THE DANGEROUS LIVES OF COUCH POTATOES . . .
Sedentary Death Syndrome (SeDS) May Turn Out To Be The Nation's Number-One Killer

By Jeff Novick, M.S.,R.D.

The health risks of smoking and heavy drinking have been well known for many years. Each year in the United States alone, over 400,000 deaths are attributed to tobacco and over 100,000 to alcohol. Only recently, however, have the health risks of obesity become more widely recognized. How serious are these risks? A study that appeared in the British journal Public Health estimates that there are more Americans who are either overweight or obese than there are smokers or problem drinkers.

For the study, researchers surveyed a nationwide sample of 9,585 adults and questioned them about their height, weight, income, smoking and drinking habits and health status. They used the body mass index (BMI) to define overweight and obesity. [See box, "How to calculate your BMI"]

Researchers found that obesity was even more closely associated with seventeen major chronic conditions and twelve common quality-of-life issues than either smoking or problem drinking. For example, researchers found that half of the obese people had an additional chronic condition, such as heart disease, cancer, or diabetes. By comparison, studies of smokers have shown that only about one in four people who smoke have an additional chronic condition.

Charles Billington, M,D., president of the North American Association for the Study of Obesity, says this study reinforces the fact that, "obesity is at least as much if not possibly more of a public health problem than some of the better recognized problems like smoking, drinking, poverty, and the like."

Dr. Frank W. Booth, a professor at the University of Missouri Columbia, says that each year about 250,000 people in the U.S. die as a result of diseases related to inactivity. He arrived at that figure based on estimates that 750,000 Americans per year die of heart disease, diabetes, and colon cancer, and on research that concluded that one-third of those deaths could be prevented by physical activity.

In order to have more attention paid to the problem, Dr. Booth has invented a new name for being fat and out of shape-sedentary death syndrome (SeDS). The acronym "SeDS" replaces "inactivity-related deseases," a phrase that Booth says lacked pizzazz. His hope is that with the new catchy name, the condition will get more attention from the public and federal government and that more money will be spent on getting the public to become active again.

Booth also called for the National Institutes of Health to create programs to focus on SeDS research. But you don't have to wait until the National Institutes of Health gets involved. You can start a walking or other moderate exercise program today, and check with your doctor about more vigorous exercise as your fitness improves. You also can begin a healthful weight-loss program by following the dietary recommendations in this newsletter.

Keep in mind, many people fall into more than one of the risk categories, such as being overweight and a smoker, which can make the ill effects even more severe. Evaluate your diet and lifestyle, and take steps today to improve your health.