42 percent of Americans will be obese by 2030, study predicts

If trends continue, 42 percent of American adults will be obese by 2030 and about one quarter of whom will be grossly obese, a new study warns. The results are only slightly less troubling than those published four years ago, which forecast that 51 percent of the population would be obese by 2030.

Right now, 34 percent of American adults are obese and some evidence indicates obesity rates have reached a plateau. "Regardless which is correct, we still have a very serious problem," said William H. Dietz, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's obesity program. The results were discussed Monday at the "Weight of the Nation" conference in Washington, D.C.

The study, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, used obesity prevalence data from 1990 to 2008 to analyze trends. Information came from the widely regarded Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, but because people tend to underestimate their weight when asked on the phone, a mathematical equation was used to compensate for the shortfalls, David Brown reports for The Washington Post. (Read more)

Neat app shows how education, income affect a county's health

Based on the premise that much of what influences health happens outside the doctor's office, the 2012 County Health Calculator uses education and income to illustrate how these factors can affect one's health any county. 

The app estimates how many cases of diabetes would be prevented, how many lives would be saved and how many diabetes costs would be eliminated if income or education levels improved by specific amounts in a specific area. For example, the Pulaski County page shows, "If 5 percent more people attended some college and 4 percent more had an income higher than twice the federal poverty level, we could expect to save 17 lives, prevent 175 cases of diabetes, and eliminate $12 million in diabetes costs every year."

The application also shows which counties have the highest and lowest education levels (best: Fayette County, worst: Clay County) and income levels (best: Oldham County, worst: McCreary County).

The interactive app was developed by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Virginia Commonwealth University's Center on Human Needs and renders "ballpark estimates" of avertable deaths, diabetes and diabetes cost. Researchers obtained education and income data from the U.S Census Bureau and county death rates and estimates of the prevalence of diabetes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Estimates of diabetes prevalence were based on self-reports by people who responded to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Data on medical spending on diabetes derived from The Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care. (Read more)

Diabetes can cause gum disease and tooth decay

Though it's commonly known that diabetes can affect organ function and eyesight, an oral-health expert points out that the disease can also cause tooth decay and gum disease.

"Diabetics with uncontrolled glucose levels tend to develop more gum disease and may lose more teeth than diabetics who have good control of their glucose levels," writes Dr. John Novak, associate director of University of Kentucky's Center for Oral Health Research, in an op-ed piece for the Lexington Herald-Leader. A high carbohydrate/sugar diet can also lead to high levels of sugar in the blood, which can hamper the way the body deals with infection, he writes. Gum disease may be the result because the gums are inflamed by the increased levels of bacteria living in the mouth.

Diabetes can also cause dry mouth, which "creates the perfect environment for the growth of bacterial plaque and for fungal infections such as thrush," he writes. To avoid these problems, Novak recommends brushing teeth and gums twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, flossing every day and using fluoride mouth wash before going to bed.

Signs of tooth decay or gum disease include tender gums that bleed easily when brushing or flossing; teeth sensitive to hot or cold temperatures; loose or broken teeth; sores, ulcers or a burning sensation in the mouth; and bad breath or a bad taste. (Read more)

This week is National Public Health Week; this year's focus is on prevention and wellness

With a focus on prevention and wellness this year, the Kentucky Department of Public Health is promoting national Public Health Week, which kicked off yesterday and will be observed until Sunday. The prevention theme was chosen to underscore the impact of chronic disease on the American population.

Americans miss 2.5 billion days of work because of diseases like heart disease, cancer and diabetes, which costs the country $1 trillion. Unintentional injuries, such as those stemming from motor vehicle accidents, poisonings and burns, rank within the top 10 causes of death for people 44 and younger, according to a DPH press release.

"Often, these horrible diseases and injuries could have been prevented with more attention to lifestyle choices like physical activity and nutrition or preventive safety measures," said Dr. Steve Davis, acting DPH commissioner. "The health care community — as well as the individual — must work to understand the risk for developing chronic disease and avoiding injury so that we can prevent complications. This is key to improving the health of our state."

Public health is also crucial in emergency response, as witnessed with recent tornadoes that struck the state. "The contribution of public health is tremendous — both on a day-to-day basis and in times of crisis," Davis said. "I encourage everyone to go online to read more about our public health programs; talk to your health care provider about chronic disease and injury prevention; or, better yet, visit your local health department to learn more about how public health can — and does — improve your life." (Read more)

Kentucky ranked sixth in nation for obesity, fourth in high blood pressure, second for diabetes

A new report shows 29.5 percent of Kentuckians are obese, sixth highest in the nation. The state ranked second in the nation for the highest percentage of diabetes, with 13.7 percent of Kentucky residents diagnosed with the disease, and fourth in high blood pressure, at 36.3 percent.

