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Ever hear of an OBESE city?

A recent Forbes article said and I quote " Once considered an affliction of the lazy and indulgent, obesity now affects about one-third of Americans, most of them in these cities....I have no intention here to name the cities on the worst list. This problem is endemic across America and though some areas could be highlighted, the point here is that we must all be aware of these issues and pointing out one area over another serves no purpose.

When I first signed on to ActiveRain in late March 2007, someone had written an article about obesity. I wondered at the time, what does this have to do with real estate?

I have since come to understand that as a society what we eat and how much is a serious factor in not only our health but in the health of our nation as a whole.

The health of your city and the obesity factors seem to be connected somewhere around the hip bone.

What's the cause of all this excess weight? Experts probably don't always agree, but it seems to have something to do with the pace we are living our lives and that factors in to the rise in the fast food establishments.

Cities with lots of parks and green spaces for people to run and play, just seem to have a lesser percentage of obesity overall. With that, it appears that the desirability factor of a community could also be enhanced and be a real draw to buyers that seek communities that can provide the needed green space to grow with their children. Communiuties that will include schools that have the best interests of our kids with good educational programs including how they provide for a child's health with good nutritional programs.

Poor nutrition, another noticeable factor often found in so many of our schools often rely on vending machines filled with all the sugar filled foods and goodies that are substituted for balanced lower caloric meals. This practice is now gaining the attention of community leaders as well as state legislatures that want to ban these too convenient sources for poor nutrition.

Community lifestyle change will result in less obesity. Here are some recommended areas to observe and you can draw your own conclusion.

Look at the grocery stores, are they filled with shelf after shelf of sugar water beverages? The sugar and fat filled bakery goods, capping every aisle. Convenience stores filled with greasy fat and sugar filled fast food.

Look in the community with no sidewalks or walking paths - public planning strategies that favor motorists over walkers and cyclists. Here is also a place for public pressure to change those priorities and plan for a better quality of life. This may have a high cost, but the alternative can not longer be acceptable if we want to take any serious action against obesity.

If your city or community squawks that they can not afford to provide the way and sources for nutrient rich foods instead of fast food - reminding them that our annual bill for obesity related costs is over $93 billion a year might garner their attention.

So, as it is in our nation, it is in our many communities. Too much poverty and fast food consumption, and too little in the way of parks and recreation areas, farmers markets and even community garden centers that can grow their own healthy and nutritious foods.

The time to observe these things and put in motion the change, will require dedication to the task. In the longer run, it will save lives helping to prevent our overweight children from these dreaded results of heart disease, diabetes, cancers and poor vascular health. We must encourage our fast food restaurants to change their menus and provide better and more nutritious food service. We will at the same time will be improving our communities and that will make them more desirable to sustain the natural growth of keeping the community vital and being a healthy place to live.

Do it for yourself and your family. Do it for your community and in turn we will take a proactive stand for our entire nation.

Posted by San Diego Real Estate Voice authored by William Johnson on 11/18/2007 11:19 AM

Comments (45)

community health, fast food, heart disease, diabetes, childrens health, nutrition

45 Comments on Ever hear of an OBESE city?

NOV

2007

I saw the documentary "Super Size Me" and it horrified me. On that happy note I will now depart for the "Taste of Bonita" food festival so I can blog about it later. (hypocrate)

Good Morning William - Here in Texas it is a problem with all the Mexican food! Some of our cities have taken a proactive stance and are really trying to alleviate the problem beginning in the schools.

I think it's probably easier to correct the problem when you start young...old habits die hard. I know here in Ft. Worth we are blessed to have a lot of parks with walking/biking trails. People here, as a whole, are outdoor people. It's hard to stay active indoors!

You are right. It has become a national fact of our Americans going to far with food and health.

A lot of the obese people in the US are poor minorities. I am sure New Orleans ranks up top. It is not because of lack of green spaces. It is cultural and people are what they eat. Have you ever been to an inner city supermarket and see what they sell? Many of these people have no idea of what good eating is. Many are on food stamps, have poor jobs, little education and are stuck. This is all about attitude and the life style that they have. There are of course other factors. There is a high correlation between per low capita income and fat people. I have no idea of how it is going to change unless people get educated and have good jobs. You can thank the great society for many of these ills.

