SC 'Shrinkdown' Is Blatantly Anti-Low-Carb

Kelly Frazier wrote the education materials for "Shrinkdown"

I recently shared with you an initiative that is taking place in my home state of South Carolina to help people lose weight and get healthy. It's called "Shrinkdown" and is sponsored by the local YMCA chapters. In fact, I decided to join this year to see what it was all about.

After the intial weigh-in and a check of the key health statistics a couple of weeks back, participants in the "Shrinkdown" program were given a "Healthy Living Guide" three-ring binder to bring with them to their weekly Friday weigh-ins. Additional materials have been distributed each week and will continue to for the remaining weeks in the program.

But imagine my horror today when I got my new materials and saw on page 3:21 a section entitled "Why Do I Need Carbohydrates?" What the heck is this crappy health information all about and why is it in a packet about "healthy living"?!

When I looked closer for the source of this page, I saw it was from a woman named Kelly Frazier from the Department of Health & Exercise Science at the nearby Furman University in Greenville, SC. She is a member of the American College for Sports Medicine (ACSM) and lectures regularly on diet, health, nutrition, and fitness.

I couldn't help but notice she has a link to more information about the "Vegetarian Lifestyle" on her web site. Hmmm, if she's being fair and balanced, then why not have a resource link to a site about the low-carb lifestyle, Ms. Frazier? You could easily link to blogs by Regina Wilshire, Dr. Michael Eades, and so many more I could go on for days listing.

Nevertheless, in her article about carbohydrates, Frazier wrote that they are absolutely necessary for "energy" and for the added nutrients your body needs to "stay healthy."

She quotes the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy Of Science which recommends a MINIMUM daily carb intake of 130 grams for what they describe as "proper brain function." According to their "Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Protein, and Amino Acids" published in September 2002, here's what they say about the percentage of macronutrients people should be eating:

"Adults should get 45 percent to 65 percent of their calories from carbohydrates, 20 percent to 35 percent from fat, and 10 to 35 percent from protein."

Even more disturbing to me was the fact that they actually RECOMMENDED the consumption of "added sugars" for people to consume. Here's what they wrote:

"Added sugars should comprise no more than 25 percent of total calories consumed. Added sugars are those incorporated into foods and beverages during production which usually provide insignificant amounts of vitamins, minerals, or other essential nutrients. Major sources include soft drinks, fruit drinks, pastries, candy, and other sweets."

Let me get this straight. This so-called health organization, which is being quoted by Frazier in the "Shrinkdown" materials, is actually recommending as much as 65 percent of daily caloric intake comes from carbohydrates, including the consumption of junk foods containing sugar and gobs of high fructose corn syrup? Seriously?!

Plus, let's talk about this business of "proper brain function" for a moment. We've seen in studies I have highlighted here at my blog that eating too many carbs which elevates your blood sugar levels can lead to Alzheimer's disease (which incidentally is greatly IMPROVED by a low-carb diet) and poor mental health. Further research is already underway in Scotland on the effect of low-carb on brain health.

But Frazier didn't stop there. She added that "carbohydrates are the preferred fuel of the brain" and that not eating carbs will result in "fatigue, dizziness, irritability, and decreased concentration and cognitive function." This all happens, according to this self-appointed health expert, because "the brain does not have enough fuel to function properly."

This is the kind of garbage nutritional science that is being let loose on all those unsuspecting participants looking to lose weight in the "Shrinkdown" program! UGH! Let's see if we can educate Ms. Frazier and others who believe this nonsense.

First of all, your body doesn't NEED carbs. That's just nonsense and is actually proven by the basic nutritional concept known as gluconeogenesis which I have even discussed in my podcast show recently.

This amazing biological process enables the body to make its own carbs from the protein it consumes. In other words, Ms. Frazier, YOU DON'T NEED CARBS FOR FUEL as you so erroneously claim. What you need to eat to fuel you body with is FAT (even eating the much-vilified saturated fat is VERY healthy for you!) despite the common myth you are simply perpetuating with your ridiculous essay on carbohydrates.

Regarding this business about not eating carbs causing all those symptoms you listed, you have GOT to be joking, right? I've blogged about this previously and I'm beginning to wonder if Ms. Frazier has some of the same retarded beliefs about livin' la vida low-carb as this other so-called health "expert" did!

Frazier turned her attention to the subject of whether carbs will make you fat and said flat out that they will not.

"Contrary to common misconception, carbohydrates are not fattening. Your body needs carbohydrates for energy throughout the day."

Yadda yadda yadda...we've been over this before. You don't NEED carbs. But catch this caveat she included in this paragraph where she backtracks just a bit.

"However, if you eat too many carbohydrates over several days then they can be stored as fat. Excess calories from fat, protein, and alcohol can also be stored as fat."

Wait a minute, wait a minute. Now this is getting REALLY good! :) Frazier says eating "too many" carbs will be stored as fat. What is the definition of "too many?" I think 100g is WAY too many carbs for someone to be eating in one day and yet Ms. Frazier says the minimum should be 130. Could it be deduced that eating 100g carbs daily COULD result in stored fat, hmmm? That would be "too many" in my book.

