"Obesity is found at all income levels but is prevalent in lower-income brackets." No kidding, but we can't even make it so you can't buy soda and other junk food with food stamps, so get used to it. Your dumb little programs won't work, so don't waste our money.

What do you expect? With over 40% of Mainers on welfare, what else is there to do but sit around and eat while waiting for the government to lower taxes and lift restrictions that will allow industries to move back into Maine and give people jobs.

Milli Vanilli answer-

I blame it on the rain.

People need to walk, get moving, make the best food choices they can, among other things. It is unfortunate that the better foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, tend to be quite expensive for many families but one needs to try. Being obese is unhealthy ( takes a toll on the heart among other outcomes) and it is worse when young people are obese as they tend to then have a hard time with weight issues all their lives. The ideal way to address this is family by family, but that does not appear to be working. Stressful, fast-paced lifestyles today likely play a big role. Something needs to be done to reverse this trend towards higher obesity rates however, for the sake of better health.

And, Maine definitely needs more walker-friendly places...more sidewalks, bike trails,etc.

Yessah, we love our high fructose corn syrup. In everything.

This 4th of July weekend.. I'm making homemade chocolate whoopie pies with marshmallow fluff filling (made with real butter and powdered sugar) and coleslaw with mayo, lots of it. At the family BBQ there will also be hot dogs, hamburgers, cookies, brownies etc. Life is wonderful.

Fat Lazy adults = fat lazy kids = fat lazy future adults

This falls back to the fundamental base of personal responsibility.It does not cost money to exercise and lose wait, just time and determination. When will people stop relying on the government to tell them what to do and make smart decisions for themselves?

In England the government took a severely obese child out of a home and charged the parents with abuse and neglect. I do not entirely agree, but it makes for some good fodder; especially with the nature of our current government since we are a breath away from this with our "You can't smoke in the car with a child law"

Looks like the predictions may be right that obesity will be the number one cause of preventable death in America by 2010. Survival of the fittest? Certainly not the fattest.

Did I mention we also play outdoor games and usually there's lots of leftovers that we haven't eaten and share among us. None of us are fat and eating the treats is fairly rare but enjoyable. Moderation is the key to being healthy.

yes fresh produce is expensive, but canned (no salt or sugar added) and frozen produce has the same nutritional value, a longer shelf life and a more wallet friendly price tag. There are plenty of options to eat healthy, there is plenty of free educational information, an no loss of space to exercise.

Stress like obesity can be managed, people just need to decide for themselves to make the change, and start putting the well being of their family and themselves ahead of their jobs.

It's time for people to stop making excuses and start taking care of themselves

EJ Parsons got it right. chersully2000 got it right. boogeyman got it right. Drop Kick got it right, and so far karenlite - I want to join you and your family this weekend! You are making me hungry right now, and I just had a big meal! No law is going to tell me when, what, how much or how little, and where I eat, or if I want exercise programs or not - and really, I could care less about the "calorie count" on menu boards. Nope; I'm not overweight, but at 67 years old, I do carry an "acceptable" paunch with a waist size of 42-inches for a person such as I at 5' 8.5" tall.

Restaurants have been menuizing the calorie-counts for years. Is this something new to Maine?

If schools are to simply conduct "surveys" on the children attending in Maine schools, where is this plan going?

How can you conduct a valid program of PR (physical education) in schools in Maine, when the wintertime blocks you inside day after day after day in freezing temperatures and ice and snow? How will the school conduct more PE classes/training when classes must resume full-time allocation, (50 minutes per class as example) during the time school is open, and what plans did the governor figure on how to extend the PE classes? By cutting-off other necessary class time, or cutting "study halls" if the school system has them in their curriculum. Inquiring minds need to know.

Sorry, I have to get back to my leather lounge sofa, grab a big bag of Lay's chips, the can of sour cream and onion dip, a few cold Mexican beers, and watch a 3-hour movie. Chips and dip, anyone?

PR, sorry; PE.

DropKick: You make some good points. I was trying to make the same (and was not making excuses; just speculating as to how it got to this point.) I love fresh fruits and vegetables, and years ago in Conn could go to a farmer's market and for not much money , come home loaded with wonderful quality produce.....corn on the cob, peaches, plums, squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, fresh peas,berries,etc etc. But it is not the case today. But as you state, canned and frozen are just as healthy and a great alternative or other option. Another trick with the canned (if they have salt at all) is to rinse the vegetables in water first.

