Cancer, heart disease, strokes. These are all tangible threats to our health. But obesity? That’s a bigger problem. You can’t pick up a cigarette without the pack slapping you with a skull and cross bones. But what about that sweet, innocent donut? Is there a killer warning label on the side of the box? No – just some happy, bubbly, pink and orange font. Seems harmless enough.

And it’s not all our fault that things have gotten out of hand. According to the experts, we’re being inundated with more and more unhealthy foods.

“It is harder and harder to eat well," says Margo Wootan, director of nutrition policy at the Center for Science in the Public Interest. "For Americans today, healthy eating is like swimming upstream. It's not that you can't do it, it's just it's so hard. Without changing the food environment, people don't stand a chance of following the advice in the dietary guidelines."

And now about two-thirds of us – and a third of children – are overweight or obese.

Wootan offers three tips for cutting calories:
1. cut portions
2. eat less when dining out
3. drink fewer sugary drinks.

How do you cut calories without cutting out all the fun?


*I swear I burn hundreds of extra calories just so I can watch the end of “Say Yes to the Dress” or “What Not to Wear.” Can you tell I don’t have cable at home?

Labels: cupcakes, health threat, obesity

Despite The Biggest Loser, P90 X and Jenny Craig, Americans are still gaining weight. A new study shows adult obesity has risen in 23 states. And in 30 states nearly 1 kid out of 3 is overweight. No state was able to lose any weight, either.

It makes you wonder what kind of control couches and candy have over us. We know better, yet we can’t seem to get it right.

Mississippi has, for the fifth year in a row, come in as the heaviest state in the nation – 32.5% of adults there are overweight. It also holds the top spot for overweight children, with a rate of 44.4%. A good reason for this could be the state’s lack of physical and nutritional education in most schools. Don’t get me wrong. I hated playing dodge ball and capture the flag, but there’s a certain P.E. rite of passage every child should experience.

Colorado was the lightest state in the US with only 18.9% of adults overweight. It must be all those Rocky Mountains out there – now that’s a good workout.

Even the CDC says more than 26% of Americans are now fully obese.

Obviously we need to cut the sweets and sweat. What motivates you to lose weight? Share your tips with us!

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Labels: Biggest Loser, Jenny Craig, obesity, weight loss