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Aug 19, 2009 -- Obesity plays a weighty role in healthcare debate

In the midst of the debate about healthcare, nobody is talking about what we need to do as individuals, which is to manage our own health and wellness. The late President Kennedy put a big emphasis on Americans being fit, but we haven't had that same push since his presidency.

Everything is seen as somebody else's problem. Clark thinks about moves in Congress to tax Coke and Pepsi because they're making Americans fat. But no one is forcing a soda pop down your throat, right?

In a similar way, McDonald's was getting beat up about 5 years ago over its unhealthy reputation. So the chain revamped its menu to include more healthy choices.

If you go back one generation, 4% of kids age 2-11 were overweight. Today, it's about 1 in 5! The San Francisco Chronicle reports that overweight adults cost the country nearly $150 billion last year.

With more than 100,000 obesity-related deaths annually, U.S. life expectancy may actually shorten for the first-time since the Civil War!

When is last time you worked out or got your kids out walking? How we eat and how we exercise directly impacts our health. Clark's challenge for you -- no matter where you fit in politically -- is to make sure you fit into your clothes.

Unfortunately, Clark won't be able to answer any questions submitted via commenting. If you have a question, please try posting it to our message boards.

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What others are saying

  • Take Individual Responsibility
    Most obesity is simply over-eating. We don't have to make it more complicated than that. As a society, we fault society for this problem and every other 'individual' problem. If we can't be responsible for our spending, our mortgage, our savings, our children, our health, etc. Why should we be responsible for our weight?? I'm sure in the near-future the government will give the obese a 'mobility-impaired compensation benefit'.
  • PETA Billboard
    Have you seen the controversy about the billboard that PETA has put out? It shows a grossly obese person with the caption “ go vegetarian” as if simply not eating meat in any form will magically make a over weight person lose weight.

    Well, I am a 20 year vegetarian and weight over 100 pounds. Yet, not one of my doctors assists me in a weight loss program. But, these same doctors continuously beat me over the head for MRI’s that the HMO gets huge kick-backs from.
  • Hey Sam your doctor needs to stop eating so much meat. I quit eating it and now have perfect blood pressure, perfect cholesterol and perfect bmi. Exercise doesn't do it alone, you have to eat right too.
  • I lost 1/3 of my body weight by diet and exercise. Now I am a vegetarian, and work out daily. Most Americans need to get it together and do some action instead blabbing their mouth off about how great out health care is. It doesn't matter what kind of health care America has when you drop dead of a heart attack at age 50.

    To conservatives: you want to lower our health care costs, stop being a fat loud mouth and be a skinny healthy loud mouth. Lead by example.
  • Come on, let's be realistic
    Just because you live right, does not guarantee that you will be healthy. Heredity plays a major role, and plus there are no guarantees in life. Does anyone really believe that obesity does not contribute to poor health? Anectdotal evidence of "I know someone who was fit and died at 30" or "I know of a 500 lb'er that lived to 90" means nothing. Not just that, but look at the quality of life. Joint pain, breathing issues, not being able to walk up stairs or play with grandkids are all issues obese people deal with. Eating right and exercising increases your chances of staying healthy, but I doubt Obama guaranteed that for anyone.
  • healthcare
    Obama has said if we eat right and exercise we'll be healthy. I'm 68 never smoked or drank alchol or been over weight.
    My question is why am I a diabetic. Still weight the same as in my 30's
    5'6' 141 lbs please explain, and I need my government to tell me how to handle my health care. I think not.
  • Let's blame the fat people
    It's funny, my doctor has the perfect BMI and still has the same high cholesterol numbers I have with an obese BMI. Somethings are built into DNA. My skinny grandfather died at 55 due to heart problems, my morbidly obese grandparents lived into thier 80's. I think the BMI numbers are based on Barbie and Ken and are unrealistic.
  • Life expectancy
    The CDC just released numbers - life expectancy in the US is going up. Not down.

    Remember how much your health care costs dropped as people stopped smoking? Right...me neither.
  • Weight tax
    If you neglect your body, you should pay more in insurance. Smokers do now, people self employed with pre-exsisting conditions do now, fair is fair. O'Bama would be a good role model, provided he isn't caught with his "occasional cigarette". He's fit, lean and healthy. Sorry if this offends the heavies, but to get health car costs down, we ALL have to be accountable.
  • Obesity vs Children
    Clark, I am tired of spending the last 30 years and 30% of my money going towards children, bred into this world by selfish poor people, I have never met. BUT NO ONE IS FORCING THEM TO BREED RIGHT? I dare you to takle THIS societal issue with that same attitude you just displayed towards obesity Clark. But I am certain you don't have the guts to do it. Fat is the new black. Thanks for joining the prejudice train.
  • There is something that has been put in the food supply in the last 20 years that is making people bigger. Its either high fructose corn syrup, MSG, the floride in the water or a combination. What ever it is is worse for the women. I remember just 20 years ago there were not that many heavy women but now most are.
  • huh?
    jeff, using your logic, we should end humanity to achieve $0 healthcare costs.

    healthy people should live longer and pay more taxes/insurance premiums/co-payments over their lifetime.
  • Obesity is saving us money.
    I believe it has been proven already that obese persons will die young and although they may rack up the healthcare costs in their short lifespan the healthy person will actually incur through the span of a longer life higher accumulated costs.
    So in the interest of saving the taxpayer money by taxing sweets we may be increasing our costs. It is a misguided plan of action.
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