According to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, West Virginia had the highest rates of obesity (35.3 percent),  diabetes (15.7 ) and high blood pressure (38.9) in the country. Colorado had the lowest, with 18.5, 6.8 and 22.6, respectively. Colorado "is the only state where fewer than 20 percent of adults are obese," reports Elizabeth Mendes for Gallup. West Virginia's obesity rate is the highest for any state since the study began in 2008.

The survey asked respondents if they had been diagnosed with diabetes or hypertension. to measure obesity, "participants were asked to report their height and weight, allowing Gallup to calculate their body mass index," reports The Huffington Post. A person with a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese. (Read more)

Device lets diabetics get blood-sugar levels using Web, iPhone

Starting next week, diabetics will be able to test their blood-sugar levels using a device that instantly sends their readings to an online database that can be accessed by the patient, doctor or caregiver. “This system charts the results to highlight trends and spot problems, and can be accessed via a Web browser or an iPhone app,” writes Walt Mossberg in a column in The Wall Street Journal.

With 366,000 adults in Kentucky already diagnosed with diabetes, the technology could signal a big change in diabetic care and could be a boon for diabetics living in rural areas.

Mossberg, a Type 2 diabetic, used the new device, made by Maryland-based Telcare, and assessed it uses. Looking like a “thick, old cellphone,” it works like a traditional meter, requiring the user to prick their finger to get a drop of blood and touch a test strip to it. That information is then sent to an online database. “Because it automatically logs results and allows real-time sharing, I believe diabetics who use this new system will be less likely to skip readings, or to fudge the numbers, especially if they allow doctors and other caregivers to see the results instantly. And that could mean an improvement in their health,” he writes.

Kentucky is 43rd among the states in health rankings report

Kentucky is near the bottom of the list in a ranking that determines which states are the healthiest. It came in 43rd, up from 44th last year.

Kentucky's low ranking is attributed to its unusually high numbers of people who smoke, are obese, die of cancer and are hospitalized for preventable reasons, according to America's Health Rankings, funded by the United Health Foundation.

"As it has for the last decade, Mississippi was ranked 50th on this year's list, which was topped by Vermont at No. 1," Louisville's Business First reports.

"Kentucky's rank of 43rd is a reminder that, while are making progress, as Kentuckians we still have much to do to keep ill health from holding us down," said Susan Zepeda, president/CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. "The good news is there are many concerned civic leaders working to reduce rates of smoking and obesity in the state and keep young people from starting to smoke."

Highlights of the report show:

• While smoking has decreased from 30.5 percent to 24.8 percent of Kentucky adults in the past 10 years, 822,000 still smoke. Recently, Kentucky ranked 36th in the nation for its smoking cessation efforts.

• Almost 1.1 million Kentuckians are obese, 353,000 more than 10 years ago.

• Diabetes decreased from 11.5 percent to 10 percent of the populations in the past year, but there are still 322,000 adults in Kentucky with diabetes.

• In the past five years, the percentage of people without health insurance increased from 13 percent to 15.4 percent.

• In the past 10 years, the percentage of children living in poverty increased from 15.2 percent to 24.7 percent.

As for the entire country, overall health has not improved this year over 2010. "Between 1990 and 2000, the overall health of the nation ... improved by an average of 1.6 percent each year. After 2000, however, the upward trend slowed to 0.5 percent annually," until this year, Health.com reports.

"Physical activity, nutrition, and tobacco: If we could get people focused on those three, we could take a huge bite out of the chronic-disease epidemic," said Georges Benjamin, the executive director of American Public Health Association. "This is not an infinite list of things that people have to address."

America's Health Rankings has been assessing health data for the past 22 years, making it the longest-running health assessment report in the country. For its methodology, researchers look at four groups of health determinants: behaviors, such as smoking and obesity rates; community and environment, such as children living in poverty, violent crime and infectious disease; public and health policies, such as lack of health insurance and public health funding; and clinic care, such as prenatal care, the number of primary care physician and preventable hospitalization rates.

Each of these four determinants are intimately connected with one other, researchers contend. "For example, an initiative that addresses tobacco cessation requires not only efforts on the part of the individual but also support from the community in the form of public and health policies that promote non-smoking and the availability of effective counseling and care at clinics," the report reads.

