Last week Gallup released the results of its latest national “well-being” survey – data which has for the last five years has tracked body mass index (BMI) based on the self-reported height and weight of a sampling of American citizens.
According to the survey, 27.1 percent of Americans are obese – up from 26.2 percent a year ago and 25.5 percent in 2008.
“The upward trend in obesity thus far in 2013 reverses the lower levels found in 2011 and 2012,” Gallup’s pollsters note.
What happened?
“One possible reason why obesity has increased is that fewer Americans are exercising frequently, in 2013 compared with 2012,” the pollsters note.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), obesity rates in America are much higher – 35.7 percent for all adults.
In South Carolina – one of the most obese states in America – Gov. Nikki Haley declared a “war on fat” back in February. However she has yet to follow through on her only concrete proposal in that war – an effort to more tightly regulate the dietary choices of those who receive taxpayer-funded food subsidies.
Catherine Templeton, director of the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC), has put forward a specific proposal for regulating food stamp choices that we support – although it’s not clear whether the Haley administration backs that effort.
One thing we do know is that the governor’s food stamp czarina – Lillian Koller of the S.C. Department of Social Services (SCDSS) – simply cannot be trusted to report accurate data on food stamp usage in the Palmetto State.
***
88 comments
FITSNEWS is very confusing. Yesterday it was all drugs should be legal as it harms no one (well maybe on occasion the user). That’s freedom, right? Now when it comes to eating yourself to death, that’s a different matter.
That’s not what he said you libitard. If your Heroin addiction were supported by the gubmint there is not doubt that Mr. Folks would tell say to end the subsidies. He’s doing the same with food stamps.
Once again, True Conservatism walks the straight line while the commies cross the double yellow line.
Edit: Cross the double yellow line with regularity
IF, as Sic Willie and you believe, the best system the world has seen is libertarianism, why are there and why have there never been any countries on earth, large or small, that have had that form of “government”?
Humans are selfish. Most ask what have you done for me, instead of how should I live.
Perhaps to show you the error (stupidity?) of your ways.
IF, as Sic Willie and you believe, the best system the world has seen is libertarianism, why are there and why have there never been any countries on earth, large or small, that have had that form of “government”?
FITSNEWS is very confusing. Yesterday it was all drugs should be legal as it harms no one (well maybe on occasion the user). That’s freedom, right? Now when it comes to eating yourself to death, that’s a different matter.
That’s not what he said you libitard. If your Heroin addiction were supported by the gubmint there is not doubt that Mr. Folks would tell say to end the subsidies. He’s doing the same with food stamps.
Once again, True Conservatism walks the straight line while the commies cross the double yellow line.
Edit: Cross the double yellow line with regularity
IF, as Sic Willie and you believe, the best system the world has seen is libertarianism, why are there and why have there never been any countries on earth, large or small, that have had that form of “government”?
Humans are selfish. Most ask what have you done for me, instead of how should I live.
Edit: Further, if it’s such a poor form of politics, why are there so many people here trying to run it into the ground?
Perhaps to show you the error (stupidity?) of your ways.
Forrest Gump’s baby sister makes her way across the pasture
Run Big Oak, Run
Forrest Gump’s baby sister makes her way across the pasture
Run Big Oak, Run
Diet trumps exercise. Don’t get me wrong, exercise is definitely good, especially to jump up your metabolism. Still, you can lose weight without significant amounts of exercise, and no amount of exercise will burn a bacon cheeseburger, fries, and milkshake off.
“Eat food. Not to much. Mostly plants.”
-Michael Pollan
Not true.If you burn more calories than you’re taking in,you lose weight.Ask any runner.
Diet trumps exercise. Don’t get me wrong, exercise is definitely good, especially to jump up your metabolism. Still, you can lose weight without significant amounts of exercise, and no amount of exercise will burn a bacon cheeseburger, fries, and milkshake off.
“Eat food. Not to much. Mostly plants.”
-Michael Pollan
Not true.If you burn more calories than you’re taking in,you lose weight.Ask any runner.
It’s expensive to eat healthy.
No it’s not, I feed my family of four a healthy and balanced diet on roughly $125 a week. Sure the Little Debbie cakes may be BOGO this week, but that doesn’t mean you HAVE to buy them.
