Miss. Governor Aims for Healthier State
Sunday, 11-Jun-2006 2:30PM EDT Story from AP / SHELIA BYRD
Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press (via ClariNet)

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Associated Press/AP Online
JACKSON, Miss. - After growing up in the Deep South, Gov. Haley Barbour is no stranger to fried chicken, syrupy candied yams and crumbly buttermilk cornbread.

But Barbour, who often takes good-natured ribbing about his ample frame, is concerned about his state's growing reputation as one of the fattest, unhealthiest states in America.

On Thursday, Barbour will be host of the Healthy Mississippi Summit, where state and national experts will discuss ways to promote nutrition and an active lifestyle. The goal is a statewide approach similar to programs already operating in Arkansas, Michigan and elsewhere.

And taking a cue from Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee - who lost 110 pounds to improve his health, after starting at 290 - Barbour says he'll lead by example.

"A lot of people will probably judge the seriousness of the program by how the governor acts," Barbour told The Associated Press, without specifically saying he was going on a diet and without giving his weight.

Mississippi leads the nation in obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease - ailments that normally can be avoided through diet and exercise.

Barbour says that what is at stake goes beyond an individual's quality of life.

"The chronic disease burden in our state dramatically increases the cost of Medicaid and Medicare. Businesses lose money because employees miss work," Barbour said. "We know that we have tens of thousands of people who are in bad health because of their behavior."

This fiscal year, it cost $3.8 billion to operate Mississippi Medicaid, the federal-state health insurance program for the needy, aged, blind and disabled. It covers about 748,000 people, or about one in every four Mississippians.

Nationwide, chronic diseases cause 700,000 deaths a year, costing the economy $117 billion a year.

Yale obesity expert Dr. David Katz, one of the speakers for the summit, said obesity is prevalent in Mississippi because it has more poverty to contend with than other states. Nearly 20 percent of the state's residents are below the poverty level.

"Combine educational and economic hardships with the obesigenic factors that abound and you have a perfect storm of irresistible, adverse influences," Katz wrote in an e-mail to the AP.

Minorities appear to be more susceptible. Katz said one of the most startling trends he's seen is that about half of African-Americans born in the United States in 2000 or after are projected to develop diabetes.

Shawn Newsome, a 33-year-old black man struggling to lose weight to control his diabetes, is aware of the risks. The Jackson resident once weighed 300 pounds but has lost 30 pounds over the past year.

"You think about what's going to happen to your body. Are you going to lose your eyesight or your kidneys or a limb?" said Newsome.

He believes publicizing the health effects of excess weight is the best way to get people's attention. "Then people have to make a choice themselves to get in shape and watch what they're eating. They can die just from their diet," Newsome said.

Barbour plans a statewide program aimed at school children, state employees, church members and other groups. He said 25 churches have been recruited for a pilot program to help their members learn more about diet and exercise.

He said the programs will be of little cost to the state and would actually save taxpayer dollars by helping to reduce the need for hospitalization and medications.

Katz said it's too early to gauge the effectiveness of other states' government-sponsored health initiatives.

Caryl Sumrall, director of a diabetes clinic at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, said the governor's summit is a good idea.

"Whether we're a taxpayer or a health care provider, it affects all of us," said Sumrall. "If we become complacent then the problem can actually get worse than it already is."

What is it with governors being fat? Maybe they should pay a surcharge on their free healthcare, the fat bastards.

It would seem, according to the location of a press conference, that it is the site of the most agregious group of ill people or about to be ill people. Every govenor is spouting the same message. Some are in need of a program, while others are not.

These programs were also announced in the early 1950,s and physical education was added to every school's curriculum. This was before the advent of Fast Food Restaurants and diets soda.

As we the victums of that program enter retirement we are falling off the wagon again. We are bringing fat children into the world and encouraging them to eat and drink.

For the average american to eat properly their food budget would have to increase and their time spent preparing that food will also increase. Healthy food is expensive and offers no incentive in taste or pleasure.