As for walking paths.....we could use more. There are places in Bangor to walk, but I know folks without a car. They take the bus , say out to Border's near the mall and would like to walk outside around there more, but you take your life into your hands in places as there are no, or few, sidewalks. But luckily, there are plenty of good places to walk as well.....Bangor Forest area and many other places.

karenlite: Not sure why your comment was voted down (I didn't vote it down) Yes, leftovers can be made into other good dishes and dinners. Moderation is important in most everything...no one is advocating extremism here (or at least I should hope not.) If people are more pro-active about health issues, it does translate into lower healthcare costs.

Cre8RoyalPalm: Sounds delicious! As they say, moderation!! (smile) I love chocolate so what can I say?! Apparently though, a little of the dark chocolate actually has some health benefits!

Life was meant to be enjoyed. I'd rather die at 70 and enjoy my life then live to be 90 and miserable because I never did what I wanted to and dreaded every meal I had to eat.

I much prefer a tombstone that reads FOR 70 YEARS SHE LIVED! than one that says, she lived for 90 years.

Cre8RoyalPalm, I read your post to my husband (who's been sitting in his lounge chair watching tv for some time) and he quite identified with what you said about the chips, dip and beer etc and said.."YES!!" Honestly, I can't wait for the whoopie pies.. mmm good!

For crying out loud....you don't need walking trails to exercise....what did people do years ago? That sounds like more goverment wasted $$$......just get out and walk....I agree that people who receive food stamps should buy healthly food like the WIC program.....funny....they can buy cigs and alcohol but then whine because they can't buy healthly food

HAHAHA.... lets hold a whopie pie eating contest...ohh wait that was last weekend. Honestly lets create a Co2 Tax....Maine lows those taxes....it's a fact obese people eat more, breath more, and really make traveling on a plane a pain, so lets capitalize on this unrecognized source of revenue. All proceeds can go to the buy John Baldacci a wig campaign....or maybe a degree from a legit institution that promotes jobs within it's State. I shouldn't poke fun though obesity is a legit disease....symptoms include over eating, laziness, and state welfare.

Whoopie Pies were always my favorite. There was a lady from Falmouth Foreside (whose husband worked for the BOMARC site years ago) who gave my mom a recipe for Whoopie Pies. Her name was Amundsen. I think I survived on these things - homemade, of course, for years...and the warmer and fresher the "pies" were, the better! The problem with them of course, was that one could become quite flatulent after eating several of the pies and several glasses of cold milk! Phheeeuuuwwww!

Old Chrome-Dome really ought to have a wig, however. Thanks for the suggetion, Maine62. I remember him in his younger days, and he actually had some hair on his head. They say, "Grass does not grow on a playground", but what has Chrome-Dome's head have to do with it? Maybe he is into yoga and stands on his head incessantly like "Father William's". ("You are old, Father William's...and though you incessantly stand on your head...").

Oh, see, karenlite, see what you started with your Whoopie Pies? Anyway, I'm glad you did, becuse now I'm going to get my wife to bake up a batch this weekend, too! I'm 'gonna drive everybody completely out of the house on purpose, too! Get my drift?

You can't even go outside for 4 months out of the year........and people LOVE their fried foods in Maine. Add to that the soda/candy/cookie crowd (food stamp recipients) and you've got a recipe for F-A-T.

To heck with the bike paths and sidewalks............Maine needs more INDOOR FACILITIES for exercise.

Most likely the human body will evolve to deal with the bad effects of obesity. Remember, humans used to be much shorter...check out those museums that show clothing of the past...we were all petite. It is hard to have the Maine CDC Director talk to us about obesity when she herself is no feather. And perhaps we should just NOT measure everyone and make them feel awful about themselves. And the governor looks anorexic; he definitely has issues! This reminds me of global warming, jumping to a conclusion about an issue that is a small bleep in the history of mankind and earth and making too much effort to change something that probably doesn't need to be changed because nature will deal with it.

Did I miss another goofy law that was passed last session? Who says 'you can't go out in the cold'? Um-we work and play outside all year long. Weather is an inconvenience but certainly not a deterrant to being outside doing anything.

And all this talk about healthy food being more expensive? If you happen to be poor or unemployed then why on earth are you not growing some vegetables, at least in the summertime? Geeze-it takes plenty of calories to till, hoe, weed and swat mosquitoes in the rain to take care of a garden. And you won't convince me that people don't have the space for a garden. A famaily of 4 can grow enough for the year in a plot no bigger than 20-feet by 20 feet. Get rid of a couple of unregisterd vehicles and 4 wheelers and you'll have plenty of space. So stop with all the whining and Government concern and go outside and make yourself healthy for gosh sake!

