San Francisco leads the charge discouraging unhealthy food sales to children through FREE TOY enticements.

City officials apparently believe that the toys encourage unhealthy food choices.  Of course McDonald's is crying 'foul'.  Apparently, desperate times call for desperate measures!  Childhood obesity is fast becoming a raging epidemic taking kids 'to obesity and beyond'.

This is not a done deal yet. The final vote is next week and a lot can happen in a week.  The mayor has promised to veto the bill.  But, the 8-3 vote apparently overturns the mayors ability to veto. This should be interesting!

We are eager to see somebody do an analysis of the requirements the meals must meet in order to be allowed to give away a toy!

Read the San Francisco Chronicle Article on the fast food toy give-away ban

Recent studies show lower life expectancies for men who are obese at age 20.  In fact they are twice as likely to die young.  This is certainly not what most of us aspire to do with our lives!  Unfortunately more than two-thirds of U.S. Adults aged 20 or older are obese.  This is a trend that shows no sign of reversing.  The study has left people asking the question; Why are people who are obese at age 20 dying sooner?  The good news is that people CAN do better if they are willing to change their lifestyle.  This trend CAN be reversed!

In lieu of the obesity epidemic and other related diseases, and in the interest of optimal health for all, Dr. Carney likes to challenge her patients to Try the Leafy Green Challenge for 2 weeks:

• Eat no animal products for 2 weeks.
• Eat a salad daily with either Spinach or Romaine instead of Iceberg Lettuce.
• At another meal each day, eat one of the following: Kale, Collard Greens, Beet Greens, Turnip Greens, Mustard Greens, Swiss Chard, Broccoli, or Cauliflower.  They don't have to be raw.
• Legumes, such as Beans, Lentils, and Peas, should form the basis for your protein calories.
• Eat beans for breakfast, so you won't feel as hungry on the plant-based diet.
• You need to eat legumes  for at least 7 meals out of 21 meals per week.
• Drink at least 8 glasses of WATER each day before 5 PM.

The amazing things is that the majority of people who faithfully do the Leafy Green Challenge for two weeks see improvements in their health that they never dreamed possible.  And, if they take the Leafy Green Challenge for life they CAN reverse the obesity and disease trend crippling the health of our nation!

Click to see WebMD article "Obesity at Age 20 Linked to Early Death"

A new report “F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future 2010” just released shows a deeply downwardly spiraling national catastrophe on the horizon. Obesity rates increased in 28 states in just this past year. The number one obese state, where 33.8% of Adults Are Obese, is Mississippi which also happens be the state with the least consumption of fruits and vegetables per person. Can you say cause and effect?

We have our work cut out for us because the South is where the epidemic is hardest hitting:

• 10 of the 11 states with the highest rates of obesity are in the South.
• 10 of the 11 states with the highest rates of diabetes are in the South
• The 10 states with the highest rates of hypertension are also in the South

Some of the many statistics:

• 38 states have adult obesity rates above 25%.
  (No state had an obesity rate above 20% in 1991.)
• 12% of high school students are obese and 15.8% are overweight.

Sadly lack of education, poverty, minority ethnicity and obesity appear to hang out together!

There are some good articles to be read online and you can also download the 122 page report. 

Click to see WebMD article "Obesity Rate Swells in 28 States"

Click to Download the actual Report from HealthyAmericans.org

Click to watch a short news story on YouTube. Watching the kids eating is heart-breaking!

Increasing Vegetables and Exercise is Recommended as well as Reducing Salt and Fat. Sugar is also targeted!  We are in need of some real lifestyle changes in America which is the only reasonable solution to the obesity crisis.

From WebMD: June 15, 2010 -- By encouraging Americans to slash their salt intake, eat a plant-based diet, and increase physical activity, the newly proposed 2010 Dietary Guidelines take aim at the obesity epidemic.

Click to see WebMD article "Proposed Dietary Guidelines Take Aim at Obesity"

Click to See Results of Google Query for "Proposed Dietary Guidelines Take Aim at Obesity"