Caroline Stroud
Jackson
Jour 271
November 5, 2012
596
Stopping
the Epidemic
Oxford, Miss-------------- Over the
last 40 years the obesity rate in this country has risen dramatically. In 2001 the nation’s surgeon general said
that obesity has become an epidemic. Since his statement America has slowly
started to make efforts to stop the obesity rate inclining.
Two-thirds
of adults are obese in this country. In 2009 a study was done that showed how
nine states had obesity rates with 30% or more, Mississippi had the highest
obesity rate with 34.4% of Mississippians being overweight. Since 1970 children and teens obesity rate
has risen from 5% to 17% however, the children’s rate has leveled off more in
the last couple of years.
The Community of Oxford
Oxford Mississippi
has made effective efforts to help prevent obesity, with a local food bank,
health food stores and beautiful parks where people can go exercise Oxford is
taking the necessary steps to getting a firm handle on the obesity epidemic. Sophomore nutrition major Allye Neuhaus sees
how Ole Miss is doing what needs to be done to provide healthy choices for Ole
Miss students.
“There
is a section for healthy food like salads and fresh fruit in the union, a lot
of students have taken advantage of that,” said Neuhaus. The student union has just been redone where
they enlarged the section with the healthier foods. Ole Miss students have complained about how
there just isn’t a lot of good choices to eat besides fast food.
“In
my dorm they have also added healthier things to the menu, and have even put in
a spot to get milk, fruit and yogurt,” said Neuhaus. The “C store” as UM students call it has
always been a favorite among the students living in the dorms. But like the union the C-store has also made
improvements on serving healthier food.
A Nurse’s Standpoint
The increase of
obesity has also increased the health issues of many people. Abdomen weight gain is very dangerous and can
cause many severe health issues like heart failure and inflammation. Weight gain is not something to take lightly
and many people are being affected because they did not think a few pounds were
a big deal.
Registered
nurse Micki Johnson is the office manager at the Oxford Bariatric Clinic here
in Oxford; she has seen first hand just what the obesity epidemic is doing to
people in this community and local areas.
Johnson thinks there three factors that go into play when talking about
obesity.
“People’s
environment, behavior and awareness is what is going to cause them to be either
healthy or overweight,” said Johnson.
More and more people are coming to the clinic to have weight loss
surgery with hopes of becoming healthier.
80% of the clinic’s clients are females ranging in ages from 35-50, but
over the last few years they have had younger clients such as 18 and
20-year-old females. Johnson talked
about how the weight loss surgeries are not fool proof and lifestyle changes
have to be made to get good results.
“The
earlier you start someone’s awareness about weight gain and eating healthy the
better it is for them,” said Johnson.
She also believes that the community of Oxford has become more aware of
the epidemic, especially in Mississippi.
Obesity
is not something to take lightly, but Oxford is moving in the right direction
to stop obesity in its tacks. More and
more people are starting become aware of just how serious their health really
is, and are starting to turn their lives around.
Resources:
Allye Neuhaus
662-231-2312
Micki Johnson
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