You are insistent on being an asshole aren’t you Mr. “pics or it didn’t happen” It is fucking expensive to eat healthy. Now you’re just fucking around with common sense.
How can my anecdote be remotely perceived as such? It costs no more to eat healthy than it does to eat like a fat unhealthy slob. Put down the Doritos and do some meal planning you simpleton. You’re not Bakari Sellers in disguise are you?
Nah, He/She is just unwilling to give up his/her McCheetoNickers®
Ok, Frank, please educate me how you guys get the registered mark (r) and the musical notes? I don’t seem to have these on my PC – are these just on iphones, etc.? Thanks.
MS WORD. copy and paste
Frank, thanks. I dug around and found the little boogers – pretty cool!
No Apple, no care.
I eat healthy and I feed my family healthy foods. I also read more than just blogs, pay attention to research and even catch the occasional documentary. My doctor says that I am extremely fit.
I swim and ride and take no meds. My kids are productive, active and healthy.
Start with Food Inc, if your attention span lasts for more than 30 seconds. This is not a debate about food stamps, Nolff simply made a well-founded and popularly accepted observation. It’s not all about politics – ASSHOLE. You obviously have not made the comparisons and your poor wife probably fights that battle while you slug away on your computer.
Perhaps you should buy a juicer and see what $40 bucks worth of veggies becomes in about 10 seconds. The 2nd highest return item on Wal-Mart shelves. It’s a myth.
It’s really not that much more to eat healthy, you just have to research, meal plan and stick to it. A bag of Lays® potato chips is $4.29, a 5 pound bag of potatos is $3.99 or less. Make your own damn potato chips.
Pretty amazing thought there Jay. Chip that I make taste better too. But I fry those sobs.
Jay – I can only budget for bout $65 – 75 at most.. I would love to be able to spend that much. Unemployment does not pay that well.
Produce sales are where it is at. Corn on the cob for 33 cents, buy two, cut them in half, that’s one side for four people. Bag of red potatoes for $3? Cut and season some of those suckers up and bake ’em, save the rest for another meal. Broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, etc., there’s a ton of veggies you can make into sides for a low price. Two sides with a piece of lean meat that is on sale or clearance, done. Sell-by date meats are awesome, throw those in your freezer and they keep for quite a while. You could easily feed four people with the same amount of money some people spend at fast food restaurants just for themselves.
Heck, I’ve known someone to lose weight with cereal and milk in the morning, sandwich and a small handful of pretzels in the afternoon, and one of those lean frozen meals for dinner. Might be a bit routine, but it was fairly cheap.
Eating healthy doesn’t take a lot of money, it just takes discipline and a good eye for deals.
It’s expensive to eat healthy.
No it’s not, I feed my family of four a healthy and balanced diet on roughly $125 a week. Sure the Little Debbie cakes may be BOGO this week, but that doesn’t mean you HAVE to buy them.
You are insistent on being an asshole aren’t you Mr. “pics or it didn’t happen” It is fucking expensive to eat healthy. Now you’re just fucking around with common sense.
How can my anecdote be remotely perceived as such? It costs no more to eat healthy than it does to eat like a fat unhealthy slob. Put down the Doritos and do some meal planning you simpleton. You’re not Bakari Sellers in disguise are you?
Nah, He/She is just unwilling to give up his/her McCheetoNickers®
Ok, Frank, please educate me how you guys get the registered mark (r) and the musical notes? I don’t seem to have these on my PC – are these just on iphones, etc.? Thanks.
MS WORD. copy and paste
Frank, thanks. I dug around and found the little boogers – pretty cool!
No Apple®, no care.
I eat healthy and I feed my family healthy foods. I also read more than just blogs, pay attention to research and even catch the occasional documentary. My doctor says that I am extremely fit.
I swim and ride and take no meds. My kids are productive, active and healthy.
Start with Food Inc, if your attention span lasts for more than 30 seconds. This is not a debate about food stamps, Nolff simply made a well-founded and popularly accepted observation. It’s not all about politics – ASSHOLE. You obviously have not made the comparisons and your poor wife probably fights that battle while you slug away on your computer.
Perhaps you should buy a juicer and see what $40 bucks worth of veggies becomes in about 10 seconds. The 2nd highest return item on Wal-Mart shelves. It’s a myth.