It's not Government's responsibility to keep you healthy. Get up of your butt and do something.

The State made it illehal to smoke in public parks. That was because it was considered unhealthy. So ban fat people from public places because they are a bad example. It might encourage some to get fit and it would sure make public places more pleasant for the rest of us.

It's food addiction. The gov't needs to step in with prohibition of high fructose corn syrup. Jail those fat peddlers.

*Is pleasantly surprised to see this not turning into a giant wargharrbl about junk food taxes and other 'us vs them' issues*

Perhaps requiring proof of a handicapped placard to operate one of the supermarket provided hoveround carts would also help curb obesity...y'know, just so people too fat and lazy to walk to the wal mart deli for their five nightly rotisserie chickens and stale donuts...stake out your local wal mart for examples of said behavior and prepare to laugh or cry.

sorry about incomplete sentences....is kind of early.

Must be George Bush's fault!!

this prob arises a lot of times after 1 quits smoking ,a lot of people have ,guess all the money that the nanny people in augusta was gonna save in health care maybe lost to another problem ,

Get people out of their cars. Create walkbale communities. Ban drive-throughs. Tax the heck out of McDonalds. And for God's sake disallow the use of food stamps for soda, marshmallows, things that aren't food.

Obesity and smoking are the two biggest contributors to health care costs. Indirectly, overdependence on cars is just as bad. Attack the problem at its source.

Let them eat Cake!

Lots of good comments here, I especially agree with those by inland. I know lots of low income people with nice gardens who live very healthy lives and I NEVER see them sitting around on the sofa complaining about a lack of a special path or indoor place to work out. They're too busy tending the garden or going fishing or hunting or going to work or adding on to their house, no time or money for lots of corn syrup based foods. Obesity is an individual choice and not anything the government can or should try to fix. It can only be solved by individuals, literally one step at a time.

I quit smoking 1 1/2 years ago and never gained a pound but I also eat healthly and I do enjoy junk food once in awhile but in moderation ( thats the key right there)

Just when the kids get into middle school, when they should be setting up healthy lifetime habits, they cut P.E. back to one day a week and cut out recess completely. My kid plays a fall sport, a winter sport, and a spring sport, but what about kids who don't and whose parents don't make sure they get outside and do something every day? And what happens if my kid doesn't make the high school teams in all his sports? I could care less what my kid's BMI is, I would rather they gave the money to the schools to support an extra P.E. program. They could get rid of a couple periods of what seems to be MEA prep class and have P.E. instead.

hankwilliams, What is a "walkbale" community?

Re 6:08 am, people can't grow their own food if they don't have a yard. Plus the growing season here is 9 weeks long. Come on, you are expecting to feed a family of four on home-grown vegetables here? It's not realistic.

Obviously healthy foods are more expensive than unhealthy foods. A big reason for that is massive government subsidies to corn producers, which is why there's corn syrup in everything. That's also why a mega-processed pack of Twinkies costs less than a bag of raw carrots.

Economically disadvantaged people feed their families on high-fat, high-carb, high calorie foods because that's what they can afford. If we are serious about reducing obesity then the government should start subsidizing organic vegetable growers to make fresh vegetables more affordable.

Here's a good article about it titled "Our broken food system and the American farm crisis"

http://www.startribune.com/yourvoices/47888547.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUdcOy9cP3DieyckcUsI

Shame on us!!! You can say whatever you please, but it's a crisis that we have brought on ourselves and WE are the only ones who can turn it around. We live in Maine........if you can't get out and walk, it's your own fault. We must take responsibility for what we put in our mouths, not anyone else. For once you can't blame the government, politics, etc. Nobody makes us eat something, we do it to ourselves. If we choose to eat fattening foods....get outside and walk off those extra calories. Don't sit in front of the tv and blame someone else for your unhealthy habits.....

We live in Maine!!!!!! Get outside and walk, it doesn't cost a penny, there is NO EXCUSE!