She tries to save face when she makes the comment about eating too many calories from other sources will also lead to weight gain, but none are as detrimental to your weight and health as carbohydrates. The volumes of science coming out about the damaging impact of carbs on various aspects of health is indeed mindboggling. Stick around my blog a while, Ms. Frazier, and you'll see what I mean!

Frazier then moved her attention squarely on livin' la vida low-carb and how it supposedly helps people lose weight. Here's what she wrote about it:

"Low-carbohydrate diets typically result in rapid weight loss during the first few weeks. Current research suggests that this intial weight loss is due to water loss...excess protein increases urination...which results in rapid water loss."

In a word, Ms. Frazier, WRONG-O! We've heard this exact same thing before from another "expert," but it doesn't add up. A real low-carb expert who worked with the late Dr. Robert C. Atkins in his clinical practice for decades has addressed the "water weight" controversy before--click here to read what Jackie Eberstein has to say. Plus, this study from Temple University last year should put this issue to rest for good.

On the subject of long-term low-carbing, Frazier said it "may result in weight loss," but that it will only happen because of the "restriction of calories, not the restriction of carbohydrates."

Again, the science doesn't support this, including a Canadian study from the early 1990s where twelve sets of male twins were overfed 1000 calories per day purposefully over an 84-day time frame. The researchers wanted to test the theory that it's all about the calories. They should have all gained 24 pounds each, but instead the weight gain varied from 9.5-29 pounds.

But even if livin' la vida low-carb resulted in eating less calories as Frazier so smugly reports, so freakin' what?! If you ask me, I'd rather have the natural calorie-reduction that comes from eating low-carb than having to painstakingly count each and every little calorie I put in my mouth. NO THANK YOU!

Yes, calories DO count, but thank the good Lord YOU don't have to count them on low-carb! :) Only a twisted mind would see eating low-carb for reducing calories as a BAD thing.

Finally, Frazier said low-carb is not for the long-term because it's too restrictive and difficult to maintain while not giving you the proper nutrition.

"A diet high in meat, eggs, and cheese is not balanced...A healthier weight-loss plan incorporate regular physical activity and smaller portions of healthy foods, such as whole grains, vegetables, fruits, lean protein, and healthy fats."

Oh yippee, we get that favorite word of the dietary dunces--BALANCED! Guess what? Low-carb gives me all the balance I need for my health thank you very much! Ms. Frazier has fallen victim (by choice!) to the "meat, eggs, and cheese" myth about livin' la vida low-carb.

NEWSFLASH, Ms. Frazier: Low-carb living DOES incorporate exercise, vegetables, fruits, protein, and fats. You just described this incredible way of eating perfectly. Do yourself a favor, Ms. Frazier! READ THE BOOK! Any of the low-carb books would give you more education about this amazing lifestyle and you might just realize it's not as unhealthy as you think it is.

My concern is all those "Shrinkdown" participants who don't know any better and will take what Ms. Frazier has written in this literature at face value. What a crying shame!

You can e-mail Kelly Frazier about her screwy nutritional views at Kelly.Frazier@furman.edu.

1-21-07 UPDATE: Unfortunately, Kelly Frazier took great offense to my column in response to her materials written for the "Shrinkdown" program regarding carbohydrates. If you read the comments section of this post, then you will also see several interesting responses from Kelly's sisters, too. It's all very interesting, but none of it changes anything about the truth of what I wrote.

Here is Kelly's e-mail to me:

Dear Jimmy,

I must admit that I was very hurt when I read your blog. It caused me a great deal of pain and I couldn't understand why you would write these things. Then I found this post you wrote on your website:

"As anyone who is overweight or obese will tell you, being fat is quite a traumatic thing for many people because it brings on the intense ridicule and scorn of people who may or may not know just how hurtful they are being. The scars from these experiences can be very deep-rooted and cause very real pain to linger on for many years and many times drawing these people into serious depression, loneliness and even suicidal. It breaks my heart to see this happening in a society that is tolerant of virtually every group of people--EXCEPT THE OBESE!

Thankfully, God can reach down through this sea of pain and into the souls of people like this to begin the healing process from within these beautiful people so they can finally deal with their weight problem in earnest and restore the temple of the Holy Spirit, their bodies, to their proper weight and get their life back.

I honestly don't know how people who do not believe in God can deal with these kinds of struggles they face, such as being overweight and all that comes with that, without Him! Jesus Christ is the anchor of my life and I would literally be lost in this dying world and very likely would be obese today without God in my life! I wholeheartedly believe that to be true."

After reading that message, I knew that I had to respond to you. Jimmy, I am also a Christian. I try to carry myself with integrity and show the love of Jesus Christ to all kinds of people. I do not benefit financially from the South Carolina Shrinkdown program. I have prepared the materials on my own personal time over the past three years, sacrificing time from my family. I have spent all of these hours trying to help people, much like you do.