Data sources include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; American Medical Association; Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S. Census Bureau; and National Center for Health Statistics.

Retailers like Walmart, CVS getting into primary care, eyeing the prize that awaits if health reform takes effect in 2014

Last week, a document leaked showing Walmart's intention to become the country's largest provider of primary health services, but the company's interest is not unique. Drug retailers like CVS Caremark and Walgreens are eyeing the same prize: "the millions of Americans with costly illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease," reports Julie Appleby of Kaiser Health News. CVS already has 550 retail clinics, the most in the country. Walgreens has also set up programs aimed at diabetic customers, which includes counseling with pharmacists.

The retail industry is looking at ways it can use its clout to save money and offer a primary care infrastructure that experts say will be short by 21,000 doctors by 2015, largely because of the 30 million more people becoming insured by 2014 under the federal health-care reform law. "It's sad that the existing health care establishment has not figured out a way to make primary care affordable and accessible," said Jerry Avorn, a professor of medicine at Harvard University. "We should not be surprised if someone outside of our world comes in and does it for us."

Costs at retail clinics are "roughly 30 percent to 40 percent less than similar care at a doctor's office and 80 percent cheaper than at an emergency room," Appleby reports, referring to a study in the American Journal of Managed Care. Those savings appeal to insurers. Retail clinic use by people with health insurance increased tenfold from 2007 to 2009, with clinics accounting for 7 percent of all medical visits for 11 common acute conditions, the study found. "If these trends continue, health plans will see a dramatic increase in retail clinic utilization ... particularly among young, healthy and higher income patients living close to retail clinics," the study concluded.

Patients like the clinics for the predictability, with costs made clear ahead of time. And employers — who under the new health law could get incentives to provide wellness programs for their employees — may partner with the clinics to provide blood testing, nutrition counseling and diabetes management. However, there are still many unknowns. While the clinics have proved useful for acute care, it remains to be seen how they will deal with complicated issues like diabetes management.

Some states prevent clinics from employing physicians, nurse practitioners or physician assistants. "Other states cap the number of nurses each doctor can oversee," Appleby reports. The vast majority of clinics are staffed not by doctors, but physician assistants and nurse practitioners. A report by the Convenient Care Association shows 95 percent of the clinicians are nurse practitioners. With these practitioners able to provide basic care, part of the fear among doctors is they will be left to treat only the sickest patients and won't be reimbursed accordingly.

Most of the clinics are in the South and Midwest. In January, Merchant Medicine listed 40 retail clinics in Kentucky, with more to open in 2011. The clinics "are more likely to be in areas with lower overall poverty and only 12.5 percent were in medically underserved areas," Appleby reports, though 21 percent of the U.S. population lives in those areas.

The clinics have typically offered vaccinations and simple physical exams and treatment for strep throat and ear infections, but plan to expand their services and enlarge retail's foothold in the medical world. "Think about Toyota; they didn't start off by competing with Cadillac and BMW. They started with cheap little cars but got better and better over time," said Mark Smith, president and CEO of the California Healthcare Foundation. (Read more)

Halloween treats can be healthy, and trick-or-treaters with diabetes can still be part of the fun

It wouldn't be Halloween without candy and chocolate in pillowcases and paper sacks. But with childhood obesity and diabetes rates looking as scary as the ax murderers and zombies knocking at the door, parents may consider handing out something other than the usual calorie-packed treats this year.

Courtney Cairns Pastor of The Associated Press suggests five non-candy foods "that won't get your house egged," including pretzel packs, single-serving bags of Goldfish snack crackers, freeze-dried fruit, snack-size microwave popcorn bags and squeezable applesauce. (AP photo) She also suggests handing out items that aren't food related at all, including stickers, temporary tattoos, crayons, bubbles and Play-Doh.

Still, eating a bit of candy on Halloween is tradition — and one still going strong. The National Retail Federation reported Americans spent nearly $1.8 billion on Halloween candy in 2010, spending an average of $20.29 per person.

Though one in four children are diabetic, they needn't skip tradition entirely, research-reporting service Newswise reports. "They can enjoy Halloween and enjoy some of the sweets the holiday offers — within reason," said Dr. Kenneth McCormick, pediatric endocrinologist and senior scientist at the Comprehensive Diabetes Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

McCormick said kids can opt to count their carbohydrate calories; exchange candy for other treats; or save their candy for dessert. By counting carbs, a child pays attention to how much they are consuming and "take, for example, one unit of insulin for every 15 to 20 grams of carbohydrates," Newswise reports. "This is an easy option for kids on an insulin pump because they can just dial in an extra dose of insulin to compensate for what they are about to eat," McCormick said.