It's just too bad more people don't take advantage of the recreational opportunities ME offers. I ski, kayak, mtn bike, snowshoe, run, hike etc. Yes, to do some of these things you need to spend a little $$$-but believe me, I'm not dropping thousands of dollars on equipment each year-my bike is 4 years old, my downhill skis are 6, kayak is 10...the only thing I bought recently was a new XC ski set up-but you know, my old ones were good enough for the friend I gave them too. Besides winter gear (for warmth), I could care less about getting "special clothes" to bike in...$90 bike shorts, $50 jersey-please. I work hard, and I play hard. I don't eat particularly healthy-and maybe someday that will catch up with me-but I burn more calories each day than I eat-and that is the key.

hey, there are to many BURGER KINGS in Maine, evey where there is one or a BIG MAC that is why they are so fat, mostly the girls

here we go again TAX US TO DEATH

Right On, Lethbtidgestewart! The motorized shopping carts are meant for the handicapped. Many, if not most of the people using them have butts which hang over each side by 18" at least. Those people NEED to walk. It's healthy. And besides it would save the shopping carts from burned out motors, thus keeping them available to the handicapped person who really need one!

Heck, if two of the female fat farmers stand side by side in a wal-mart , one cant get by them and we all know how wide the wal-mart isles are. I agree, it seems to be hitting the females more then the men. Fat women and men are just plane disgusting. they love ther diet coke with the 5000 cal burger..lol

The state's reports will not drop in a year or two... it takes time. Anyone that has ever tried to lose weight and do it in a healthy way, can tell you that. And the BMI is a load of crap. Anybody that has tried to lose weight will tell you that too. If I went by the BMI I would look truly silly. I am a larger framed person and will never ever be the 125# that the BMI says I should be. I am obese as far as what the BMI states and I am certainly not FAT.

I do agree that more people need to watch their weight and get out and excersize but it is not for any of us to tell other people what to do. Adults can make their own decisions, even if some of us don't like it. Kids do need more PE in school, especially if parents aren't providing enough at home.

I don't think we need 'Food Police' to enforce any lard and sugar laws. Remember personal responsibilty? Do we need 'Liver Police' to protect potential alcoholic from psorosis. Come on!

Now that have I razzed over-weight peple enough, I have to admit that I know no-one needs to be told they are over-weight. Not one of these people likes being obese. I've never been obese but I did smoke for 15 years and during that time I'm sure I quit smoking at least twice a month! It's not easy to change habits especially food habits. It's not like quitting alcohol or smoking, where you can keep the temptation out of sight and quit doing it altogether. You have to eat so the temptation is always staring you in the face.

The school hot lunch program in most Maine schools is anything but healthy - fried foods, high carb content and high fat content even in non-fried foods - then with cuts to the budget many schools have cut phys. ed. time. I substituted in a school one particular day and the noon duty teacher who was supposed to take the kids outside refused because even though it was OK for the kids to go out according to the state regulations regarding wind chill and weather, she didn't want to go out so the kids had to stay inside as well. It doesn't cost a dime to take kids and walk or run laps around the gym. It doesn't cost extra to organize activities that get kids moving during recess times instead of sitting in groups talking or playing with Pokemon cards. As for adults, some stimulus money to organizations like the YMCA designated to offer free exercise classes three times a week or the like would have been a good idea.

Cutting what is available for purchase with food stamp money would work only with people who really need the supplement. However, you will rarely see one of them using their much needed money on expensive sugar and fat anyway. When I worked at "Shop 'N' Save" (years ago) I could always tell who really needed food stamps vs who didn't by what they purchased. Those who didn't really need them purchased junk food, the finest cuts of meat and maybe a few veggies and staples. They always had cash for the cigarettes, beer, cratch off tickets and Megabucks tickets. Those who needed the help to get by, purchased generic products when available, less expensive cuts of meat and the staples. The sad truth is that people who don't really need the extra provided by the state to simply get by, will purchase their allowable foods with their food stamps then they will buy the junk stuff with cash, which probably comes in the form of a state check.

The reality is that people, expecially adults, will eat what they want to eat as long as they can get their hands on it and they will only exercise if they really want to. I'd be willing to bet that you will find many in Augusta who eat extremely unhealthy foods on a regular basis and never exercise at all. How can you expect to be able to mandate a healthy lifestyle for others if you aren't willing to set the example?

I'm tired of being bullied by the BDN. We're the oldest State, We're the whitest State, now we're the fattest State. What's next Smelly and ugly?

I was at the Eastport(on business) clinic recently and all the MaineCare recipients were there in the waiting room and most were fat, fat, fat!!! Their fat little offspring too. If If I'm paying for their health care they need to loose some weight!!!!

