Living Large: Obesity In America
NPR's series explores what it means to live in a nation where one in three adults is obese and looks at how life is changing as a result — in the home, at the grocery store, in the doctor's office, on the factory floor and at the airport.
Located in the North Carolina mountains, Wellspring Academy is a boarding school for overweight teenagers. In addition to their regular classes, students learn to control their weight through a healthful diet, physical activity and counseling.
For Teens, Weight Loss Sculpts New Lives
()For many students at Wellspring Academy in N.C., two months at this weight-loss boarding school have transformed them. Those who trailed behind their parents to check in back in August now own the campus. Kids who had watched from the sidelines while others exercised have turned into exercisers.
Shots - Health News
Why Doctors And Patients Talk Around Growing Waistlines()
November 14, 2011 In a country with a rampant obesity epidemic, many patients say their doctors don't spend enough time talking with them about losing weight. But doctors often complain that when they do bring up the issue, nothing changes.
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Losing Weight: A Battle Against Fat And Biology()
October 31, 2011 Most people who lose weight end up gaining it back — and it's not just a matter of willpower. In fact, once we begin to shed those first few pounds, says one expert, "the biology really kicks in and tries to resist the weight loss."
Corporations Offer Help In Trimming The Waist()
October 28, 2011 Companies are trying to bring down their spiraling health care costs by helping employees lose weight. At Dow Chemical, managers hope to set an example by hitting the corporate gym at midday, and the company offers weight-management classes on demand, at workers' convenience.
Workplaces Feel The Impact of Obesity()
October 27, 2011 From cubicle farms to auto factories, accommodating larger and heavier employees has become a fact of life. One in three U.S. adults is obese, and researchers say the impact on business can be boiled down to a number: $1,000 to $6,000 in added cost per year for each obese employee.
Thinnest State Loosens Its Belt()
October 5, 2011 KUNCThough Colorado is often held up as the model of a healthy lifestyle, the state isn't immune to the obesity crisis. One in four children is either overweight or obese. "This is a major problem," says one state health official. "We are far from setting the model of where we want to be."
Surgery Not 'A Magic Pill' For Obese Patients()
October 1, 2011 One of the fastest growing segments of the weight-loss market is surgery. But doctors warn that it should not be seen as a quick fix. Indeed, though surgery can help with diabetes and high blood pressure, some patients struggle with health issues even years after going under the knife.
For Obese, Intimate Lives Often Suffer()
September 21, 2011 KQEDWhile many obese people lead happy and healthy sex lives, counselors and therapists are seeing more obese clients with problems in the bedroom. A pattern is clear: Obese people are more dissatisfied with their sexual lives, and women seem to suffer the most.
Tackling Obesity Amid Poverty In A Miss. County()
August 9, 2011 Holmes County is the most obese county in Mississippi, the most obese state. The county is also among Mississippi's poorest. Officials are trying to get families to make healthier choices, and a co-op that farms the fertile Delta land is trying to steer residents toward fresh food.
Big, Fat Stereotypes Play Out On The Small Screen()
August 8, 2011 From The Honeymooners to The Biggest Loser, television has rarely dealt sensitively with issues of weight. As part of an ongoing series on obesity in America, Alex Cohen explores the limited number of roles for overweight actors — from "bumbling husband" to "sassy best friend."
French Are Getting Fatter, Too()
August 6, 2011 Obesity rates in France are growing, though they're still far below those in the United States and other European countries. Some say the French culinary traditions that have protected most people from obesity are under assault.
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