It is often said that a picture is worth a thousand words, but does that still hold true when viewing an animated map demonstrating the rising rate of obesity here in the United States over the past 25 years? We all know that obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater, has been steadily rising across the country, especially in the south. It is a major risk factor for type II diabetes, liver disease, cancer and cardiovascular disease, however, even with these staggering statistics, we, as a nation, only continue to put on the pounds with each passing year as seen in the maps below. Obesity not only leads to a greater risk of developing the diseases listed above, but this trend is beginning to place a burden on our healthcare system, our insurance industry, not to mention our quality of life. If we do not slow, or better yet, turn the tide on this epidemic, we will eventually all pay the cost for the choices we make. Do maps like the one above have any effect on the way you live your life? Do you find they help or hinder the country's quest to get healthy? How do you feel about your own state's statistic? |
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