It is the FAST FOOD...and dining out portions...holy cow some of the portions are big enough for 2 people!!! The fast food is so supersized...it makes people supersized too. Teach your children to COOK...get in the kitchen & have some fun. You can save so much money by staying away from all that artery clogging fast food grease and be healthier & happier too! :)

We gotta be the best at something. :)

If it can be proved that obesity costs extra tax dollars through increased public health costs, and I think it has been proved, than yes, government does have a role to play.

Pretty soon the Government will make us insert chips under our skin with the encription "666". This governement has too much control, too much debt, too much time on their hands, and too many morons! It's simply a government of too many!

I sort of agree David however, it is usually the case that once the government starts they don't stop. So in another few years will it be ILLEGAL to have a double quarter pounder with cheese, just because you WANT one? It's a fine line that we are walking here.

Or what about an ILLEGAL WHOOPIE PIE???? :)

Government should not be involved. Also, before you guys go off on a tangent you should check the CDC website listed:

On the Web: http://healthyamericans.org Body Mass Index calculator: www.presidentschallenge.org/tools_to_help/bmi.aspx

You're going to find that many of you fit as a fiddle people are considered overweight if not obese by the CDC and that calculator is the only test being used to come up with all of the data. Before flapping your gums, you should really find out if you're one of the "fatties".

Also, so many things run the risk of higher health costs, unless you want the government in your refrigerator, your liquor cabinet, your bedroom, on your vacation with you - then the answer is no you don't think people's weight is the responsibility of the government. Don't sell your freedom, your privacy and your soul for a 5% less insurance payment.

I think lack of recess is a substantial part of the problem. School recess typically ends around 5th or 6th grade. My thought is recess should continue through 12th grade and the rest of our lives. Every person should get outside EVERYDAY. Whether your seven or seventy. When recess stops, many non-athletic types stop playing in the outdoors-Extending recess to the older grades will encourage more to develop more active habits for the rest of their lives.

Start walking

Not eating moderately or healthy are not the only things behind obesity. Some eat comfort food when depressed or stressed. I agree that there need to be broader road shoulders and sidewalks to encourage safe walking and cycling for those who wish.

I agree that frozen veggies are an excellent substitute for fresh, but not canned. It is not just the sodium; it is how cooked they are. The essential nutrients get eliminated in the process. With the fresh you have to wash all veggies and fruits. Not all the people who handled them before reaching the store wash their hands (hence E coli).

I agree about living for 70 years as opposed to existing for 90. It's one thing to watch what you eat, but to make it such an ordeal that you agonize over every mouthful you take?...that is stressful!

Sure there are programs like Weight Watches and Nutri-system out there, but again it comes down to $$$$.

Kids can't walk to school these days like they used to. Many parents aren't organized enough, or are too busy, to get them out the door on time, nor tough enough to make the kids make their own lunches and pack their own backpacks. Also drivers are going so fast, it is more dangerous to walk to school. Once in school, with recess and PE cut, and bad food and drinks available, the kids don't have a chance. At home, they sit in front of computers and tv.

As for adults, don't stay indoors in the winter, try snowshoeing and xc skiing. It is not expensive, and many of us can do it out our back doors. Get off the snowmobiles and atvs and get exercise!

Downtown Augusta has its share of obesity, yet they live right next to one of the nicest paved trails in the state, the Kennebec River trail. Paved, scenic, goes all to way to Hallowell, or is it Gardiner? That trail was not a waste of money. Lots of people benefit by that trail and the YMCA near it.

Cars, motor sports, bad weather, fast food, soda, cause our obesity problem. It takes a lot of willpower to resist these things.

berquis, I said "role to play" without attempting to identify specifics, because I think the problem is complex. For example, in Maine, and possibly other rural states, I think it is at least partly related to the local economy, or lack thereof. People either can't afford healthy food, or they eat a lot of junk out of frustration. If this really is a significant cause of obesity, then, in my view, state government's role would be, not to create an improved economy, but to get out of the way, within reason, to allow an improved economy to develop. Of course, the devil in the details is "within reason". But this is exactly where government needs to provide the leadership to navigate through this situation, leadership that I think it has failed to provide.

Inland....many low-income live in apartments. Not many are allowed to plant gardens! (let alone pets) House plants can only hold so many, and then there is the question of space INSIDE. Don't forget that not all veggies grow well in Maine soil...and not everyone can afford potting/topsoil! Banning fat people from parks will not help THEM to lose weight. Vit D helps to fight lethargy...you only get Vit from sunshine and fortified milk! As for the money spent, many people have bills to pay and do NOT smoke.

