By now you’ve all seen the new MyPlate that has replaced the Food Pyramid.

Is it going to help reverse the trend of obesity that has taken over the United States?  Is it going to be effective? 

Well, here is my take on it.

The pros:

• the graphic is easier to relate to.  I mean a plate versus a pyramid?  This is a good change
• because it’s new, there is a lot of publicity surrounding it, raising awareness
• a lot of money has been and will continue to be spent on marketing it

The cons:

• filling your plate according to the graphic isn’t that simple
• portion size – somewhat unclear.  Filling your plate more than 25% but less than 50% with vegetables?  How much is that exactly?
• what size plate should be used?  Using the vegetables example - loading up an 8” plate is very different than doing the same on a 12” plate
• is the portion size for a 5’ 2”, 120 lb woman the same as for a 6’0”, 180 lb man?
• how many meals – or times a day – do you fill your plate?  2?  3?  6?  Do you use the same size plate each time?  Big difference!
• sweets and snacks need to be accounted for unless people are going to suddenly boycott eating them.  Not very likely.  So there needs to be a conversation about how to limit your intake and make smarter choices
• what about healthy fats - types and quantities?

And while nutrition is one component of a healthy lifestyle, so is fitness.  Should there be a reference to this?  The Food Guide Pyramid included fitness in the steps up the side of the pyramid and in the tag line.

I know it looks like I'm completely against MyPlate.  Actually I'm not.  I believe it could open the door to a better way to teach good nutrition.

But it really comes down to personal accountability.

How many adults and children know the definition and can cite examples of protein, grains, vegetables, fruit, and dairy?  Not that many!

Is this information available on the USDA's website?  Yes.

Are most Americans going to search and read it?  No.

We have too short of attention spans and don’t want to have to read or work for it.  We want someone to tell us, or better yet, show us.

Do you agree?  What should be the next step?

I mean REALLY FAT.  And only getting FATTER.

This blog is not meant to offend anyone!  I'm sharing the facts of a recent report from the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.  I'm doing this to show you that we as a nation need help getting healthier.  And the good news is that it is easy to do so!

The report included these facts:

• In the last 4 years, America went from having 1 state with an OBESITY rate over 30%, and now there are 12 states!!!!
• 38 states have OBESITY rates over 25%!!!!!  This means in most of the country, 1 of every 4 adults are OBESE!
• only 1 state has an OBESITY rate less than 20%!

Obesity is related to many health risks such as hypertension and diabetes, and also all of the health issues that often come with these.

• In 1990, 37 states had hypertension rates over 20%.  Now EVERY state has hypertension rates over 20%.
• In 1995, 4 states had diabetes rates over 6%.  Now, 43% have diabetes rates over 7%.

Where does your state fall?  (taken from the report)

Note: 1 = Highest rate of adult obesity, 51 = lowest rate of adult obesity. Rankings are based on combining three years of data (2007-2009) from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to "stabilize" data for comparison purposes. This methodology, recommended by the CDC, compensates for any potential anomalies or usual changes due to the specific sample in any given year in any given state.  States with statistically significant (p<0.05) increases for one year are noted with an asterisk (*), states with statistically significant increases for two years in a row are noted with two asterisks (**), states with statistically significant increases for three years in a row are noted with three asterisks (***). Additional information about methodologies and confidence intervals is available in the report.  Individuals with a body mass index (BMI) (a calculation based on weight and height ratios) of 30 or higher are considered obese.

1. Mississippi (34.4%); 2. Alabama (32.3%); 3. West Virginia* (32.2%); 4. Tennessee (31.9%); 5. Louisiana (31.6%); 6. Kentucky** (31.5%); 7. Oklahoma** (31.4%); 8. South Carolina* (30.9%); 9. Arkansas (30.6%); 10. Michigan* (30.5%); 11. Missouri* (30.3%); 12. Texas** (30.1%); 13. Ohio (29.6%); 14. North Carolina (29.4%); 15. Indiana* (29.1%); 16. Kansas** (29.0%); 17. (tie) Georgia (28.7%); and South Dakota (28.7%); 19. Pennsylvania (28.5%); 20. Iowa (28.1%); 21. (tie) Delaware (28.0%); and North Dakota (28.0%); 23. Illinois** (27.7%); 24. Nebraska (27.6%); 25. Wisconsin (27.4%); 26. Maryland (27.1%); 27. Maine** (26.5%); 28. Washington (26.4%); 29. Florida** (26.1%); 30. (tie) Alaska (25.9%); and Virginia (25.9%); 32. Idaho (25.7%); 33. (tie) New Hampshire (25.6%); and New Mexico (25.6%); 35. (tie) Arizona (25.4%); Oregon (25.4%); and Wyoming (25.4%); 38. Minnesota (25.3%); 39. Nevada (25.0%); 40. California (24.8%); 41. New York (24.7%); 42. Rhode Island** (24.3%); 43. New Jersey (24.1%); 44. Montana (23.8%); 45. Vermont** (23.5%); 46. Utah (23.4%); 47. Hawaii (23.1%); 48. Massachusetts** (22.3%); 49. Connecticut (21.8%); 50. District of Columbia (21.7%); 51. Colorado* (19.8%).

Is it too late to reverse this trend for you?  For your kids?  NO it is not too late!

Start today by making small changes.  Reduce the sugar and soda you eat and drink.  Choose 100% whole wheat over white processed foods.  Pass on the second helping.  Cut back on carbs.  Exercise 20 - 30 minutes 5 or 6 days a week.

Get a friend to help keep you accountable.  Ask a professional for help.  Do whatever it takes so you DON'T BECOME a STATISTIC!

Do you want to be a good role model for your kids?  Do you want your kids to have health problems that can be avoided?  Start changing NOW!

You can read more about the report here.

They won’t make me gain weight, right?

When food manufacturers started listing “net carbs” on their product labels, they failed to give the public the whole story.  They implied - in a sneaky way - that these carbohydrates don’t count toward your daily intake.  So untrue!  Everything you eat and drink adds up!

Net carbs became well known with the Atkins Diet.  Part of its methodology is to restrict these in an effort to reduce the feeling of being hungry.  A “net carb” is a carbohydrate that does not effect your blood sugar.  Examples are fiber and sugar alcohols.  You may find it interesting to learn that studies have shown after one year, there was no difference in the success of those who participated in the Atkins Diet and those who followed certain low fat diets.

Let’s say that a particular food label says there are 28 grams of total carbohydrates in it, and further breaks them down into 5 grams of sugar, 4 grams of fiber, and 19 grams of sugar alcohols.  While it is true that the fiber and sugar alcohols do not effect your blood sugar, you are still eating them.  Don’t be fooled.  A carb is a carb.

Will they help me lose weight?  You will gain weight when your caloric intake exceeds the calories you burn.  Carbs and net carbs are a part of this so don’t ignore them!