health news: what's happening
Obesity Overtaking Smoking as America's #1 Killer
A recent article on MedicalNews.com, in conjuntion with statistics from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prention), obesity is overtaking smoking as American's number one killer. American government researchers said that obesity is quickly overtaking smoking as the country's number one killer. In fact, obesity is becoming such a problem that many experts now say it is compromising all the benefits of recent improvements in health care and medical breakthroughs.
According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) smoking in 2000 was the biggest cause of death - 435,000 people died. 18.1% of everyone who died in that year died of a smoking related disease.
Obesity (bad diet and no exercise) was the cause of 400,000 deaths.
129.6 Americans are overweight or obese. That is a staggering 64% of the population.
If obesity continues to rise, by the year 2020, 20% of all health care spending will be on obesity related diseases and conditions. This is according to the Rand Corporation.
The American Health and Human Services Secretary, Tommy Thompson said 'Americans need to understand that overweight and obesity are literally killing us. To know that poor eating habits and inactivity are on the verge of surpassing tobacco use as the leading cause of preventable death in America should motivate all Americans to take action to protect their health. We need to tackle America's weight issues as aggressively as we are addressing smoking and tobacco.'
You are obese when your BMI (Body Mass Index) is more than 30. One in three Americans is obese, says the CDC.
When your BMI goes over 30, your risk of heart disease, strokes and diabetes increases dramatically.
Read the entire article on MedicalNews.com
Obesity Linked to Increased Risks of Breast Cancer
According to the National Cancer Institute, both the increased risk of developing breast cancer and dying from it after menopause are believed to be due to increased levels of estrogen in obese women. 
Before menopause, the ovaries are the primary source of estrogen. However, estrogen is also produced in fat tissue and, after menopause, when the ovaries stop producing hormones, fat tissue becomes the most important estrogen source. Estrogen levels in postmenopausal women are 50 to 100 percent higher among heavy versus lean women. Estrogen-sensitive tissues are therefore exposed to more estrogen stimulation in heavy women, leading to a more rapid growth of estrogen-responsive breast tumors.
Another factor related to the higher breast cancer death rates in obese women is that breast cancer is more likely to be detected at a later stage in obese women than in lean women. This is because the detection of a breast tumor is more difficult in obese versus lean women.
Click here to read the entire article from the National Cancer Institute.
Trial Lawyers and Obesity Lawsuits: Who is Responsible?
The Center For Consumer Freedom notices that from restaurants and food producers, to doctors, schools, and even parents, no target is too big or small for lawyers who see dollar signs.
Their strategy is clear: In order to woo a jury into dismissing any vestige of common sense, they have to shift the blame for America's allegedly burgeoning bellies away from a lack personal responsibility and onto those with the deepest pockets.
Among the most notable headlines in te timeline of these incredible stories of obesity-meets-money:
- May 8, 2003 -- After losing his first suit, lawsuit ringleader John "Sue the Bastards" Banzhaf claims that “addictive” foods are a ripe target. He also dismisses the notion of personal responsibility, saying: "…all these platitudes about, 'people should eat less,' 'responsibility,' all this crap!"
- October 29, 2003 -- PHAI's then-executive director Ben Kelley writes to eight food companies demanding that they take the blame for America's burgeoning waistline. If people don't slim down, Kelley warns, trial lawyers will pounce.
- March 10, 2004 -- The House of Representatives passes a "cheeseburger bill" to limit obesity lawsuits.
Read the entire story and follow the timeline of Trial Lawyers and obesity lawsuits, click here to read more
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