It’s really not that much more to eat healthy, you just have to research, meal plan and stick to it. A bag of Lays® potato chips is $4.29, a 5 pound bag of potatos is $3.99 or less. Make your own damn baked potato chips and while you’re at it you can make mashed potatoes one night, baked potatoes another and maybe even julienne them for a breakfast casserole one morning.
Pretty amazing thought there Jay. Chip that I make taste better too. But I fry those sobs.
Jay – I can only budget for bout $65 – 75 at most.. I would love to be able to spend that much. Unemployment does not pay that well.
Produce sales are where it is at. Corn on the cob for 33 cents, buy two, cut them in half, that’s one side for four people. Bag of red potatoes for $3? Cut and season some of those suckers up and bake ’em, save the rest for another meal. Broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, etc., there’s a ton of veggies you can make into sides for a low price. Two sides with a piece of lean meat that is on sale or clearance, done. Sell-by date meats are awesome, throw those in your freezer and they keep for quite a while. You could easily feed four people with the same amount of money some people spend at fast food restaurants just for themselves.
Heck, I’ve known someone to lose weight with cereal and milk in the morning, sandwich and a small handful of pretzels in the afternoon, and one of those lean frozen meals for dinner. Might be a bit routine, but it was fairly cheap.
Eating healthy doesn’t take a lot of money, it just takes discipline and a good eye for deals.
Koller has no control over what can be purchased with SNAP. There is no capture of information on what is purchased with SNAP unless the grocers are capturing this information. It’s a Federal program administered by the state. Do some research. However, you are correct that she can’t be trusted.
I can’t speak to if they do or do not, but look at your credit card statement. This information is easily captured right down to the fraction of pounds of bananas you buy. Very Easy.
Grocery store registers usually come up with an “EBT total” that exempts tax and any non-EBT items.
Major grocers do have their systems set up to know what is WIC approved and what is not. They also categorize foods based on departments (meat, deli, produce) and some categories (non-food grocery, hot/prepared deli food) is blocked out from the EBT total. It would be a simple matter for them to create a category to fit junk food into. If a grocery chain got busted not properly doing it, they could be fined and/or stripped of the ability to handle EBT customers.
The hurdle is convenience stores. I know a lot of convenience stores are accepting EBT now. You could tell them that yes, they have to separate by category, but that doesn’t mean they will, and investigating an individual store or small chain is not feasible. Any store that tries to get away with selling beer as food would try to sell a Snickers bar as a fruit if they had to.
You are correct in most of your comment. Major retailers don’t want to be disqualified. Most of the abuse is from the convenience stores. However, you are incorrect the investigations. Most of the investigations of SNAP fraud are convenience stores or mom and pop grocers. They tend to investigate when a small store is doing a food stamp volume disproportionate to the size of the store. There are other factors involved also. Long explanation here but I won’t go into it.
Koller has no control over what can be purchased with SNAP. There is no capture of information on what is purchased with SNAP unless the grocers are capturing this information. It’s a Federal program administered by the state. Do some research. However, you are correct that she can’t be trusted.
I can’t speak to if they do or do not, but look at your credit card statement. This information is easily captured right down to the fraction of pounds of bananas you buy. Very Easy.
Grocery store registers usually come up with an “EBT total” that exempts tax and any non-EBT items.
Major grocers do have their systems set up to know what is WIC approved and what is not. They also categorize foods based on departments (meat, deli, produce) and some categories (non-food grocery, hot/prepared deli food) is blocked out from the EBT total. It would be a simple matter for them to create a category to fit junk food into. If a grocery chain got busted not properly doing it, they could be fined and/or stripped of the ability to handle EBT customers.
The hurdle is convenience stores. I know a lot of convenience stores are accepting EBT now. You could tell them that yes, they have to separate by category, but that doesn’t mean they will, and investigating an individual store or small chain is not feasible. Any store that tries to get away with selling beer as food would try to sell a Snickers bar as a fruit if they had to.
You are correct in most of your comment. Major retailers don’t want to be disqualified. Most of the abuse is from the convenience stores. However, you are incorrect the investigations. Most of the investigations of SNAP fraud are convenience stores or mom and pop grocers. They tend to investigate when a small store is doing a food stamp volume disproportionate to the size of the store. There are other factors involved also. Long explanation here but I won’t go into it.
