[Vision2020] Obesity Compared To Tobacco: Premature Deaths: Physical Activity & Obesity

[Ted Moffett]

*Saundra Lund* v2020 at ssl.fastmail.fm
<vision2020%40moscow.com?Subject=%5BVision2020%5D%20Draft%20Ordinance%20Banning%20Smoking%20in%20Bars&In-Reply-To=1f0ec0aaa8f65b5a1a10e2ee96d4b9ef.squirrel%40secure.fsr.com>
*Wed Jun 24 11:15:40 PDT 2009* wrote:

Let's see . . . obesity is either the #1 or #2 cause of premature death in
the US depending on what study you read.
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Can you provide a reference to the study that claims obesity is the number
one cause of premature death in the US?  I have not found any credible
evidence that obesity has overtaken tobacco as the number one cause of
premature death, though obesity has increased, especially among children.
It would be interesting to look at this study, given it contradicts the
Center for Disease Control.

A 2005 CDC study estimated that approximately 112,000 deaths are associated
with obesity
each year in the United States, making obesity the second leading
contributor to
premature death.1

1. Flegal KM, et al. “Excess Deaths Associated with Underweight, Overweight,
and Obesity.” Journal of the
American Medical Association 2005, vol. 293, pp. 1861-1867.

http://cspinet.org/new/pdf/sdtaxes_obesity_factsheet.pdf.

http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:2z2EEXIBFsoJ:cspinet.org/new/pdf/sdtaxes_obesity_factsheet.pdf+obesity+premature+death+rate+2008+cdc+ama&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

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If there is a study claiming that obesity is the number one cause of
premature death, it is in dramatic disagreement with the unequivocal
statement on tobacco as the nations leading killer, from the CDC, in a 2009
report.  The 112,000 annual premature deaths figure for obesity given in the
study referenced above is dramatically below the 443,000 premature deaths
from tobacco use annually, as indicated from the CDC at the two URLs below,
in a 2009 report titled "Tobacco Use: Targeting the Nations Leading Killer":


A*bout 443,000 U.*S*. Deaths *A*ttributable *E*ach Year to *C*igarette *S*
moking**

Other Cancers

35,300

Lung Cancer128,900

Stroke

15,900

OtherDiagnoses44,000

ChronicObstructivePulmonary Disease 92,900

Ischemic Heart Disease 126,000

* Average annual number of deaths, 2000–2004. Source:
*MMWR *2008;57(45):1226–1228.

http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/publications/aag/pdf/tobacco.pdf

http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/publications/aag/osh.htm
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According to the information at the CDC website below, much chronic disease
is associated with four risk factors: smoking, lack of exercise, poor diet
and excessive alcohol use.  Obesity could be greatly diminished even with a
high calorie diet by physical activity.  I am an example.  When I was a
teenager, I ate the "Fast Food Nation" diet:  cheeseburgers, milkshakes,
french fries, ice cream, in astonishing quantities, yet never became
overweight.  In fact, I was lean and in great physical shape, due in part to
year round long distance running (cross country, track).  If the government
wanted to legislate a reduction in obesity, especially considering the
alarming rise in childhood obesity, which is a risk factor for obesity
continuing into adulthood, mandating significant physical activity as a
routine for all children in schools could have a great impact.

http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/publications/AAG/pdf/chronic.pdf

------------------------------------------
Vision2020 Post: Ted Moffett

*Saundra Lund* v2020 at ssl.fastmail.fm
<vision2020%40moscow.com?Subject=%5BVision2020%5D%20Draft%20Ordinance%20Banning%20Smoking%20in%20Bars&In-Reply-To=1f0ec0aaa8f65b5a1a10e2ee96d4b9ef.squirrel%40secure.fsr.com>
*Wed Jun 24 11:15:40 PDT 2009* wrote:


>
> So.  What's next?  What other lawful activities that offend their
> sensibilities will they want to legislate out of existence?
>
> Let's see . . . obesity is either the #1 or #2 cause of premature death in
> the US depending on what study you read.  Perhaps we should move next to
> make it illegal to sell or serve high calorie or high fat foods to those
> who
> are obese?
>
>
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