Those whoopie pies sound yummy...but as good as it would taste, I think my tummy would rebel. Having no gall bladder makes the liver work harder to help digest fat with bile. Save me some hamburgers though!

Hankwilliams (Sr or Jr?) there is already a restaurant tax!

berquis re: 9:46 comment I would be willing to give the canoe, the wife, the dog (sorry scratch giving up dog) the guns etc. but NO one is touching my whoppie pies!!

ohOH LORD A DOUBLE DECKER BURGER WITH BACON AND CHEESE AND LOTS OF KETCHUP ON IT, THAT SOUNDS GOOD HUH????

THE BIG GOVERNMENT HAS YOU EATING WHAT THEY SAY, I WONDER IF OUR PRESIDENT EAST BURGERS AND GIVES HALF OF IT TO THAT MUT THAT HE GOT ,,, I BET HE DOES NOT DO HIS THING IN THE WHITE HOUSE,,, BET YA

On 7/2/09 at 9:34 AM, David889327 wrote: "If it can be proved that obesity costs extra tax dollars through increased public health costs, and I think it has been proved, than yes, government does have a role to play. "

Then let them go after the people who are getting public health benefits, and leave the rest of us alone. First we pay their foodstamps which they buy a lot of garbage with, then we have to pay their medical bills because they are fat, now we have to pay for some worthless feel good government program to help them lose weight. Holy cow, with all of the resources available today, TV, Internet, Radio, Newspapers, if someone can't figure it out for themselves why they are obese, and the consequenses, then I really think they just don't care. Do we really need to spend millions telling people that exercise and healthy eating is good for them? Good god, are their really people that ignorant out their that are not aware of that?

I suggest we blow up a few WalMart Supercenters on a Saturday morning. That would get the state obesity percentage back in line in a hurry. Might send the mobilty scooter business into a recession, though.

David: I wasn't arguing, just commenting :) Save the whoopie pies!!!

Pab: if you caught me on the right day I would give up ALMOST anything for one! ;)

But what does "go after them" mean? The government is not going to do anything that might, gasp, push them to vote Republican. I think the best we can do, through our government, is attempt to transform our culture away from accepting non-glandular (whatever) obesity.

Too much Allen's coffee brandy. Fat a.. in a glass

So your telling me there's a chance?? LOL...

Jaminjelly cannot get rid of Wal-Mart, that is going to be the only place you can go to get outpatient medical care in the future....

There is always a chance.... that wal-mart will be the only outpatient medical care center in the future :) ha ha

Go after them means if they are on public assistance, limit what they can and can't buy with foodstamps. If they are on Mainecare, charge them a copay unless they can demonstrate they are doing something to make healthy choices. Every time a legislator proposes puting some constraint on people who are on maincare or foodstamps it gets shot down. Instead, they shift the burden to the tax payers. It is utterly rediculous. It has nothing to do with Democrat or Republican, it has to do with holding the individual accountable for their actions, not blaming society for it.

I don't buy into this nonsense that eating healthy is expensive. Go to Sams club, you can buy a 5 lb. bag of frozen vegetables for six bucks, 2 loaves of whole wheat bread fo 4 bucks, six lbs. of boneless skinless chicken breast for 13 bucks, a gallon of skim milk for 3.50, a 10 lb bag of potatoes for 5 bucks. Water is free, turn on the faucet. Soda is not free and not only does it ruin your teeth, it makes you fat.

Common sense is all it is.

How many of you went to the website and actually checked your BMI?

I did!! :)

Good. I'm wondering if any of the males posting here did. : - )

Good points, boogyman. What do you say, obese people?

I checked my BMI while eating a whoppie pie and when I found out what it is just said to heck with it and ate a second one!

Good for you PabMainer, you got it right! Eating a second whoopie pie is a given, who can eat just one, that's only if you care about etiquette. It takes a few minutes to feel full after you've eaten it and should wait before eating a second because they are sooo rich and by that time you would probably feel full, but eating the second one is worth the sick feeling. The same can be said for peanut butter fudge, chocolate cake with fudge frosting, s'mores over a camp fire, no bake cookies while they're still warm... Some things are just good for the soul.

I don't think the problem is so much the food available or the cold weather. The main problem is that it starts with the kids because they have to many sedentary activities with the computers, video games, cell phones and 60 channels on TV. When I was growing up we had 3 channels and Pong. You went outside and played no matter what the weather was. I live in Phoenix now and you would not know any kids even lived on my street unless you happened to see the schoolbus. They disappear inside never to be seen again. The parents are the only ones that can reverse the trend but it is difficult when both have to work and mom does not have time to make a decent meal like the stay-at-home moms of the old days.