Parents can "trade the child a gift, money or low-carb snack for their candy," McCormick suggested. "We have been advising parents to do this for many, many years, and it is a solution that continues to work." Diabetic kids can also avoid problems if they eat their Halloween treats after they have eaten dinner. "By incorporating a sugary treat into meal time, when a child would normally get a dose of insulin, it eliminates the need for adding doses to their regimen," McCormick said. (Read more)

More evidence Alzheimer's and other dementia can be prevented: save your brain by preventing diabetes

Tuesday, September 20, 2011 by: S. L. Baker, features writer
(NaturalNews) Currently, an estimated 24 million people world-wide are living with Alzheimer's disease or some other type of the mind and personality-robbing affliction known as dementia. And the numbers keep climbing. But why? Mainstream medicine puts the blame on the fact people are living longer and genetics offers little hope to stop dementia unless Big Pharma comes up with some miracle pill - an approach that so far has failed miserably.

However, now there's evidence much dementia could be triggered by another disease that is often preventable and even reversible with natural health strategies.

A new study just published in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, reveals diabetes significantly increases the risk of developing dementia. And type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the disease which has reached epidemic proportions, is due primarily to obesity and inactivity. That suggests that by taking control of your health with good nutrition and exercise, you may be able to not only prevent diabetes but also dementia.

"Our findings emphasize the need to consider diabetes as a potential risk factor for dementia," said study author Yutaka Kiyohara, MD, PhD, of Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan, in a media statement. "Diabetes is a common disorder, and the number of people with it has been growing in recent years all over the world. Controlling diabetes is now more important than ever."

The research found people with diabetes were more likely to develop both Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia, such as vascular dementia. Vascular dementia results when blood vessels become damaged and interrupt oxygen-rich blood flow to the brain.

In all, the scientists studied 1,017 people age 60 and older who were given a glucose (sugar) tolerance test after fasting overnight in order to test for diabetes. Then, over the course of about 11 years, the research subjects were followed and tested for dementia. During this time, 232 people developed the memory destroying disease. People with diabetes had double the risk for dementia when compared to those with normal blood sugar levels.

These findings remained consistent even after the researchers accounted for other factors such as hypertension, high cholesterol and smoking. The risk of dementia was also higher in people who did not have diabetes, but had impaired glucose tolerance. This "pre-diabetes" condition is also part of a cluster of symptoms (including being overweight, having high cholesterol, high blood pressure and high blood glucose levels) known as metabolic syndrome which has become widespread and is already known to raise the risk for heart disease as well as diabetes - and now dementia can be added to this list.

The new study findings are actually positive because, as NaturalNews as previously covered, there are numerous ways to reduce and sometimes even reverse type 2 diabetes -- by keeping weight under control, exercise and adding specific foods to a healthy diet.

For example, last summer Harvard School of Public Health investigators discovered eating two or more servings of brown rice per week slashed the risk of type 2 diabetes (http://www.naturalnews.com/029143_b...).

In addition, a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that adding a daily serving of mixed nuts to the traditional Mediterranean diet (which consists of whole grain cereals, vegetables, fruits and olive oil, a moderate intake of fish and alcohol and a low intake of dairy, meats and sweets) is a delicious, natural and effective way to treat metabolic syndrome (http://www.naturalnews.com/025098_n...).

For more information:

http://www.aan.com

Appalachian Regional Commission conference in Prestonsburg Sept. 7-9 to focus on improving access to health care

Featuring the insight of 42 federal, state and local health experts, officials and community leaders, the Appalachian Regional Commission's Healthy Families: Healthy Future conference will be held Sept. 7-9 in Prestonsburg.

The keynote address will look at different ways access to quality health care can be expanded. It will be given by Marcia Brand, deputy administrator of the Health Resources and Service Administration. HRSA is the primary federal agency for improving access to health-care services for people who don't have insurance, are geographically isolated, or are medically vulnerable.

Other conference topics include childhood obesity and diabetes; substance abuse in adolescents; improving access to dental care for children; health information technology; and Appalachian perspectives on infant mortality reduction.

The conference will be at Jenny Wiley State Resort Park in Prestonsburg. To register, click here. Online registration ends Wednesday, Aug. 31.

