The waist lines of adults and children in South Carolina are way too expansive, setting them up for a potential lifetime of complications that have already cost the state millions in obesity-related medical costs.

The Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation recently released its "F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing in America 2009" report. The report assesses state and federal policies aimed at preventing or reducing obesity in children and adults, and chronicles actions the federal government, states and communities nationwide are taking to address this critical health issue. It also suggests ways to accelerate those efforts, given the challenges of the economy and the opportunities for health reform.

How critical is the obesity issue in South Carolina?

The report says South Carolina has the fifth-highest rate of adult obesity in the nation at 29.7 percent and the 13th-highest rate of obese or overweight youths ages 10 to 17 at 33.7 percent. The rate of obese adults remained consistent in the state in the past year, but the state was among the 30 states where the percentage of obese and overweight children is at or above 30 percent.

Having a body mass index of 25 or more characterizes a person as being overweight. Obesity is a condition marked by a body mass index of 30 or more.

Barbara Grice, health education director at the Orangeburg County Health Department, said local statistics were not much better than the statewide statistics. The state Department of Health and Environmental Control reports that more than 70 percent of adults in Orangeburg County were obese in 2008. Between 60 and 64 percent of adults in Calhoun County were obese, while between 65 and 69 percent of Bamberg County adults were reported as being obese.

"It's the availability of fast food and supersizing everything. People are just consuming a lot more food than they used to," Grice said. "We are constantly trying to really make people aware of the choices they are making in their daily lives. They don't think about the hidden calories from soft drinks and sweet tea, and new energy drinks are problems with kids because they're very high in sugar and sodium. They are consuming so many extra calories when drinking those types of drinks."

The report indicates that obese adults put themselves at increased risk of other chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. The state, for example, had the eighth-highest rate of adult diabetes in the nation at 9.8 percent and the sixth-highest rate of adult hypertension at 31.3 percent.

Key report recommendations for addressing obesity within health reform include ensuring every adult and child has access to coverage for preventive medical services, including nutrition and obesity counseling and screenings for obesity-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes, and making nutritious foods more affordable and accessible through programs in communities, schools and child-care settings.

"We've really become aware of how fast-food markets do advertising. We've tried to take that same approach and really advertise eating healthy," Grice said. "We're seeing children really early on now with problems with hypertension and diabetes. That can be directly linked back to obesity. We're seeing it as early as middle school. We need to make people aware that their choices are impacting their long-term health."

The report says South Carolina was among the states with nutritional standards for school meals that are stricter than current United States Department of Agriculture standards. It is also among the states that have nutritional standards for competitive foods sold à la carte in vending machines, school stores or at school bake sales. It has not, however, passed requirements for BMI screenings of children and adolescents or any legislation requiring other forms of weight-related assessments in schools.

State Rep. Bakari Sellers is among those who wants to make the Palmetto State a leader in children's health care by proposing legislation that would limit the amount of fat calories and sugar content in school lunches, beverages and snacks. It would also place those standards on school vending machines.

"The legislation now sits in the Senate," Sellers said. "There are things we have to tweak to make it stronger to teach healthy habits and have healthy children. The USDA is also doing some things.

"I believe if the bill passes, we will still be on the forefront of innovation and progressive legislation to help combat childhood obesity."

He said the bill will give local farmers a chance to sell their produce to school districts and help reduce health-care costs associated with treating obesity-related complications.

Grice said nutrition education has also been spread to smaller children in area day-care centers.

"In a lot of day cares, they serve the cheaper, high-calorie foods vs. fruits and vegetables," she said. "We educate them as well with classes and demonstrations. Kids are getting in extra calories, and a lot of them aren't exposed to fruits and vegetables.

"You're really having to teach people cook again. There are a lot of programs out now just offering basic skills for preparing meals at home that are more cost effective and healthier."

T&D Staff Writer Dionne Gleaton can be reached by e-mail at dgleaton@timesanddemocrat.com or by telephone at 803-533-5534. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

Fighting obesity

Below are some initiatives the state and nation have put in place in the battle against obesity:

Eat Smart Move More

The South Carolina Eat Smart Move More Coalition is a result of a merger of the S.C. Coalition for Obesity Prevention Efforts and the S.C. Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity. This new partnership has worked to coordinate obesity-prevention efforts across the state and will implement South Carolina's state Obesity Prevention Plan. The coalition has already supported the development of physical activity and nutrition programs by offering $3,000 mini grants to five South Carolina communities. Applications can be found at eatsmartmovemoresc.org.

MyPyramid

The United States Department of Agriculture's Center for Nutrition Policy has a MyPyramid Food Guidance System, which offers individuals personalized eating plans and interactive tools to help plan and assess food choices based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The MyPyramid Food Guide can be found at mypyramid.com.

You must be logged in to comment.