According to the CDC, Heisman hopeful Jadeveon Clowney at 6-6, 274 is not only overweight for his height, but actually obese with a BMI of 31.7! Spurrier better get that kid on a treadmill.
Not to diminish the fact that America is the land of the fat, but the scale used to calculate obesity at 37% is leaving out a few factors.
Wrong, BMI is highly accurate when assessing a population. It was never meant for individuals. Ba da bing, ba da boom
What? Where do you get this little tidbit from? I would truly love to see the reference as this is a metric that must be achieved in order to keep my insurance rates from doubling?
Seriously.
I’ve got the same problem. The BMI doesn’t adjust for muscle. It’s a bullshit statistic.
There’s a lot of muscular guys that clock in “overweight” using that nonsense measurement.
According to the CDC, Heisman hopeful Jadeveon Clowney at 6-6, 274 is not only overweight for his height, but actually obese with a BMI of 31.7! Spurrier better get that kid on a treadmill.
Not to diminish the fact that America is the land of the fat, but the scale used to calculate obesity at 37% is leaving out a few factors.
Wrong, BMI is highly accurate when assessing a population. It was never meant for individuals. Ba da bing, ba da boom
What? Where do you get this little tidbit from? I would truly love to see the reference as this is a metric that must be achieved in order to keep my insurance rates from doubling?
Seriously.
I’ve got the same problem. The BMI doesn’t adjust for muscle. It’s a bullshit statistic.
There’s a lot of muscular guys that clock in “overweight” using that nonsense measurement.
At least the lady pictured above is exercising, and is willing to subject herself to ridicule from the general populace who drive by. More power to her.
Thank you.
‘cept she’s wearing flip flops…..which makes me think she might just be taking a shortcut across the grass to get to Krispy Kreme before they turn off the “HOT NOW” sign.
you are way too optimistic
At least the lady pictured above is exercising, and is willing to subject herself to ridicule from the general populace who drive by. More power to her.
Thank you.
‘cept she’s wearing flip flops…..which makes me think she might just be taking a shortcut across the grass to get to Krispy Kreme before they turn off the “HOT NOW” sign.
you are way too optimistic
50 million people on Food Stamps…double since Obama took office.
Have you ever stood behind an EBT customer? They not only buy all top shelf…they don’t count calories…The big new cars they drive sag on one side…’saggin’ and baggin’ because the driver is 300-plus…
No disciplne,….Most likely why they are on food stamps in the first place…
That’s Fact. Saw this poor little Hunyadi once. ROTFLMMFAO.
BBBwwwwahahahahhahahahahahhh
The woman opened the door, got up and the car said “SSSSSSSSSSShhhhhittttt”. Front end came up off the ground about 2′. Amazing feat since the damn thing only sits about 1’6 off the ground empty? :) WTF
BBBBwwwwaahahahahahahahahahahhahahas
Americans in general, and Southerners in particular, are fat because hey’re addicted to fatty, high calorie garbage. If you need evidence, take a gander at the crowd at Golden Corral. How Jesus. They wouldn’t eat healthy food if Bobby Flay came to their house and prepared it. And we’re hopelessly lazy, too. The combination equals a nation of fatties.
Frankly, I don’t care. Chubby girls have self-esteem issues and work harder. The guys – except in Charleston where the rules of sexual attraction are apparently suspended – don’t usually compete. Suits me.
And how would YOU know what people at the Golden Corral look like? You know, the ones that you refer to as “they” who ” wouldn’t eat healthy food…..”
Oh, I get it, you go to the GC to just hit up the salad bar since they are always so fresh and delicious……You know you eat that fried catfish and three day old beef tips too you stupid motherfucker. You’re probably sitting on a bench at Dollywood right this minute sucking down an extra large funnel cake.
lol….that’s some funny shit right there
Dude, I love the chocolate waterfall. It’s the tits. No, sorry, I didn’t know you GC fans were so sensitive. I’m sure it’s terrific.
Just a suggestion: When you’re calling someone a “stupid motherfucker,” it’s best not to have three grammatical mistake in the same sentence. Just saying. And just so you know, I’m drinking a frosty cold beer after a four mile run. I plan on following that beer with enough bourbon to kill a family of pachyderms.