Resveratrol and grape seed polyphenols combine to prevent diabetes

Friday, April 29, 2011 by: John Phillip

(NaturalNews) Researchers publishing the results of two independent studies in the British Journal of Nutrition have demonstrated that polyphenol antioxidants found naturally in red grapes can prevent the buildup of fat in muscle tissue that is a precursor to metabolic disorder and diabetes. Resveratrol and grape seed extracts influence how the body responds to insulin, the hormone that controls critical mechanisms of dietary sugar and fat metabolism. The grape-derived compounds have been shown to improve cardiovascular and Alzheimer`s disease risk factors in the past. Information gleaned from these studies explains how daily consumption of the fresh fruit can be invaluable as it prevents muscular fat accumulation leading to metabolic instability and diabetes.

Detailing the result of research performed at the University of Montpellier in France, scientists found that subjects fed a diet high in fat and sugar experienced a lower accumulation of fat in muscle tissue when supplemented with a concentrated extract of red grape polyphenols. Diets high in oxidized saturated fats are known to disrupt the normal function of insulin leading to insulin resistance and diabetes. By limiting the effect of fats on cell membranes, the grape extract was found to provide a significant level of protection against the disease.

In a separate body of research, scientists determined that a 10 mg daily dose of resveratrol was associated with lowered insulin resistance in Type-II diabetics. Resveratrol is a powerful protective anti-fungal compound found in the skin of red grapes. Known to activate a longevity signaling gene (SIRT-1), resveratrol has been shown to extend lifespan by lowering the risks associated with systemic inflammation. The polyphenol may help to prevent cancer development, cardiovascular disease and dementia, and it is now shown to impede the development of diabetes by regulating insulin sensitivity.

Researchers formed two groups of participants and randomly supplemented their diet with resveratrol (5 mg twice a day) or a placebo. After four weeks the resveratrol group showed a significant decrease in insulin sensitivity compared to the placebo group. The study authors explain that the results are likely due to the potent antioxidant action of resveratrol, as oxidative stress is a key contributor to the onset of insulin resistance.

Researchers concluded "The present study shows for the first time that resveratrol improves insulin sensitivity in humans, which might be due to a resveratrol-induced decrease in oxidative stress that leads to more efficient insulin signaling." To maximize the anti-diabetic health benefits of grape polyphenols, health-minded individuals will want to include organically grown red grapes in their diet or supplement with grape seed extract and resveratrol (10 to 25 mg daily).

Article References:
http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/...
http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/...
http://journals.cambridge.org/actio...

About the author
John Phillip is a Health Researcher and Author who writes regularly on the cutting edge use of diet, lifestyle modifications and targeted supplementation to enhance and improve the quality and length of life. John is the author of 'Your Healthy Weight Loss Plan', a comprehensive EBook explaining how to use Diet, Exercise, Mind and Targeted Supplementation to achieve your weight loss goal. Visit My Optimal Health Resource to continue reading the latest health news updates, and to download your Free 48 page copy of 'Your Healthy Weight Loss Plan'.  Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/032221_resveratrol_diabetes.html#ixzz1TbBocuOe

UK center probes the science of muscles and exercise

Exercise is good for you. But it's not that simple. "Doctors and scientists have a lot of questions about why exercise is so beneficial, how muscles work and the role muscle strength plays in overall health," columnist Tom Eblen writes on the front page of today's Lexington Herald-Leader, and reports that some of those questions are being addressed by the University of Kentucky Center for Muscle Biology, which was created three years ago. "With outside grants of more than $12 million, center researchers are looking at everything from injury prevention in young athletes to rehabilitation for elderly stroke patients," he writes.



"Physical activity and muscle strength seem to contribute to everything from better memory to disease prevention. For example, even moderate exercise can help Type 2 diabetes, which has become epidemic among overweight Kentuckians. Muscles store most of the body's insulin." The center's director, Karyn Karyn Esser, told Eblen, "When you exercise and make muscles work, it creates a separate path for absorbing glucose." (Eblen photo: Caitlyn Kerins demonstrated equipment for measuring muscle control as faculty member Patrick McKeon watched.)

Two researchers are studying how to strengthen diaphragm muscles, which are essential in breathing, "to help patients get off ventilators. It is a huge problem: about 60,000 Americans are on ventilators at any given time, and it costs billions of dollars to care for them," Eblen writes. "The longer most people are on a ventilator, the more likely they are to die." And "muscle weakness is the main culprit in about 70 percent of ventilator patients." Other researchers are investigating why lifting weights can improve memory in the elderly, why certain patients lose muscle strength soon after being hospitalized, how injuries caused by repetitive motion can be avoided, and exactly how massage and ice help repair and strengthen muscles.

