It’s easy to become carbophobic these days: The
Atkins and South Beach diets have shamed us into it. If
you browse the shelves of many Virginia grocery stores
you’ll find such fare as “low-carb”
bread – an oxymoron if ever there was one. Is all
this concern justified? Exactly how fat are Virginians?
In 2003, the American Public Health Association reported
that 58 percent of Virginia adults are overweight or obese.
Our state motto may soon be amended to: “Virginia
Is for Food Lovers”! At least we’re not alone
in our love for carb-intense dining. According to the
American Obesity Association, Virginia ranks near the
middle of state obesity rates.
(AOA defines obese as having a Body
Mass Index is 30 or more. BMI is calculated based
on weight and height.)
AOA states that the percentage of obese Virginians doubled
between 1991 and 2001, from 10 to 20 percent. There are
21 states with obesity rates of 20 percent or less; Colorado
has the lowest rate of obesity at 14 percent, and Mississippi
has the highest at 25 percent. Other lean states include
Arizona, Connecticut and Hawaii; on the heavier side are
Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia.
On the dissenting side is the National Association to
Advance Fat Acceptance, which disputes some definitions
of “overweight” and “obese.” Citing
the familiar charts that suggest a “normal”
weight range for a specific height, NAAFA argues that
these charts were devised in the 1950s based on research
by an insurance company, and not on medical studies. The
original research did not accurately reflect the U.S.
population because it focused primarily on white males
and was biased economically. Besides, NAAFA sniffs, “Terms
like fat or large are only bad if we think being fat is
bad. It is a description, not a judgment: people do come
in many sizes."
Whether you’ve accepted your girth or not, enough
studies associate obesity with an increased risk of heart
disease and cancer that the Virginia Department of Health
has taken notice. In February, the Department launched
Lighten Up
Virginia, a four-month project to encourage us to
develop healthier exercise and nutrition habits.
In the project, teams of two to 10 people competed to
see who could lose the most weight. “The Rowdy Gang”
from the Mt. Rogers Health District, which includes six
counties in southwestern Virginia, was awarded first place
at the opening ceremony of the Virginia Commonwealth Games
on July 16 in Roanoke. The team attributed its weight
loss to the fact that members walked, swam, gardened,
mowed lawns (with a push mower) and played with children
and grandchildren to assure their victory.
VDH is also responsible for Walk
Smart, Virginia! which targets fourth, seventh and
ninth graders. It challenges them to a virtual walk across
Virginia. Students begin in Eastville on the Eastern shore
and travel through 20 cities – north to Alexandria,
west to Roanoke and south to Emporia. Participating schools
receive pedometers to lend to students.
Walking will only get us so far, especially if young Virginians
reflect national trends in snacking. A 2002 survey by
the Snack Food Association and the National Potato Promotion
Board found that potato chips are the most popular snack
in the U.S. More than 1.6 billion pounds are sold each
year! The groups surveyed college students (definitely
a skewed demographic) and discovered that females prefer
sour cream and onion-flavored chips, followed by barbecue
and then plain. Men choose barbecue, then sour cream and
onion, followed by plain. After potato chips, tortilla
chips are the most popular among male students, and pretzels
among women.
Believe it or not, such choices may reflect personality
types. Last spring Forbes reported that The Smell &
Taste Treatment Research Center found that people who
love potato chips tend to be successful high achievers;
people who snack on crackers are contemplative and thoughtful;
pretzel aficionados are lively and energetic, and cheese
curl enthusiasts are formal and conscientious. Somebody
should poll Virginia legislators to discover the snack-based
secrets to their successes.
In the meantime, pass the Virginia country ham –
a slice has only two grams of carbs.
August 23, 2004
(Got a question? Check out Ask
a Librarian Live.)
Nice & Curious
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Last Modified:
Friday, June 27, 2008
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