archive
For Teens, Weight Loss Sculpts New Lives
December 13, 2011 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.
School Transforms Teens' Lives, One Pound At A Time
December 12, 2011 In a nation where child obesity rates are soaring, some parents are turning to a boarding school that focuses on both weight loss and academics. The goal: to rewire students' eating and exercise habits to ensure they live long and healthy lives. The kids find it a challenge — but totally worth it.
Spandex Stretches To Meet U.S. Waistlines
December 11, 2011 Spandex may make you think of disco or workout gear. But because this wonder fiber can stretch more than a 100 percent and snap right back to shape, its claim to fame may just be that it has clothed Americans as obesity rates have soared.
From Body Scan To Body Form: Sizing A Clothing Line
December 11, 2011 Are you size 4? A 6? An 8? Often women don't know — and can actually be all those sizes without gaining or losing an ounce. A clothing size and fit consulting firm works with brands to expand the number of people it can dress by focusing on not only size numbers but also body shapes.
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.
Shots - Health News
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.
One Woman's Struggle To Shed Weight, And Shame
July 25, 2011 Kara Curtis is one of 70 million obese Americans, and the issue dominates her life. Curtis, 37, has seen every dress size from 26 to 6. Despite countless diets and untold resources spent on fitness, she says, "I'm morbidly obese. And it's just overwhelming."