Obesity is a problem that many cities are combating. You are right in pointing out that the cost of not dealing with the issue is far greater than the cost to correct the problem. Obesity is a contributing factor to many lifethreatening conditions: Diabetes, Heart Disease, etc. The cost to treat these diseases is enormous. Here are some examples of some things happening on the front lines in the war abainst obesity out here on the East Coast:

New York City was the first city to ban trans-fats in eateries, and Philadelphia, PA City Council recently joined the fight by passing their own "Trans-fat ban" which prohibits businesses within the city from selling or serving products with trans fats. That measure was recently ammended to exempt bakeries, because so many of their specialty products require it. (icing on wedding cakes, certain pastries and cakes which require shortening in the recipe, for example)
Chester, PA has a childhood obesity rate somewhere near 4 times the national average. The largest contributing factor is the lack of available nutritious food. In the entire City of Chester, there are no ful service grocery stores. The people are limited to over-priced junkfood and the not-so-fresh produce found at convenience stores. To help combat this, many residents are banding together to create a grocery co-op that will provide quality produce and nutritious food for the people of the city of Chester. You can read about it here: Chester Co-op -- a Community Investing in Itself

There is an old saying, "An ounce of Prevention is worth a pound of Cure." We can apply that concept quite readily to the epidemic of preventable conditions that are associated with obesity. By spending money to provide healthy environments, available sources of nutrition, and educational programs, we will reduce the need for even greater spending on healthcare.

Great blog William!

Mothers call me and tell me that my daughter refused junk food. They want to know how I indoctrinated her so well. Besides leading by example, she has only been exposed to healthy food at home and grew accustomed to it, I guess. The junk stuff is too intense, almost an attack on your taste buds. I might blog about that in the future.

You brought up some very good points. I appreciate it! Keep up the good work, my man! I always enjoy your blogs!

Hello Chris Elizabeth, Thank you for your great comments and do enjoy the food fair. But think about making it a tasting experience as opposed to just eating. That keeps the quantity under control and will enhance the delight of your palette experience. Besides, it probably won't be junk food,:-)

Well ...that was different :) We just had pizza from pizza hut last night...with the stuffed crust. And cinnamon sticks with icing...and bread sticks....lol! I guess it's salad day now. :)

Hi Linda, Many thanks for stopping by and commenting on this issue with your own empirical evidence. As I was reading the comments there are some really excellent ideas and even some specific things we can all do. Many thanks for enhancing this post and it seems to me that we might have hit on a subject that we in the Real Estate profession have some good data to share.

William- The fast food is not only causing obesity but the chemically laden foods on the shelves and in the fast food places cause more than obesity. They are causing cancer of the colon and liver in alarming degrees. I study whole food nutrition and I am doing a series of posts that I am starting this week about prescription drugs and processed foods and how to make the changes we need to make for our own lives! Katerina

Good morning to you Sally, sounds like you had a taste delight ( my reference to junk food,lol). I don't know where I heard this ( probably from my doctor) that if it tastes good, don't eat it! Now I know that is a real exaggeration as nutritious food can also taste great but it does go to the way we are trained. When I was a kid, my MOM would make spinach and I would have to eat it. Usually about an hour or so after it was served, cold and probably full of a running nose from crying because I hated it. When I grew up, liberation for me was never ever having to eat the stuff. A few years ago, I discovered that I actually liked the taste when served as a salad. Just like I hate cooked broccoli but love it raw. Cooking things like this doesn't make it more nutritious so some of the answers to solving taste issues is in how it is prepared or as in this case, not prepared, just washed and eaten raw. Yuk to sushi though, not going to happen in my lifetime. Even the thought of it is nauseating to me,lol. I take my Omega 3's in capsule form. Even they are hard to swallow but I discovered that keeping them in the refrigerator really helps with getting them down. So much easier for me when they are cold.

Hi Gary, Thanks for your very cogent thoughts here. We do have a serious problem and hopefully we the citizens of our country solve it soon. Read Eric's and Rick's comments, they get to the real heart of this issue.