Excercise is a good thing nless you have lived your lifee in under climate control systems. Most of us can no longer survive in the open air anymore, it is hot, polluted, and humid. A adequate pair of walking shoes can cost a weeks food budget or more. Most recreaction areas have an entrance fee or you need a securtiy guard in order to feel safe.

Healthy food food spoils much quicker than a bag, box, or can of something else. Time is a precious commodity in today's world.

One easy way to get people to excercise is to ban personal vehicles and close rapid transit. If you want to go somewhere walk. Think of the highways as walking and bike paths. Think of the effect on the quality of the ambient air and global warming.

Think of the antis walking from their plush offices to presentations on days of 100% humdity in their worsted wool suits and spiked heals.

How many soccer moms would survie with the children at home after school?

quote:

Originally posted by squeezer:
What is it with governors being fat? Maybe they should pay a surcharge on their free healthcare, the fat bastards.

Squeezer, your comment made me think of something.........in Delaware it is the Lt. Governor that is at the forefront of the obesity bandwagon - not the Governor. The Lt. Gov. is by no means a heavy weight (in any sense of the word, but that's a different topic) but the Governor is anything but svelte.

Bruce, you say:

quote:

For the average american to eat properly their food budget would have to increase and their time spent preparing that food will also increase. Healthy food is expensive and offers no incentive in taste or pleasure.

I beg to differ. I have been helping a friend cut her family's food budget by teaching her how to prepare healthier meals that are far less expensive than prepackaged and prepared meals and they taste far superior.

The vast majority of the meals prepared for my family are made from scratch. When I go to restock my pantry and freezer later this week I will spend between $150 and $200 and other than perishibles and daily items such as milk and eggs I will not need to restock until the end of the summer.

Preparing healthy, tasty meals for a family does not have to be expensive nor time consuming.

quote:

How many soccer moms would survie with the children at home after school?

It all depends upon your definition of "soccer mom." The majority of the moms in my circle do have their children home after school everyday, and after this afternoon, we will have them home all summer. We'll take them to Girl Scout Camp and Bible Camp and Soccer Camp, but each of those are only for a week. We also take them fishing, biking, etc. and my daughter and her friend down the road have a 10'x10' garden plot they planted which they have to maintain.

Not all of today's kids are sedentary couch potatoes planted in front of a TV or Playstation.

I have a sister with two children who are involved in sports programs all summer and winter. She drive an SUV and is constantly taking and/or picking her kids up all year round. Usually when I talk to her she is in transit and only gets off the phone as she arrives at the parking lot.

When I was growing up, one of seven, we were ushered out the door in the morning, fed outside for lunch, and called in for dinner. None of us participated in anything. That may have been because my mother did not drive and didn't get a license until after I had one. If we went anywhere outside the neighborhood we walked or rode a city bus.

I know it was a different world and allowing children tto wander the streets or use about without a guardian is no longer possible. I guess my sister's children are a lot more involved and do get a lot more structured excercise though. She knows where they are and who they are with and who is in charge of them.

She also cooks, but since she does not work, she has the time to prepare food. I have no idea what she spends. On another note I have a brother with two kids whose wife spends as much on the household as I live on a month.

I pretty much grew up the same way you did, Bruce, as did my husband. But now we live in a very rural area and there are practically no such thing as neighborhoods, except in the small towns, so chauffering the kids around is a neccessity.

However it is the price we have chosen to pay to get away from living in the city.

Once I do my stock up shopping this week, I will spend 2 entire days cooking so as to have the freezer fully stocked with easy to cook meals. That way I need not worry about "what's for dinner" when my crops start coming on and I'm busy canning and freezing fresh produce, making jellies and pickles for my produce stand and selling my excess produce.

As you looking for any aging children? I don't have to go to school. I don't usually eat much but I will probably eat you out of house and home. I would be devoted and not cause you any trouble.

Obviously you are the exception, not the rule. Your family is lucky and wise.

LOL!!! Bruce.

You just might do - I pay in fresh produce and home cooked meals!!!