Hey karenlite I did wash them down with skim milk....that's gotta count for something right! Plus, they don't go very well with PBR!!

You definately have a valid point RodMarks. I'm not all that 'old' and we ALWAYS were outside. The house was too boring! Unless it was Saturday morning there were no cartoons on (they play them 24/7 on cable now), we didn't have a computer (and if we did it held word processor no internet). If we were inside my mom would put us to work on chores or something so bike riding and playing at the park was the PERFECT escape!

Pabmainer and berquis thanks for actually going to the site. I don't know what your results were but the point I was trying to make is that many of you here talking about "those fat people" are probably the fat people the CDC is talking about and is being used in these studies. If you haven't been to the site you really should go before making too many harsh proclamations. Many of you will be insulting yourselves.

While the cases of morbid obesity in this country is increasing and frightening and I agree something needs to be done ... the numbers they (CDC and government) are spewing at us are ridiculously skewed. What they consider overweight or even obese these days many people would consider plump, needs to lose a couple pounds or even just about right. There are two issues here, the way they're evaluating obesity and the truly morbidly obese.

weight to height does not mean fat index. this article is a bizarre read. Maybe environment ought to be a fact. the coldr a location, it is more likely by nature to be a brick crap house if ya know what I mean. an easy envrionment is not going to have mass in height. Hey I said mass. maine is more normal in some than baldaccis think tank doesn;t know, and abnormal in more ways thatn baldaccis think tank does not know...fix the skinny roads in legislation, they eat too much.

OK... I get it now PabMainer -PBR!! That would be nasty with a WP.. but good with skim milk, coffee or even water. There is a middle ground to staying healthy and happy and a WP or two once in a while is a good thing. They make people smile : )

Obesity is a nice name for "big fat slobs" .......They are everywhere.....it is unbelieveable.......I can only imagine how sluggish they feel.....I've always thought that food stamp recipients should be required to attend nutrishion classes......(not that the only people that are obese are food stamp recipients).....I also think the typical office job and atmosphere is condusive to the problem of being overweight.

Rodmarks,

I think you are right, but one of the other problems is all of the freaking sickos out there looking to harm our kids. Parents are just afraid to let their kids wander these days for fear they will never see them again.

I'm not sure that there are anymore abductions than there used to be, or if it is just a matter of much more media outlets and the 24 hour news cycle just reports it more. But I have to say, when I was a kid we were outside and my parents usually never knew where we were exactly. Now when my kids are outside, I feel compelled to have them in sight at all times.

Good point boogyman. I don't think we had the large number of predators back in the day that we have now. We also had much tighter nit communities where everyone would watch out for everyone else's kids. Everyone made it a point to find out who had moved in next door and what they were about. If any stranger ever crossed the line they would be "dealt with" and probably would be looking for a new residence.

Cre8RoyalPalm, I was not aware of the certain digestion problem or maybe I just didn't give it a thought, I wondered why people around me were holding their nose up in the air .. : ) Having a whoopie pie now and then is worth a little embarrassment~

I see some comments on here about morbid obesity. I am sometimes morbid but definitely not obese!

karenlite...why do you think they call it a "whoopie pie"?

It's climate change......I've put on a few extra pounds with these colder winters.....but i need insulation....go green!

SoFedUp, eating hearty does give us a layer of fat under the skin to keep us warm. Sounds good to me, I feel like buttered popcorn would be good about now.. Wait, I'll be right back.. {Honeyyy?? Would you make some of that nice popcorn you do so deliciously~~ Thanks XXOO} Back.. gotta go...

Cre8RoyalPalm, Whoopie, as in whoopie cushion?.. Those things are so embarrassing, but so funny ..when it's someone else. I think it helps an uptight person to relax and laugh if they sit on one.. The same effect of relaxation can happen by eating and enjoying a fine whoopie pie.

Karenlite.......I haven't had homemade whoopie pies forever! The last time I made them was for my son's class fundraiser oh about 20 years ago! What a hit they were....I think I'll make some for our 4th picnic! LOL Thanks for the idea.....