Eric, you raise some of the more important points about this subject. Part of what you rasie as an issue is about self esteeem and gratification ( most often substituted through the palette when the emotional gratification is missing). Education for these children though paramount does give them all that they need. Because most often ( for little kids at least) they have little control of what is provided for them. And once the taste of junk food has become thier norm, other more nutrious foods, not being provided and they do not learn to eat properly and recognize what is wrong with the learning to like the taste of junk food. Poverty is part of the riddle but it is more about being NOT motivated to care. When they suffer the tragety of poverty, they also suffer the lack of motivation to learn and the poor nutrition makes them phyically sick , mentally starved and further complicates the issues they face. It is a cycle that needs others to help break for them as they havn't the capacity to break it themselves. It is a really tough problem and one we need almost a miracle to solve. But we all must keep trying to affect the needed change. Every child saved from this peril will improve the nation as a whole.

Eric, your comments are fabulous. Your vision and passion are showing that you fully recognize the seriousness of the probalem and even to suggest specific things that help to alliviate it. An awesome comment and worthy of a post , all on its own. Thanks you for your serious contribution and enhancing my post. You are to be commended for adding such useful and specific information here. Many Thanks again, working together, we will overcome this prelude of the "silent killer" ( poor nutrition and heart diseae ) for many people in our nation.

Hello Mirela, Wonderful! How pleased you must be that you were so successful in accomplishing what so many americans say can't be done. Teaching kids that junk food is actually no good and the alternative will provide the chance for a much more satisfying life. ( based on the fact that they will most likely be healthier and have better opportunities to expand their healthy minds).

Do the post. I can see that people in our profession are proving to be more educated and have more practical experience ( like yours and your child's refusal of junk food) to lead the way to improve all of our lives with much better understanding about nutrition and the benefits of applying the right nutritional habits in our lives. Great comments and Thank You for adding them here.

Dear Nestor and Katrina, Wow, I will be looking forward to reading those. You will contributing greatly to helping many of us learn the dangers that we can take action against and also learn the right habits along the way. You will be contributing to the motivation needed to learn this life saving information. Thank you for your comments here and I know we will all do better to heed the great information you will be providing. From all of us, thank you for sharing what you have learned and how we can all benefit from you sharing it. Many Thanks again!

William - Scientific studies & fast food aside, I would like to offer my own take on what is going on. Notice the first six letters of the forum we are on. Yup, Active. Whatever happened to parking a little bit too far from the store, getting up to change the channel, taking the stairs instead of the elevator? There is a fundamental problem here and simplicity fixes it. Watch what you eat & drink, of course, but ACTIVITY helps to deter this from becoming an overwhelming issue/problem.

By the way, I loathe pastries and buttermilk. It makes me sick just thinking about them. Yet, I love a frosty cold adult malt beverage....I figure it to be a wash:-)

Hey Good Morning Jason,

I learned when I bought my new car it can cause a weight loss. Ok , a small one but a weight loss non the less. Want to know how? Because to keep your new car from being dented or scratched, it is usually necessary to park where other don't. Automatically guaranteeing that you will have a walk a lot farther no matter whether shopping, going to work, etc. If new car dealers could simply learn this, they could market new cars as a potential weight loss program, LOL

I am only half jesting here as surely you were in believing that trading a malt beverage forgives the pastries you didn't eat,LMAO. You really hit the mark though with increased activity. As bloggers, we have to watch how much additional time we are spending sitting.

Here is a challenge. Let's find a way to write out posts while jogging and with all the increased circulation in the brain, all the increased activity of our bodies ( I have never seen anyone eat cupcakes while jogging) and preventing the intake of all the empty calories while doing so and I would bet that we will become bazillionaires for how to do these things. Telepathy doesn't work but technology might be able to provide the answer. And BTW, we would be very healthy bazillionaires at that. We could expect to live long to spend it. Let's do it!

Thanks for contributing here Jason and know you are on the right track and yes the word ACTIVE is a great balance to the poor choices we often make in what we consume.

Well, I don't drink alcohol at all....don't smoke.... and all I have left is to enjoy life. I am far from obestiy but I could stand to lose 10 pounds. Active (read Jason's comment) ..... Gary will be home in a few minutes....and we're going to walk to the car...and walk into Costco, carry food to the house....and then eat. lol! What's Omega stuff?

