Morgan Downey, editor of the DowneyObesityReport.com, on Obesity

Obesity has become a problem in the United States and we are joined by Morgan Downey he is the editor and publisher of the Downey obesity report. Morgan welcome to the show are you doing. How how many. Americans today are among the overweight and I include myself in that category. Well but at least this is what -- the belt are are overweight about of that. Number about 37%. Are that are will be. And you probably thought the conference. Protection. I'm outlook published. But on Monday. That thought. Number of right he's very dramatically. In the net one years. About a thirty -- then increase or. Adult overweight or will be but a staggering 830. Or -- does that mean more it'll be. Which led to a problem Morgan Leo how is this happened did it happen has happened very quickly you look at the studies. We weren't nearly as fat 3040 years ago. No we weren't. This is obviously celebrated but but it without the ball well over a long period of trying. As our food and environment. Have improved. Historically. He -- back on a year or so. We've gotten taller. And we've gotten heavier thing is we've got heavier a lot faster than we have all. On but we -- dramatic changes since world -- do. And our our food. Environment. And also in our occupational and -- And probably view of it like it -- -- who worked so walked to who'll walk through notre. I -- Stanley without it operating hand in most -- malvo yup and you know bill. Happened and now that kind of thing we don't do that anymore they've barely caught on anymore. Yeah it's our life we're too reliant on technology were watching too much TV and as a result organ back. And end up they -- the biggest change really has been in our occupational law. Not a lot of people know where in. Where they had -- Who engage in at least measure that the collective but he. Even we're walking around the war. We're now that there computers and email. Instant message and communicate with people. Need to -- the occupational. Physical activity has. Really drop out what we try to help people is to replace that -- -- -- we is. Physical activity in the at leisure on. When they won a lot of things but which. You know -- you know we observed that -- -- alive. Morgan we've been getting -- questions and people saying lucky you you know some times people are obese because of Stanley genetics or thyroid problems. -- is that true it because I I I used to hear that one as a kid right you have affected in school. And and you know the principals say don't pick on him because he's got a pirate problem. They is that really true because I've read reports that say they say it's really hogwash it's not genetics it's not Bayreuth is just that we eat too much and we're lazy. I think there's a new phase of that that is out -- not not enough attention. They -- that I would think that I think is pretty stable and there's a lot about there's some of that but it's not a major. Contributor. But that genetics is definitely a factor but it's not like an on off switch not great destination. It can be trumped by a physical activity and but behavioral aspects. But what researchers have found and they found a lot of genes. That control body weight and every parent of the way when you're Harriet. In your upper body or -- there. Wherever you bought it but they're now finding is. -- -- -- They had variations of these two little little -- of them -- -- well if you look at one week. It's an app like Mort it's all of our exit surgery. And it you don't have that variation. And that's true if you exercise -- agency April. -- -- What are though -- -- what -- did they -- role. Now I understand hey Morgan what are the different proposals that make sense to you. In terms of combating obesity I I've suggested that perhaps. People who were obese should pay a higher health insurance premium. I'm humble little nervous because unseen legislation floated that you know the government all the sudden is gonna require that we get more exercise that I don't want to see happen. But you know at. You studied this topic for an awful long time how do you suggest that we combat obesity. Well I think first of all we've we've really need to realize that there's a lot we do not know about that. This is the and particularly when you look out but the united they'd probably assumption we actually here. -- other countries may have tried and they they don't pan out. And we we really. You know kind of stop looking at the end of our orders. And there's so maybe a lot of information yet from other countries so we need to be a little more humble and it. Secondly. You know I think people I think it's unlikely. Two to be very successful -- that there's very few examples where that. Had several work. This is not like -- in in that regard where one product. Upright you know per pack where -- -- act on something you're going to. You know make a big difference. There's just too many parts of the calorie all the rounds. And and I think. But that that strategy. And they. Do you think the what do you think would work then if you don't think they should pay more for health insurance how do you suggest we stop that probably can't. He can't put a warning sign a McDonald's in -- That's right that's right I think what we have to do is an app so we have to look at strategies. That are the the best bowl or people at particular. Time and place it in their lives. For example. Some of the larger trial like the -- eighty prevention program look at which showed very oh. Wait -- not be able program. Actually they found that weight -- was very successful. In the early retiree. A -- and an unexpected finding. Well they have time to exercise that that the promise -- act like York and seventy -- the -- you don't have time to exercise. And they make a lot or health conscious about point have you know released from some stress. So that -- -- we should look at another place that we don't really have many programs direction. It's been young adult. Don't students are like leading college and getting established in their careers. And first job this is the time. In people's twenties and thirties there establishing their careers setting up apparently. Hopefully any -- -- recession. But at the time when there's a lot of weight gain -- -- normal nothing in this country. To. To to get to them. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Yet this severe effect figured I was going to be a bad adult right as they got it right the study show that if your fat when your teenager. Boy you are -- and I can marry someone netstat and have that hits right so there you go. That's right that's right. And so -- understanding all of I think is. It's really. It's really very important what type but I don't I think we have try to getaway on. Is. -- -- -- -- the messages that you know every one can lose weight it's really each city the technical. Not my staff and had -- his. This is a very very up conditioned to. To what to win that game. Oh is it any Weight Watchers meeting around the world until. They'll find that out very. Quickly and very motivated. People are difficult but as well. -- Mario are run around at a time they're very much for your time we appreciate it that's -- much. Maureen Downey editor and publisher of the down the obesity report.