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The obesity statistics for 2008 have been released and Mississippi is still the largest.  Although Alabama is in a close second place.  Doctors have noticed that the largest increase in obesity is in baby boomers. 

The national obesity ranking has shown that 23 states have gotten fatter over the past year, while no states experienced a significant decline.  In 31 states, more than one in four adults are obese.  These statistics prove that this is not an individual problem but a national one.

Many doctors and politicians have called for a national action plan.  With more people growing obese each year, there are rising medical costs.  In every state the obesity rate is higher for 55 to 65-year-olds than for 65 year-olds and beyond.  So as more and more baby boomers become obese, they will require more and more money to cover their medical costs.

Originally health economists believed that obese Americans would die sooner and savethe system money; but they have determined obese Americans live just as long but they’re sicker and require costly treatments and surgeries.  Medicare spends approximately $1,400 to $6,000 more on an obese senior annually than on a non-obese senior.

The solution to the obesity problem is changing habits.  People need to start making healthier choices and participating in community programs.  People that that are active not only tend to be leaner but healthier.  While there are no cuts in state obesity rates, states are showing better habits.  Last year 37 states saw their obesity rates rising while this year only 23 states rose.  

Obesity rates are slightly slowing down, because more people are making healthier choices.  Some simple tips for increasing your daily exercise may include parking further away from the store in parking lots, or mowing your lawn with a push mower instead of a riding lawn mower.  Walking through the mall and anywhere else can also help you accomplish your 1,000 daily steps.  Another great idea is going for a walk on your lunch break. 

These tips may not make a very big difference in your life, but every little bit helps.  It may help you make better choices about what you eat, and hopefully motivate you to exercise even more.

First aid kits are great, and so is knowing a little bit about first aid, but if you are in a city, you most likely will be able to get help quick enough. If you need first aid in the wilderness though, you may be in trouble. No one is there to help you, and you will probably have only the knowledge you gained in boy or girl scouts or from watching the Discovery Channel. It may not be a bad idea to buy a wilderness survival book if you enjoy hiking or camping. Surviving alone in the wilderness is not easy, and any resource you have will be helpful.

When you are planning for a natural disaster, consider where you are located before you go and buy waterproof flashlights or build an underground shelter. Each area of the United States is susceptible to a different type of natural disaster. I live in Utah, so I obviously don’t need to plan for hurricanes and tropical storms. The point is tailor your natural disaster kits to where you live. Think about what kinds of disasters you my face, and be prepared. Most disasters probably will include some loss of power, and food and water are always important, but the rest is really up to where you live and what natural disasters you expect.

 Healthy eating is hard to do, but we can all make a little progress by taking little measures every day. One thing I have been trying lately is skipping the add-ons. What I mean by that is skipping the things that don’t make the meal, but make the meal a little bit better tasting and a lot worse for you. I eat pancakes virtually everyday for breakfast, and I have started to eat them without any butter. It is different, but I am used to it now and now my breakfast is better. I also stopped getting bacon or cheese on my hamburgers. It may seem small, but it adds up quickly.