Hi Sally, The Omega 3's are fatty acids that help to prevent cholesterol from forming in our arteries. There is so much more to knowing about them and they are in both seafood and many plants. Google Omega 3's and be sure to get them in your diet.

You are on the right path. Here is a little tip for Costco. Do fast walking in the isles and pass up most of the food isles and then you will be enhancing your overall Costco experience, LMAO. Just kidding ( ok, just kidding a little). Their food supplies are not known for good nutrition but I will admit, it tastes pretty good! When I actually read the labels , I usually leave with a much lighter load. So I make up for the missing weight in the cart by buying cases of paper, then I feel guilty because I must be wasting it. I just can't win at Costco. The logical answer is don't push a cart. If you can't carry it, don't buy it, lol

We are going to have some serious laughs when we meet in person. I'm so looking forward to it.

Sorri for the skewed and grammaticalle incorrect comment William, I'm doing jumping jaks as I tyep:-)

Wow, You took the challenge and we are going to be bazillionaires. Yeah! Jumping jacks while blogging. I hope we can teach this. We will first need a video . We could call it "Jumping with Jason". Then we need to demonstrate how you are using technology ( or just good sense in getting someone else to type for you,lol) to blog while doing jumping jacks. Then we will have all that marketing to do and handling all the sales that will come in. We will also have to decide if we want to keep it virtual or go bricks and mortar with jumping pads and computers on compression poles that will be able to keep up with us jumping up and down.

While this may be a funny visual, I remind you ( dating my self) of the Pet Rock and the sensation is was to the marketing world. The crazier it is, the more people want to meet the challenge and buy the idea (our video in this case).

Question? Do we get to split the bazillion dollars since you came up with this solution all by yourself or am I just destined to the one with the idea that couldn't sell it, so someone else had to seize it? We are partners in this I hope?

Partners of course William. All I ask is for 30% of the profits and a working jump rope, jumping jacks get boring:-)

It is 50/50 plus you get the rope. OK? I want no advantage here, equal partners. Oh, BTW, can you get us a loan to get us started. I know we both have good credit but we need you to put the business plan together so we can get the funds to start this. How much is a jump rope anyway? I have an old used clothes line, if you could use that to get started. We could tie big knots on the ends so you have something to hold onto,LMAO

Now you are thinking Green, as well as Healthy -- Reusing an old clothes line as a jump rope is a great way to limit waste and limit your waist at the same time! Bravo! (now, if we can just get the world politicians to come up with a solution to global warming that effectively, we will be getting somewhere!)

Hi Rich, Well, I could just give the whole clothes line to the Feds and get Jason to limit his activites to sticking with jumping jacks. He will just have to get used to the idea that we can no longer afford to be wasteful ( not that we ever could ) . Do you think he could try , while I do my part for getting it green again?

William--I think there are so many reasons that lead to weight...Genetics have something to do with it and as we age it is a shock that we cannot eat like we could as kids. But when I think back to high school, we went to McD's and had what is considered a kid's meal today. Sometimes we would share it! My kids have grown out of the fast food toys and we eat good food at home. Trying to set a good example and not contribute to the expanding waistlines of the nation...Blogging does not help--LOL!

I didn't read this until after the Costco experience. $335.....uh, I think we hit every isle lol! We're having King Crab legs and Steak for dinner. That's healthy enough for me! Yummy yummy yummy!

Ok William I debated about responding to this and then decided "what the hey"

I have had weight issues my entire life. There is a lot more to it than calories posted on McDonalds walls, going for a good run and eating veggies. I personally think they should do a study on the economics of obesity or on a correlation between emotional state and obesity.I can look back on family albums and I can tell by the pictures where I was emotionally at any given point....just by my weight in the picture.

I have succeeded on every program I've tried...only to revert when my life sucks(I won't tell you where I'm at now...but I'm back to South Beach)and I am not alone Some people deal with booze,some people deal by being angry,some people deal by shopping and others by running and lifting weights and then there are those who deal by turning to food.

I agree with all the serious consequences and I agree it is becoming more of a problem but maybe some of that is a result of a lowering life style for many....food is expensive...but healthy food is more expensive.

