What's The Biggest Problem For Americans?

Thirty-two percent of men and 34% of women were obese in 2011. A report presented to the American Heart Association predicted 43% of men and 42% of women could be obese by 2020. Some cardiovascular risk factors have decreased since 1988 – smoking, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. However, weight gain, diabetes and pre-diabetes have increased. If these trends continue, diabetes and pre-diabetes in women could increase from 6.3% and 37% respectively to 8.3% and 44%. The numbers for men aren't much better. It seems the U.S. has become a country of "weight-watchers" – watching their weight increase.

A mother's relationship with her young child could cause the child to be obese as a teenager. This is the finding of a study published in the journal Pediatrics. Researchers looked at data for 977 children nationwide. The data documented relationship characteristics between mothers and their toddlers. More than 25% of the children with poor relationships with their mothers were obese by age 15 compared to 13% of the children who were close to their mothers. It seems brain areas covering emotions and stress work with areas controlling appetite and energy balance. However, mothers might want additional research "fathered".

Morning snacking interferes with weight loss. A Study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association included 123 overweight and obese women ages 50-75. Although 97% ate snacks daily, 19% snacked between 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. Forty-eight percent of morning snackers ate 3 or more snacks daily compared to 38.9% of evening snackers. Morning snackers lost 7% of their body weight in a year; women who didn't snack before lunch lost 11%. Americans are eating more frequently – not just when they're hungry. Because "mindless eating" doesn't mean we eat less at the next meal, we need to be "mindful".

When older, obese women regain weight, more is regained as fat – not muscle. The study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition included 78 obese women, average age 58, who'd lost 25 pounds in a previous diet study. Data for the regainers showed a change in body composition. Thirty-three percent of the lost weight was muscle, but muscle was only 20% of the regained weight. Previous studies have shown younger people regain weight in the same muscle/fat proportion they lost it, but that's not true for older people – and that is expected to include men. Age seems to put the fat in fate.