Report Finds Large Number Of Kentuckians Overweight

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Posted: 6:37 PM Aug 24, 2008
Last Updated: 2:10 AM Aug 25, 2008
Reporter: Matt Barbour
Email Address: matt.barbour@wymtnews.com

16 comments

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New figures show around 28 percent of Kentuckians are severely overweight.

A report by Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation says Kentucky ranks seventh in the nation for obesity and local health officials say the problem isn't getting any better.

"At least 36 percent of the patients we see here at Whitesburg ARH are admitted and one of their co-admission criteria would be obesity," said Jackie Fraley, director of Dietetic Services at Whitesburg ARH.

"This is a preventable problem. This is not like a disease," said Dr. Magued Khouzam, director of the Bariatric Center at Whitesburg ARH.

Health officials say obesity also contributes to several other health conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea and arthritis.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Sally Location: Jenkins, KY on Sep 25, 2008 at 01:44 AM
Any body knows exactly how the lap Band works? and can it be removed after you loose weight? and can I have it now and have children later?

Posted by: samantha Location: hazard, KY on Sep 25, 2008 at 01:41 AM
I think the culprit in being overweight is our culture! If 2/3rd of the every body I know are overweight, something is wrong with us! You go to a restaurent and order a meal, and they serve you food for 3 people, if you eat it all then don't complaint if you weight 3 times a normal person, we need to learn that not always more is better..!

Posted by: kelly Location: whitesburg on Sep 25, 2008 at 01:33 AM
Can somebody help me find a good competent caring surgeon who does lap gastric band surgery?

Posted by: Norma on Aug 31, 2008 at 08:59 PM
What part of "Large Number of Kentuckians Overweight" is news?

Posted by: kim Location: Whitesburg, KY on Aug 31, 2008 at 02:58 PM
I guess Dr. Khouzam is right, my family doctor put me on a diet pill, and I have been loosing 20-30 pounds and regaining them right back up every time I stop taking the diet pill. My conclusion: There is NO WAY AROUD DIET AND EXERCISE.

Posted by: N.C Location: Whitesburg, KY on Aug 26, 2008 at 09:21 PM
I used to weigh 350 pounds, and now I'm down to 150 pounds. It took me 2 years and a lot of lifestyle changes, and hard work to get there. I feel so much better about myself, and I regained back my self esteem. My overweight almost killed my social life, and I had to do something about it. I had a lap band put in, (after 6 months of hard work: diet and exercise). Now dieting is easy, I'm not hungry all the time like I used to be, and I get full much quicker now. I exercise 4 times a week, and I'm so much healthier, and so much happier.

Posted by: Jack Location: Pike County on Aug 25, 2008 at 10:55 AM
Told ya! They picked on smokers now it's fatties. Wait until they insist you sit in a separate section because your weight offends them, or they don't want to serve you because of your weight. It was never a question of whether cigarette smoking was bad for your health, it was a question of whether I had the right to decide for myself how I lived my life. Wait until that runner decides that manuvering around fat people disturbes his concentration and they don't want you in the parks anymore!

Posted by: jackie Location: Whitesburg on Aug 25, 2008 at 10:15 AM
There is a new technique out now, just keep yourself handcuffed 18 hrs per day and then eat healthy food when not cuffed.

Posted by: Melissa Location: Whitesburg on Aug 25, 2008 at 10:04 AM
The Doc is absolutely right obesity is NOT a disease considering less than 6% of all obese patients has genetically inheriated the condition. The biggest problem I have personally observed is that the obese folks don't have a vigerous exercise routine 4 times per week, eat fried and fat food and don't know when enough is enough.

Posted by: Terri Location: east Ky on Aug 25, 2008 at 09:57 AM
I'm the only one walking in my community to keep my weight in check but I sure do see a lot of whoppers sitting on the porch with food stuck in their jaw and they wonder why their back hurts?

Posted by: Shane Location: leslie county on Aug 25, 2008 at 09:55 AM
If you eat like a hog, lay around like a hog,complain that you are not able to walk like a hog then you will probably end up like a hog.

Posted by: Bill on Aug 25, 2008 at 08:07 AM
This can be laid at the feet of the democrats, paying out fed. money so people won't have to work.Why get off your back side when Momma Democrat sends you a free living.

Posted by: Lisa Location: Prestonsburg KY on Aug 25, 2008 at 02:20 AM
Dr Magued Khouzam is an idiot. Obesity is a disease! I hate the way Obese or Morbidly Obese people have to apologize for being fat and are stereotyped as lazy people who eat all day long, every day. Do we judge those who have cancer? Would you apologize for having cancer? Nope.

Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 25, 2008 at 01:59 AM
just shows we eat good i guess.

Posted by: Mom Location: KY on Aug 24, 2008 at 10:05 PM
thanks to your food stamps, huh?

Posted by: Eric C. on Aug 24, 2008 at 07:00 PM
Common sense stuff. We don't have to work so we get fat.

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