Maybe there is more to it than 1800 calories a day!(sorry to post on your post)

Hi Joan, Thanks for bringing this most important insight into this post and enhancing it greatly. What you are expressing is very true and I have first hand experience with this issue as my Mom dealt with it most of her adult life. Like all of her siblings, they all had very serious weight issues. Back then it was the way it was. I grew up with this and have seen it plenty in my own siblings. But for the Grace of God go I.

In specific ways, my post content is devoid of this as my post speaks to younger and generational trends both positive and negative. There are so many factors like the ones you point out that also need to be considered if a really viable solution is to be found. I do believe however that fast food is a culprit and we need to train the kids off of it. Then ourselves. We are much harder to train for all the obvious reasons. Thank you Joan for sharing this.

One more thing Joan, you are a beautiful lady and one I have come to know and proud to call my friend. My biggest care with you is that you are happy. I know you have experienced things in your life that others wouldn't understand. Just know that you are sincerely adored and I and others think the world of you. If you ever need a cheering squad you know where to start looking.

Your friend always,
William

Hi Teri, Thanks for weighing in on this issue, no pun intended. You are doing the right thing not by just doing what is right for your kids but hopefully by setting the example that they will follow the rest of their lives. Back when I was a kid, I remember seeing that the weekly food list would include the large can of lard that my mom used to deep fry foods and for "greasing" the pans she would use to bake pies in. BTW, Lemon meringue is my passion. I get it exactly once maybe twice in a year, more often than I am sure my medical advisers would agree to.

I too remember McD and what a great taste it was back then. I almost craved it but my mom cooked so there was only a few times I could get that treat. But you are so right, there are many reasons that lead to excess weight. But we do know that for the last couple of generations, balanced family meals are often forfeited because of time and other things that will take priority.

But the real danger comes, not because we partake of the faster remedy to eating, it is the frequency upon which we are doing it. Now and then is probably no big deal. The problem is that with the availability of so many fast foods operations, it soon becomes the substitute for the discipline in eating properly we all must have to lead healthy lives.

Hi Sally, I went to a movie today and I amy post on it. It was a family movie rated g. I loved it and I may even post on it. I won't tell you the title , but it was great.

Sorry you missed my post but honestly, I hate seafood ( actually allergic to it) so King Crab is only impressive because it is beautiful to look at. Not sure which came first, the allergy or the fact that I hate the taste as the hives start swelling in my throat and then I suffocate,lol. But the steak on the grill will do great. Toss as salad and I am in heaven.

This post and the varied comments sure have taken a lot of twists today. lol.

William,

I believe that this problem is because "commerce", if you check how many healthy restaurants there are against how many fast food and fatty ones, you will know why is this problem, also many of us, are just focus on "work", "work" and work, so that remove our good habit to eat more healthy. Hm.... great blog!

Ray Saenz

NOV

2007

William-

Thanks for your great post. Here's a link to an interesting article that ties in:

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iVOFixBth5dArR81zllBuVJTrPsAD8SRJD0G0

In this, the CDC released stats that walking 30 minutes per day would have on the health of people and the environment (if they were walking instead of driving to ___)

Thought you might like... and your article reminded me of reading it the other day.

Take care!

~Emily

The San Diego Real Estate Expert

Hi Ray, Thanks for your comments and I think you hit the nail on the head. We work just too much, or at least at it, as the case may be. And commerce does have the biggest effect on most all our habits and fast foods always seem to be shortest distance to immediate gratification and we can keep working while woofing down our food. When I worked at the office ,( I now home office) a group of us would walk a few blocks everyday to have lunch. It was great to get away from the office and we would talk while we walked and it made the effort of walking to the restaurant such a wonderful and pleasant experience. We would hardly ever miss a day. I suspect we still did not have the best foods as they were prepared commercially.

Thanks for bringing your great insight into this post and know your thoughts are always appreciated. appreciated

Hello Emily, Thank you for that great article link. It was an excellent read and I saved it on my del.icio.us for fast access. I do in fact think of these suggestions and I often actually take advantage of them. Many times I don't as I am guilty of rushing too much to try and get more things done in my day.

It might be just that time for all of us to take that time and do ourselves a favor of taking better care of our selves. Rushing around with so much to do does not make us better off, financially, health wise, and certainly we are much less efficient. It fills our lives with stress, bad habits and it can end all too quickly. If we slowed down and slowed others down around us and actually took the time to live with purpose , we would eat less junk food, we would have all the exercise we need and we would likely extend our lives. We would also cut down on resources such as fuel and maybe save the environment from ourselves. We need to enjoy more the experience of life and and not try to get to the end of it so quickly.

