years of age. In Great Britain – where sharing program, which debuted at the Many experts believe that the current
more than half of all people are Democratic and Republican national federal subsidies for corn and soy, used
anticipated to be obese by mid-century, conventions in 2008. Subsidized by to produce cheap and largely unhealthy
the National Health Service is paying for Humana and Bikes Belong, a foundation foods, should be replaced by subsidies
people to take weight loss classes. And that promotes bicycling, the Freewheelin’ on fruits and vegetables. Other novel
residents in some UK cities are wearing program offers citizens an opportunity to ideas include restricting where food can
electronic tracking tags to measure daily reduce carbon footprints, decrease traffic be sold (do we really need access to
calories burned – with the potential for and parking congestion, reduce candy and other treats in the hardware
rewards of store coupons – and even transportation costs – and burn calories store?), restricting portion sizes in
days off from work. Germany is launching – at bike stations throughout the United restaurants, requiring employers and
some $47 million worth of healthy-eating States. insurance companies to provide wellness
and sports programming, and France is programs and nutritional counseling, and
considering an anti-obesity tax on sweet There are also many initiatives at the even placing an excise tax on calorie
and fatty foods. state level. One recent effort is “Scale dense foods.
Back Alabama,” a joint effort between
U.S. Action Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, While we can’t expect the federal gov-
And, what about the United States? A Alabama State Hospital Association, the ernment to solve the obesity problem
variety of organizations, companies and State Department of Health and Barber’s without a lot of hard work on the part of
individuals are beginning to take action to Dairy. According to Mariesa Woodring, communities and individuals, it’s a start,
stem the rising tide of obesity. One of account executive at Luckie and says Talbott. “The government can do a
these persons is Talbott. With an Company PR, Alabama is the second lot to put programs in place to make junk
educational background in both exercise fattest state in the nation – and they don’t food and sedentary lifestyles less
science and nutritional bio-chemistry, want to be number one. The Scale Back attractive (or at least more expensive)
Talbott has spent his entire career program, which involves online support – and individuals will have more incentive
lecturing and writing on obesity issues. such as tips on healthy shopping and to take advantage of the course of action
His latest project was executive cooking and simple ways to get moving, that is best for them. We need a lot more
producing the film “Killer at Large,” which is highly successful. “The 10-week emphasis on ‘health’ and a lot less on
was released in March of 2009, and program encourages people to form ‘care.’ Because if we take care of the
funded with a second mortgage on his teams of four – then to pay attention, eat health part, we can prevent a lot of the
house. “I did it because the current healthier and move more – all to lose just care part.” MS&F
messages about the dangers and 10 pounds in 10 weeks,” says Woodring.
health impacts of obesity are clearly not “Last year we collectively lost more than
getting through to people,” says Talbott, 200,000 pounds. This year our goal is
who believes that the “eat less and 500,000.”
exercise more” message has failed
millions of people who are overweight Statutory Regulations Helpful
and frustrated. Still, with all of the voluntary efforts by
various organizations, such as the
Information:
“Killer at Large,” which won three best American Heart Association’s widely
documentary awards at film festivals publicized Start! Walking for a Healthier
across the United States and was Lifestyle, there are those who believe that
recently discussed on Oprah, shows how it will take a massive government-backed
little is being done to combat the obesity effort to end obesity. A 2008 annual www.yaleruddcenter.org
epidemic and discusses potential actions report from the Trust for America’s Health
to help reverse it. With a cast of and the Robert Wood Johnson
bestselling authors, renowned experts Foundation calls on the federal www.americanheart.org
and notable public figures – as well as a government to convene partners from
graphic depiction of a 12-year old girl state and local governments, businesses,
who has a controversial liposuction communities and schools to create and www.obesityinamerica.org
procedure to fix her weight gain, the film implement a comprehensive National
is an eye opener. Talbott hopes that the Strategy to Combat Obesity. Some of the
documentary, slated to be shown recommendations of the report include “Killer at Large” Movie Trailer:
throughout the country, sends a message improvements at the school level, such
http://www.killeratlarge.com
of urgency much like “An Inconvenient as improving the nutritional quality of food
Truth” relayed about global warming. “I’m served to children and increasing the
hoping that ‘Killer At Large’ can become a amount and quality of physical education
wake-up call to our generation who will and activity in schools. There is also a
accept the challenge to stem the rise in call for government intervention to
obesity – and reverse it – before it eliminate the marketing of junk food to
becomes too late,” says Talbott. children, a regulation that thus far has
been voluntary for the food industry. And,
Health insurance companies, aware of communities should also be supported by
the dollars-and-cents costs to being the government to provide programs to
overweight and obese, have jumped on increase physical activity and good
the bandwagon, too. One recent initiative nutrition for all ages.
by Humana was the Freewheelin’ bike-
3 www.coloradohomeownermag.com
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76