Glad I could help, SoFedUp. : ) I hadn't made them for years either until the news about the whoopie pie contest, then my husband started hinting and was ready to make a batch. We decided to wait til the grand kids came over to make them. All went well-too well.. we made pumpkin and now we need to do chocolate with fluff filling.. I got the recipes from a magazine at the dentists' office, try * hannaford.com/recipes* you may be able to find some recipes, I just found that on my copy.. Happy 4th!!

I'm fat and I'm proud !

Well, at least we're known at the 1st at something here in NE!

I can tell you're relatively young, nixonwasmyhero. Just wait until your knees give out, diabetes , high blood pressure heart disease and on and on take their toll.....how proud will you be then?

i think bottom line is personal responsbilty everyone is to quick blame programs and whoever they can, i do agree that others shouldnt pay for someone elses health problems because they are to lazy to work out or eat healthy!!! The obesity problems are the same as the drug problems in maine blame someone else!!! We should start opening food clinics next to the methadone clinics and people could go and eat healthy and go home while we taxpayers pay for it.

A more appropriate POLL question would have been...... "Should the PEOPLE have a role in curbing GOVERNMENT OBESITY"?

The insanity continues....

Your only fat when the obese police have to saw-zaw your bedroom wall 10ft wide, wrap a chain around your equator, and wench you out with da tow truck threw da picture window. If you have to go to the Dr. on a flatbed truck, you may be fat and stinky-stinky.

........

Marilyn Monroe was a size 14, and I'm a physically fit, healthy, loose 16 (and losing). No complaints there. It's all about moderation and daily activity. Go outside for a quick walk, fresh air is good for the soul. Don't forget the umbrella,,will we ever have summer?

I will say one thing, since I've dropped a size, I've noticed more how many overweight people there are around. I'm in agreement with an earlier poster, welfare recipients should only be able to purchase healthy foods with food stamps. As long as we the taxpayers are supporting people, then we should be able to dictate how they spend our money. If they don't want to be told what to buy, then do what is needed to get off welfare. Period.

Happy 4th everyone.

There just was a whoopie pie fair in Dover last w/e !

When I was young I didn't like whoopie pies (or devil dogs) and was skinny.

I still don't like them - and I'm more than chubby !!

The Whoopies Pie's I made for the family 4th get together were the 1st food to go, grown ups and kids alike. It goes to show you that living the good life is not just about obeying the big government way of dong things.

im fat or obese and am proud of it ! ! ! and i walk around wal mart and everyone can get by me no problem.....to you so called skinny minies be what you want to be do what you want to do and keep your nose out of our buisiness ....we will do what we want when we want and no one can tell us what we can do...... its our lives we choose to live how ever we want .......we make the choice ourselves.....and for whoopie pies its to much chocolate and filling is to sweet.....when i go out to eat i go to subway get a foot long eat a half of it and save the other half for supper or dinner the next day and on my sandwich i do not have oil or mayo. its a plain dry sandwich with just veggies.....so witch is better mcd's or subway ????? the STATE OF MAINE IF THATS WHAT YOU WANT TO CALL IT IS SO DEATH AGAINST US SMOKERS AND US FAT PEOPLE WHAT ABOUT THE DRUNKS AND ALCOHOLICS????????? THEY ARENT NO BETTER THAN WE ARE AND YOU ALSO READ IN THE NEWS PAPER OF AN ACCIDENT AND MOST OF THE TIME ALCOHOL IS A FACTOR SOME LIVE AND A LOT DIE ! ! ! ! ! ! ! AND SOME INNOCENT VICTUMS ARE KILLED BY THEM.... (DRUNKS) AND THE SMOKERS AND THE GAS IS ALWAYS GETTING TAXED TO DEATH BUT NOT THE ALCOHOL THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE......OH I FORGOT AUGUSTA LIVES ON THAT STUFF I SEEN BALDACCI TAKING A DRING WHILE AT A MEETING HE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER TO TAKE A DRINK WHERE HE WAS TO BE SEEN ON TV ...... THATS WHY ALCOHOL ISNT BEING TAXED TO DEATH ....IF THEY TAXED THAT STUFF THE SO CALLED STATE WOULD BRING IN QUITE A BIT OF MONEY .....MAYBE MORE THAN THEY WOULD THAN ON US SMOKERS !!1!1OH WELL YOU GUYS DO WHAT YOU WANT AND LEAVE US FAT PEOPLE ALONE..... IF YOU DONT LIKE THE WAY WE LOOK JUST TURN YOUR HEAD THE OTHER WAY THERE IS MORE WAYS AROUND US ! ! ! ! ! AND GET A LIFE ! ! ! !