William-I really enjoyed reading your post. Although being a guilty one of some extra lbs. I haven't always been overweight and find it frustrating to get back down. It's all about committment and desire. I read stories like this and instantly my head says, "Julie, what the heck are you doing, not taking care of yourself?". Without dramatizing the whole situation, I find myself to be continually focused on everybody that surrounds me. Making sure they are well, happy, and feeling good. Then when it gets to the end of the day, I think to myself, "how are you going to take care of everybody else, if you are not taking care of yourself?" Great question. I deeply pray and wish for the passion to take care of my body and get these last lbs off. I'm too young to be unhealthy and my children, my family and my friends need me. So thanks to you my friend, I will find myself absorbing all your words here and making some changes.

NOV

2007

Dear William :)

thanks for your comments and for share this great blog, I just want to share that tomorrow I will write a great blog about utilities, yes, I love to share new cool names and what they do to make our life easier. :)

with this one, I will help you with your problems

Ray Saenz

Hi Julie,
The changes in our lives as we grow in years is often one of prioritizing our efforts on others. I had no idea that so many would internalize this issue. It is not meant but to serve the cause of bringing this dangerous cycle before each of us as family members and the more successful ways in which we may deal with our rushed lives.

In many ways, it is society itself that lowered its guard and encouraged fast food ( unbalanced and excessive empty calories )to subsidize our way of life. It is particularly dangerous for kids to use as a substitute for cramming as much into life as possible.

Who could blame anyone for seeing this as an acceptable alternative in our day to day lives. The problem begins to manifest itself with the physical evidence of increasing lbs and the increased risk of killing off parts of the body with the diseases associated with poor nutrition.

I had never associated Heart Disease, Arteriosclerosis, Diabetes as diseases of poor nutritional habits. For most, they see the sociatal obesity as just the increased weight of people from whatever the cause. We now know that it is not all as simple as the few additional pounds we carry around.

It is a fascinating subject. But I also know that there are many other reasons for weight gain besides poor nutritional habits. Some of the medications we take actually increase our weight disproportionate to the food in our diets. Whatever the reasons, obesity is on the rise in children especially and their futures require that we begin the often painful tasks needed to curtail the many causes.

Besides being a fascinating subject, it is also an emotional subject. Many lives have been crushed by insensitivity and crude and unkind remarkes, jokes and a general lack of understanding. Changing this emotionally cruel cycle also becomes part of any solution.

Julie, Thank you so much for bringing your insight into this post and all of us together and one by one, can begin to see the interconnectedness of the issues with lifestyle and the natural aging process and do our best in dealing with the life robbing culprit of poor nutrition.

Hi Ray,

Many Thanks for your very kind comments and I will look forward to reading your new post. You are a gracious person that helps so many and I feel honored to be your friend. Happy Thanksgiving to you and you family Ray.

NOV

2007

William,

the same to you, you know that, hey William, where have you been ? I have not seen you around, maybe it is just me, I hope that everything is fine.

Ray Saenz

Hi Ray, I check in now and then but have been busy getting the home decorated for the holidays and working with an out of area buyer wanting to get some idea of what kinds of properties would be available when he decides to purchase in summer in 2008. I just haven't been blogging much and need to get caught up with comments and postings.

Maybe by this weekend I will have my shopping done, decorations complete and get back to building my blogsite and bringing things current.

Hope you are doing well and look forward to talking to you soon. Hope your Thanksgiving was great as well!

NOV

2007

William,

I have seen that you are very busy guy, no problemo amigo, I Understand what you are talking about, decoration, hollidays, also I wrote a new blog about some great information to make our own blogs in our server, you will see so much good information that it will help to understand how to do it by yourself instead to pay over pricing services. Well, I remember that you have a great blog website, but still, it does not hurt to learn and share.

keep it good and hope to see you soon.

Ray Saenz

NOV

2007

Hi Ray, I hadn't checked in here in a while and I will try and do better. I will go to your blog and read it. Thanks for dropping by and I will get some new posts up soon.

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