While I was taking care of my neighbor's cats I read an old copy of
National Geographic they had in their apartment. Below are some
interesting snippets from the article:


National Geographic. August 2004. Pages 46 - 61. "Why are Americans so
fat" by Cathy Newman.


1 in 3 Americans is obese, twice as many 3 decades ago


15 percent of children are overweight or obese, a three fold jump from
1980

The Center For Disease Control reports that adult women are eating 335
more calories per day then they did in 1971. Adult men are eating an
extra 168 calories a day.

1 pound of fat is about 3500 calories. An excess of 250 calories a day
will put on 26 pounds a year.

The United States, Russia, Thailand, South Africa, Egypt, Turkey,
Germany and the UK have the highest obesity rates.

France ( yes France ), Italy, Switzerland, Scandinavia, Pakistan,
India, China, Colombia, Brazil and a handful of African countries have
the lowest obesity rates.


Being overweight is associated with 400,000 American deaths per year.

Being overweight increase the risk of hear disease, type 2 diabetes,
colon cancer, breast cancer, and endometrial cancer.


1954 - Burger King hamburger: 2.8 oz 202 calories
2004 - Burger King hamburger: 4.3 oz 310 calories

1955- McDonald's French Fries: 2.4 oz 210 calories
2004-McDonald's French Fries : 7 0z 610 calories

1900-Hershey Bar: 2 oz 297 calories
2004-Hershey Bar: 7 0z 1000 calories

1916-coca cola: 6.7 fl oz 79 calories
2004-coca coal: 16 fl oz 194 calories

1950-movie popcorn: 3 cups 174 calories
2004-movie popcorn: 21 cups( buttered) 1,700 calories

Proper serving size for fruit: the size of a baseball
Proper serving size for a burrito: the size of a bar of soap
Proper serving size for a steak: the size of a deck of cards
Proper serving size for pasta: the size of a computer mouse
Proper serving size for potatoes the size of a light bulb
Proper serving size for butter: the size of 1 die(dice sp?)
Proper serving size for cheese: the size of three dominoes


The effects of bariatric surgery can be thwarted by people snacking
lightly, but continuously throughout the day

A calorie is a calorie is a calorie.

Being overweight or obese is a matter of taking in more calories then
are used.

Most overweight and obese people are out of caloric balance, but only
by a tiny amount of calories per day. A 250 calorie deficit per day
will subtract 26 pounds a year.

email a collegeuge( 1 min ): 2 calories
walk to a collegue's desk ( 1min ): 4 calories

ride an elevator for 2min: 3 calories
take the stairs for 2 min: 19 calories

order take out food (1min): 1 calorie
cook a meal ( 1/2 hour ) 70 calories

load a dishwasher for 10 min: 23 calories
wash dishes (30 min ) 80 calories

watch tv ( 30 min ) 35 calories
play cards ( 30 min ) 52 calories

go to a car wash 35 calories
wash your car ( 30 min ) 104 calories

play a video game for 30 min 53 calories
play basketball 280 calories

ride a lawn mower for 30 min 88 calories
push a lawn mower for 30 min 193 calories
( above based on a 150 pound human )