Editorial: Just say supersize it

Monday, June 18, 2007 | 7:05 a.m.

In addition to creating health problems such as diabetes, America's sedentary lifestyle is also leading to another issue: discrimination cases.

As America's waistline has increased there has been an increase in the number of people filing federal claims under the Americans With Disabilities Act alleging discrimination based on their obesity.

That fact was reported in USA Today last week, just below a story about how restaurants have seen a boom in take-out orders - more than half of the restaurant meals served are "to go."

Should we be surprised then when USA Today reports that a third of Americans are at least 30 pounds overweight, which is considered obese?

It is time Americans take note and start exercising and eating better, which is hardly a new suggestion.

In 1956 President Dwight Eisenhower created the President's Council on Youth Fitness, with Cabinet-level status, after a report made waves suggesting that children in the United States were less fit than their peers in Europe. In 1966 the Presidential Physical Fitness Award was created to challenge students to achieve a high fitness level.

Still, America grew fatter. In 1980 15 percent of Americans were at least 30 pounds overweight, a number that grew to 31 percent in 2000.

In 2001 the fitness council, now known as the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, rolled out an ambitious program to encourage people of all ages to be active and introduced a lifestyle award for people who make basic changes to become healthier, such as walking for exercise.

Still, America grew fatter. In 2004 33 percent of Americans were at least 30 pounds overweight. That is the most recent statistic.

It is clear that America has increased its bottom line in the wrong direction, and that means there will be higher health costs as America deals with maladies caused by obesity.

There are simple lifestyle choices people can make to increase fitness levels, such as eating well, taking the stairs instead of an elevator or walking a few blocks instead of driving. It is time Americans get outside and do more than hit the drive-thru.