Weighty matters

Here is my latest column. Enjoy!

Fellow Tennesseans, we are FAT. Fatty, fat, fat. According to recent news reports, we are tied for fifth with South Carolina in state-by-state rankings of obesity among the nation’s population, with an obesity rate of 27.8.

But Mississippians are fatter, if it’s any consolation – they are ranked first, with a whopping rate of 30.6. Also high up there in the rankings are West Virginia, Alabama, and Louisiana.

These are all Southern states. Hmmm. Maybe it’s the barbecue, or the daily biscuits and gravy, or all the chicken-fried steak, or the fried pies.

The best ranked state, by the way is Colorado. Let’s all move there so we can get them into the top five fatties.

What a dubious distinction to be thus branded.

Well, for east Tennessee’s contribution, we need to find a scapegoat. How about Sonny’s? Or maybe Calhoun’s? Or my favorite, the Cracker Barrel? It’s rumored that their mammoth breakfasts go right to the spare tire in our bellies.

Or maybe, just maybe, it’s all those fast-food places that we can’t seem to pass up on Cedar Bluff Road or the Pike.

I’m just as guilty as the next guy. While I don’t see myself as obese – and my doctor reluctantly agrees – I have one of those pot bellies that pushes me right into the XL rack at clothing stores. The WW (my wonderful wife) always has to take my pants for tailoring because they are way too long for the waist I sport. See, this is how it goes: The anorexic designers who produce men’s clothing expect your weight to be proportionate to your size. It seems they’ve never walked around Turkey Creek and seen just who wears their clothing.

We have to get this under control. Say it with me: Let’s eat healthy.

Of course, we know that healthy eating starts with healthy cooking.

According to the website www.webmd.com, there are lots of different diet plans for people with special needs as well as for people who just love eating.

But there are certain basic principles to eating well:

-- Be sure to eat a wide variety of foods. Having a colorful plate is the best way to ensure that you are eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, meats, and other forms of protein such as nuts, dairy products, and grains/cereals.

-- Eat the right amount of calories to maintain a healthy weight.

-- Choose foods high in fiber such as whole grain breads, fruit, and cereal. They contain important vitamins and minerals. You need 25 to 35 grams of fiber per day.

WebMD has a lot more information about healthy eating, including diets for people who have illnesses, like diabetes, that require special attention to what you eat. The American Heart Association also has good, healthy-eating diets that all of us can use.

Well, we don’t want to be known in Tennessee for our weight problem.
All this talk about food has made me hungry. I’m passing on the Ben & Jerrry’s, though, and going straight for a big, red juicy apple.

Joe Calderon is no health nut, but he’s at least trying to keep his girth under control. Email Calderon at cheo742@aol.com, or e-mail his thin and fit editor, Nick Frantz, at frantzn@ShopperNewsNow.com.