Copyright Tallahassee Democrat
It’s Tuesday morning and you’ve just washed your third Danish down with your fourth cup of coffee. Sound familiar? If so, there is a good chance you may be one of the three in four adults in the United States considered overweight or obese. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are more than 100 million obese American adults, 20 million of which would be categorized as severely obese. CDC data reveals all U.S. states and territories having an obesity prevalence higher than 20 percent, or one in every five adults. Three states (Arkansas, Mississippi, and West Virginia) had an obesity prevalence of 40 percent or higher. The obesity prevalence in Florida was 30.1 percent. The CDC uses Body Mass index (BMI) as a screening tool to categorize weight status. BMI is a measure of body weight relative to height. The goal for most people is to have a BMI that’s over 18 and under 25. Overweight for an adult (persons 20 and older) is defined as having a BMI from 25 to 29.9. Obesity is categorized as BMI of 30 or greater. An individual with BMI of 40 or greater is considered severely obese. John Goodman, the actor who played character Dan Conner on the TV show “Roseanne” in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, has served as somewhat of a role model for the obesity weight-loss cause. Once upwards of 400 pounds, Goodman has reportedly lost 200 pounds in recent years – and kept it off. He was quoted for an American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) story as follows: “I don’t want to be an example to anybody when the weight comes thundering back on – when I start eating Crisco out of the can with a spoon and a side of confectioner’s sugar.” Goodman cites a combination of factors for his success. He quit smoking and reduced his alcohol consumption. He incorporated regular walks in his daily routine. He cut back on sugary drinks, processed foods, and fats. He has not undergone any surgical procedures. He has explicitly denied using drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, emphasizing his body transformation being the result sustainable lifestyle changes and hard work. But what worked for Goodman – dietary changes and exercise, mostly – would not necessarily be the best approach for others. Northwestern University provided a breakdown of additional treatment options based on BMI in a story titled “Weight Loss Surgery or Weight Loss Medications?” An excerpt from the publication is as follows: “Weight loss medications are indicated for people with a BMI of 30 and above or BMI between 27-29.9 with obesity-associated co-morbidities, while weight loss surgery is indicated for patients with BMI over 40 or BMI between 35-39.9 with obesity associated co-morbidities (for diabetic patients, the indication for bariatric surgery can be as low as BMI greater than 30).” Obesity-associated co-morbidities listed were hypertension, type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, obstructive sleep apnea, and fatty liver disease. Dr. Matthew Pittman, Northwestern Medicine bariatric surgeon, is quoted as follows: “When addressing obesity, you need to have a big toolbox.” The statistics reflect a national crisis – and the need for a call to action. Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare and Publix are corporate entities that have answered the call. TMH promotes a slim workforce by offering its staff discounted rates at Premier Health & Rehabilitation. More healthcare providers and businesses might consider similar perks for their employees. Publix has weight scales located in the entrance lobbies of all its supermarkets. Making people aware they have a problem is a good first step. More grocery store chains should follow the Publix lead. (A full-length mirror in the entrance lobby would be going too far.) On an individual basis, 25-plus BMI office workers (and nurses) can eliminate temptation by not storing candy, cookies, and gum in their desk drawers. A Danish or two, that would be acceptable. Make it one Danish and two cups of coffee on Tuesday mornings. Mark Ryan is a Tallahassee RN. What's your BMI? The formula to calculate Body Mass Index is as follows: BMI = weight (in kilograms) divided by height (in meters) squared.
