happen at the gym and away from your family. 

Let Them Make YOU Lunch

How many lunches have parents made for their children - millions! Why not ask them to return the favor every once in a while? Again, by communicating your nutritional goals and calorie needs, let your kids get involved with your food and come up with a healthy (and tasty) lunch you will take to work. 

These ideas are just a springboard. We would like to hear from you about other ideas or tips you do to keep your kids part of your healthy lifestyle. Drop us a comment on our Facebook page!

29 March 11
Don’t Let Your Weight Cut Your Life Short!Too often, we find our drive to sustain lifestyle choices that allow us to lose weight or maintain lost weight start to wane. It is precisely at that point that we have to remind ourselves why it is important to make the effort – to live. It is easy to lose sight of the fact that we might be walking time bombs since we don’t always feel bad with excess body fat. But excess fat has profound effects on both our physical and mental states of health. Since I have lost loved ones from diseases where extra body fat played a direct role in their demise, weight control is a special interest of mine. It pains me to witness my loved ones, as well as patients, die young or suffer because of their body weight. That is the main reason why I specialize in weight control.Too much body fat, especially around the waist, means we are more likely to die at a younger age. Our risk for chronic diseases that reduce quality of life, disable, and/or kill us is also higher.  Obesity is typically defined by having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of ≥ 30.  BMI is our weight in kilograms divided by the square of our height in meters. Waist circumference will add more information about disease risk. Men with a waist larger than 40 inches (102 cm) and women with a waist larger than 35 inches (88 cm) are at higher risk for diseases associated with obesity. See the list below for diseases and conditions that are related to obesity in the United States (and in other industrialized nations). Heart Disease Type 2 diabetes High blood pressure High blood cholesterol Stroke Liver and gallbladder disease Cancer (esp. colon, uterus, esophagus, kidney, and postmenopausal breast cancer) Metabolic Syndrome Psychosocial problems (e.g. stress, depression, discrimination, isolation) Joint problems (e.g. osteoarthritis) Sleep Apnea and respiratory problems Abnormal menstrual periods and infertility in women The next time you feel that it is just too much to do what it takes to lose weight or maintain lost weight, I want you to think about how badly you want to live. The choices you make now will affect your ability to live tomorrow. Don’t wait to make changes. Your health is just as important as anything else you are going to do today, so make time for it. If you don’t, then you might not have any time left.Have questions about this topic?  Please post them on MyNetDiary’s Forum. I would love to hear from you!Best,Kathy Isacks, MPS, RDConsulting Dietitian for MyNetDiaryMore ResourcesAmerican Heart Association. Obesity Information.  National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Aim for a Healthy Weight.  Stanford Hospital & Clinics. Health Effects of Obesity. Office of the Surgeon General. Overweight and Obesity: Health Consequences. Disclaimer: Please note that we cannot provide personalized advice and that the information provided does not constitute medical advice. If you are seeking medical advice, please visit a medical professional.

Don’t Let Your Weight Cut Your Life Short!

Too often, we find our drive to sustain lifestyle choices that allow us to lose weight or maintain lost weight start to wane. It is precisely at that point that we have to remind ourselves why it is important to make the effort – to live. It is easy to lose sight of the fact that we might be walking time bombs since we don’t always feel bad with excess body fat. But excess fat has profound effects on both our physical and mental states of health.

Since I have lost loved ones from diseases where extra body fat played a direct role in their demise, weight control is a special interest of mine. It pains me to witness my loved ones, as well as patients, die young or suffer because of their body weight. That is the main reason why I specialize in weight control.

Too much body fat, especially around the waist, means we are more likely to die at a younger age. Our risk for chronic diseases that reduce quality of life, disable, and/or kill us is also higher.  Obesity is typically defined by having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of ≥ 30.  BMI is our weight in kilograms divided by the square of our height in meters. Waist circumference will add more information about disease risk. Men with a waist larger than 40 inches (102 cm) and women with a waist larger than 35 inches (88 cm) are at higher risk for diseases associated with obesity. See the list below for diseases and conditions that are related to obesity in the United States (and in other industrialized nations).

  • Heart Disease
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • High blood cholesterol
  • Stroke
  • Liver and gallbladder disease
  • Cancer (esp. colon, uterus, esophagus, kidney, and postmenopausal breast cancer)
  • Metabolic Syndrome
  • Psychosocial problems (e.g. stress, depression, discrimination, isolation)
  • Joint problems (e.g. osteoarthritis)
  • Sleep Apnea and respiratory problems
  • Abnormal menstrual periods and infertility in women
The next time you feel that it is just too much to do what it takes to lose weight or maintain lost weight, I want you to think about how badly you want to live. The choices you make now will affect your ability to live tomorrow. Don’t wait to make changes. Your health is just as important as anything else you are going to do today, so make time for it. If you don’t, then you might not have any time left.

Have questions about this topic?  Please post them on MyNetDiary’s Forum. I would love to hear from you!

Best,
Kathy Isacks, MPS, RD
Consulting Dietitian for MyNetDiary

More Resources

American Heart Association. Obesity Information.  

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Aim for a Healthy Weight.  

Stanford Hospital & Clinics. Health Effects of Obesity.

Office of the Surgeon General. Overweight and Obesity: Health Consequences.

Disclaimer: Please note that we cannot provide personalized advice and that the information provided does not constitute medical advice. If you are seeking medical advice, please visit a medical professional.
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Themed by Hunson. Originally by Josh