*** mistakes
Americans in general, and Southerners in particular, are fat because hey’re addicted to fatty, high calorie garbage. If you need evidence, take a gander at the crowd at Golden Corral. How Jesus. They wouldn’t eat healthy food if Bobby Flay came to their house and prepared it. And we’re hopelessly lazy, too. The combination equals a nation of fatties.
Frankly, I don’t care. Chubby girls have self-esteem issues and work harder. The guys – except in Charleston where the rules of sexual attraction are apparently suspended – don’t usually compete. Suits me.
And how would YOU know what people at the Golden Corral look like? You know, the ones that you refer to as “they” who ” wouldn’t eat healthy food…..”
Oh, I get it, you go to the GC to just hit up the salad bar since they are always so fresh and delicious……You know you eat that fried catfish and three day old beef tips too you stupid motherfucker. You’re probably sitting on a bench at Dollywood right this minute sucking down an extra large funnel cake.
lol….that’s some funny shit right there
Dude, I love the chocolate waterfall. It’s the tits. No, sorry, I didn’t know you GC fans were so sensitive. I’m sure it’s terrific.
Just a suggestion: When you’re calling someone a “stupid motherfucker,” it’s best not to have three grammatical mistake in the same sentence. Just saying. And just so you know, I’m drinking a frosty cold beer after a four mile run. I plan on following that beer with enough bourbon to kill a family of pachyderms.
*** mistakes
Hell, the only thing keeping me and my wife from swinging is that one of us would have to take a hit for the team.
Hell, the only thing keeping me and my wife from swinging is that one of us would have to take a hit for the team.
I am part of this issue and its my own damn fault for not exercising. I blame that on me, I am the one in control of that, at the same damn time, why not lower or eliminate any taxes on healthy foods, fruits and vegetables as the cost for buying these items has sky rocketed while foods that are comfort foods are still relatively inexpensive. I can not control the costs of these items, but the government can, and they can lower them ust by reducing or eliminating the taxes on them .
Also, when concerning food stamp recipients, why not limit or restrict what they can be used for. ie… get rid of covering potato chips, slim jims, and other junk food, and be more like WIC where you can buy groceries, but limit the fatty foods that it will cover. I am tired of going to a convenience store and seeing some one buy 40 bucks worth of junk food and then swipe their food stamps card to pay for it.
Exactly correct. I’ve seen this many times myself. The store will frequently have a small shelf of banana’s and apples. This is a requirement for being able to accept food stamps.
http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailers/store-eligibility.htm
“Offer for sale, on a continuous basis, at least three varieties of qualifying foods in each of the following four staple food groups, with perishable foods in at least two of the categories:
meat, poultry or fish
bread or cereal
vegetables or fruits
dairy products”
So I can buy a kindergarten milk, an apple, and a prepackaged bowl of cereal.
Along with that I’m getting 2 cases of Pepsi and a box of Snickers to keep the brats busy while I suck on my 40.
I am part of this issue and its my own damn fault for not exercising. I blame that on me, I am the one in control of that, at the same damn time, why not lower or eliminate any taxes on healthy foods, fruits and vegetables as the cost for buying these items has sky rocketed while foods that are comfort foods are still relatively inexpensive. I can not control the costs of these items, but the government can, and they can lower them ust by reducing or eliminating the taxes on them .
Also, when concerning food stamp recipients, why not limit or restrict what they can be used for. ie… get rid of covering potato chips, slim jims, and other junk food, and be more like WIC where you can buy groceries, but limit the fatty foods that it will cover. I am tired of going to a convenience store and seeing some one buy 40 bucks worth of junk food and then swipe their food stamps card to pay for it.
Exactly correct. I’ve seen this many times myself. The store will frequently have a small shelf of banana’s and apples. This is a requirement for being able to accept food stamps.
http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailers/store-eligibility.htm
“Offer for sale, on a continuous basis, at least three varieties of qualifying foods in each of the following four staple food groups, with perishable foods in at least two of the categories:
meat, poultry or fish
bread or cereal
vegetables or fruits
dairy products”
So I can buy a kindergarten milk, an apple, and a prepackaged bowl of cereal.
Along with that I’m getting 2 cases of Pepsi and a box of Snickers to keep the brats busy while I suck on my 40.