NYT: C.D.C. Team Investigates an Outbreak of Obesity (like disease, in WV)

[DeepModem Mom]

C.D.C. Team Investigates an Outbreak of Obesity
By GINA KOLATA
Published: June 3, 2005


For the first time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has sent a team of specialists into a state, West Virginia, to study an outbreak of obesity in the same way it studies an outbreak of an infectious disease.

Kerri Kennedy, the program manager at the West Virginia Physical Activity and Nutrition Program, said the state had requested the agency's investigation.

"We were looking at our data," Ms. Kennedy said, and saw that "we are facing a severe health crisis."

The state ranked third in the nation for obesity - 27.6 percent of its adults were obese, compared with 20.4 percent in the country as a whole. And, Ms. Kennedy said, "our rate of obesity appears to be increasing faster than the rest of the nation."

Going along with the obesity was a high prevalence of diabetes and high blood pressure, which are associated with extra pounds. West Virginia ranks fourth in the nation for diabetes, with 10.2 percent of the population affected, compared with 6.4 percent nationwide. And it is No. 1 in its prevalence of high blood pressure, with 33.1 percent having the condition, compared with 25.8 percent of people nationwide....


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/03/health/03obese.html?hp&ex=1117771200&en=289e5b2b50d947ae&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[Sabriel]

1. I'm still waiting for the study of the outbreak of stupidity

It occurred in 2000 and 2004, in widespread areas of the country, concentrated mostly in the central and southern states.

[VegasWolf]

2. Eating too much greasy, oily fried chicken makes one vote for bush. n/t

[davidinalameda]

3. no it doesn't

I love me some greasy fried chicken

but seriously, this has to be one of the damn dumbest things I've ever read

of course there are lots of fat people in West Virginia

I grew up there

this is nothing new

[bertha katzenengel]

4. There's a stupid comment.

:eyes:

[KT2000]

5. Not to worry

when they investigate clusters - they NEVER find a reason. Kids getting leukemia in a community with jet fuel in the water supply? hell no - just a statistical anomaly.

[DeepModem Mom]

9. Unfortunately, a good point, KT. nt

[SoCalDem]

6. Poverty, joblessness, and hopelessness..Start there, guys..

:eyes:

Fatty, starchy, sugary, artificial foods are cheaper and more filling.

[truthisfreedom]

7. those are pretty alarming numbers. it would be remarkable if something

new was discovered!

[Rainscents]

8. Maybe they should investigate the outbreak of GOP disease... see what's

causing their brain to go malfunctioned.