In 1997, over 500 Mississippians died from diabetes. When diabetes does not kill, the costs of living with the disease can be enormous. A disturbing report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that Americans weigh more than ever, even though the opportunities for making positive health choices are greater than ever. The 1997 report found that 35 percent of Americans are overweight today as compared to 25 percent just two decades ago. In addition, a 1996 report found that Mississippians ranked second nationwide in the number of overweight adults.
Obesity is a major risk factor in developing today's chronic killer diseases.
The lifestyle factors of poor diet and lack of physical activity combine to cause Mississippi's obesity problem. Even small dietary changes can provide big benefits. Looking only at fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol, the agencies estimated that even reductions of only about 1 percent in the intake of total fat and saturated fat and 0.1 percent cholesterol would prevent more than 56,000 cases of heart disease and cancer, avoid more than 18,000 deaths, and save more than 117,000 life-years over 20 years. Consumers have clearly made changes in their eating habits over the last two decades. Ninety-two percent of the food shoppers who were interviewed for the 1995 annual survey by the Food Marketing Institute reported having changed their eating habits to make their diets more healthful.