Eblen, who took up bicycling at 35 to lose weight and is still an enthusiast in his mid-50s, is writing a lot lately about exercise in response to Lexington's designation by Men's Health magazine as the nation's most sedentary city. And the center's Esther Dupont-Versteegden is even researching inactivity: "We know that people feel better when they exercise regularly, but why is that?" she asked. "What is inactivity doing to people?" (Read more)

Resveratrol - Powerful antioxidant support for youthful, healthy aging

Resveratrol is one of the most amazing nutrients known to modern science. Known as a longevity nutrient that gives red wine it's amazing benefits on heart health, resveratrol continues to be widely studied for applications in treating cancer, diabetes, and even chronic inflammation. Several drug companies have already attempted to copy the resveratrol molecule and turn it into a "miracle drug" that would be patented and sold at huge profit margins.  While red wine is a good source of resveratrol, you would have to consume about 100 glasses a day which of course is never recommended.  Red wine is recommended in moderation of 1-2 glasses a day.  Resveratrol is now available in capsule form. 

Powerful antioxidant support for youthful, healthy aging

Resveratrol Youthful Aging™ combines the activated form of natural trans-resveratrol with red wine extract, green tea extract and grape seed extract. The research indicates that combining natural trans-resveratrol with other polyphenols provides greatest efficacy. 100% vegetarian product.

Each capsule contains the following youthful aging nutrients:

• Red Wine Extract
• Potent Natural Trans-Resveratrol
• Grape Seed Extract
• Green Tea Extract

The benefits of each of these nutrients are:

• Red Wine Extract
• Contains the group of polyphenols known to be the source of the French Paradox (a high fat diet but with much less cardiovascular health issues than Americans)
• Possess synergistic antioxidant and longevity attributes
• Nurtures healthy cardiovascular function
• Potent Natural Trans-Resveratrol

The most researched polyphenol found in red wine grapes, berries and Japanese Knotwood plant (polygonum) 

Includes only the bioactive form - natural trans-resveratrol

• Standardized for consistent efficacy in every capsule
• Promotes a healthy inflammatory response
• Positive impact on youthful gene expression
• Supports healthy dendrites formation in the brain
• Positive impact on healthy clotting levels

Grape Seed Extract

• Contains proanthocyanins (a class of polyphenols), which act as antioxidants and thought to be instrumental in combating oxidative stress
• Protect cells against free radical damage and resulting oxidative stress
• Animal studies indicate increased efficacy of resveratrol when combined with grape seed extract

Green Tea Extract

• Contains the powerful EGCg polyphenol
• EGCg is the polyphenol most closely associated with healthy cell expression

Kentucky 6th in obesity; state rate rises for 2nd consecutive year

"It's official: Kentucky is a mecca for blubber," The Courier-Journal's Darla Carter reports. The state has the sixth highest rate of obese adults, is one of just six states whose obesity rate has risen for the second year in a row, and is one of a dozen states with above 30 percent. The findings are in the 2011 "F as in Fat" report released by the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Kentucky's obesity rate is 31.5 percent. Mississippi had the highest rate with 34.4 percent and Colorado was lowest with 19.8 percent. The problem is biggest in the South, which has nine of the 10 fattest states; Michigan also ranks. Fifteen years ago, no state had an obesity rate of more than 15 percent, the report notes. "Today, the state with the lowest obesity rate would have had the highest rate in 1995," said Jeff Levi, executive director of the Trust for America's Health. "There was a clear tipping point in our national weight gain over the last 20 years, and we can't afford to ignore the impact obesity has on our health and corresponding health care spending."

The problem is largest for racial and ethnic minority adults — the obesity rate for blacks in Kentucky is over 43 percent — and for those with less education and lower incomes. Almost 33 percent of adults who didn't graduate from high school are obese, compared to 21.5 percent of people who have college or technical college degrees. More than 33 percent of adults who earn less than $15,000 per year were obese, compared to nearly 1 in 4 adults who earn at least $50,000 each year.

The obesity epidemic is having an effect on people's health. Since 1995, diabetes rates have doubled in eight states, including Kentucky. In 1995, Kentucky had a diabetes rate of 4.2 percent. Now it is 10.5 percent. The hypertension rate 15 years ago was 22.2 percent. Now it is 31.6 percent. (Read more)

The rates only reflect adults who are defined as obese, not overweight. Taking both figures into account means 67.1 percent of Kentucky adults are either obese or overweight. For county-by-county data, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and Kentucky Health Facts, click here.