I started to cry when I read about the pain that you have experienced. I am so sorry that you have suffered so much. I realize now why you responded with such hostility and are so passionate about your way of life. My sister was obese growing up and also experienced those same feelings of depression, loneliness, and suicide. I spoke with a Shrinkdown participant last year who told me that she had prayed for God to take her life because she felt so hopeless. When she told me that, my heart broke.

I realize that we do not agree on the fundamentals of human physiology. I am sorry if you felt misled by the program. We definitely do not recommend a low-carbohydrate diet and have not marketed the program in that way.

I understand that low-carbohydrate diets can result in long-term weight loss. I understand that they can provide a solution to many people who struggle with weight loss. After reviewing the current literature and recommendations from worldwide nutrition authorities, however, our sponsors sincerely do not believe that low-carbohydrate diets are the healthiest way of life.

Jimmy, I wish you the best on your weight loss journey and your mission to help others. I apologize for my sisters clogging up your forum. As you can see, we have a very close family.

Best wishes,

Kelly

This was my response to Kelly's e-mail:

Hey Kelly,

THANK YOU so much for your very kind comments in response to my blog post about your beliefs. Let me begin by saying that I definitely meant no harm to you personally in my column. If you and your sisters will go back and read it again closer, then you will see I only addressed the substance of your materials and did not "bash" you personally at any point.

I can appreciate the sacrifice you made to present those materials to the "Shrinkdown" program with no pay. But that doesn't give you the right to share information that is just not true. What about gluconeogenesis? What about the spikes in blood sugar that come from eating over 100g carbs daily? How about those concepts in your materials? There was no mention of them.

One of the biggest challenges I see in the United States today as it relates to helping people overcome their obesity is the inconsistent message they keep receiving from advocates of only one way to lose weight. While you acknowledge livin' la vida low-carb will work for weight loss over the long-term for some people (myself included), why can't we teach that alongside the low-fat, low-calorie, moderation diet that your sisters were preaching to me?

I apologize that you experienced pain from my column, but that was definitely not my intention. I am passionate about what I write about because I've weighed over 400 pounds and want people to know the truth. Won't you join me in the effort to promote not just your way, but many ways to weight loss? Isn't doing something, even if you believe it's not for you, better than having people remain obese? That's why I do what I do.

The overwhelming evidence that is coming out of the scientific community about just how healthy low-carb is for people is difficult to ignore. I am in the best shape of my entire life right now because of this amazing lifestyle that God has helped me stick with for three years now. I could very well have been dead right now if I chose to heed the warnings of people like yourself regarding low-carb.

When I interviewed Dr. Dean Ornish a few months ago, he said that low-carb and low fat advocates need to try to come to a consensus about what is healthy and stop the bickering. That's my point exactly, which is why I have to defend this way of eating whenever it is so blatantly challenged and ridiculed in any public forum.

We do want to help people not just with their physical needs, but also their spiritual ones because they are hurting. That breaks my heart to see people continue to wallow in their hurt and shame of being fat because I KNOW they can overcome it quite possibly through low-carb living. That's my only goal is to help those tens of thousands of people who visit my blog each and every month looking for hope and inspiration. And I plan to give it to them.

Again, I meant no harm to you or your family. I appreciate your willingness to share from your heart and hope you understand why I had to do what I did. God bless you and your family as you continue to shine for Jesus in all that you do. Take care and please don't hesistate to contact me anytime if you have any questions or concerns.

Jimmy

I don't think I exhibited any "hostility" at any point and was nothing but cordial to both Kelly and her sisters. Sometimes in my zest for challenging those who oppose this amazingly healthy low-carb life, my passion overflows and people mistake my authoritative style as being overly brash. I can't help it and don't plan to change. If we are going to make a difference, then truth needs to be spoken loud and clear.

THANK YOU, Kelly, for writing to me about this. I appreciate your words and hope that you understand why I was concerned about the materials you submitted to the "Shrinkdown" program. I encourage you to click on some of those links I provided to see exactly where I am coming from because it's not just my opinion. The facts are what they are and I lay them out there for everyone to see.

Like I said, what's the harm in promoting VARIOUS ways to getting healthy, hmmmm?

I Joined The Spartanburg 'Shrinkdown'

Let me share with you the ambitious thing I did on Monday. I joined something I first blogged about last year called "Shrinkdown" sponsored by my local YMCA in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Last week I blogged about a man who lost 128 pounds in 2006 after beginning his weight loss journey with the "Shrinkdown" challenge, an effort taking place all across the state of South Carolina over the next eight weeks.

It took a little more than an hour to get through the process of registering for this weight loss event. As I was waiting to have my health markers checked, I started flipping through the materials they handed out. It should come as NO surprise to anyone that this plan is focused on increasing physical activity (a VERY good thing since exercise goes hand-in-hand with low-carb living) and good nutrition. What does that mean? You know--low-fat, low-calorie, portion control! UGH!

Why can't organized weight loss programs like "Shrinkdown" EVER acknowledge the low-carb lifestyle as an equally healthy and beneficial plan for losing weight and keeping it off forever, hmmm? Who died and made the low-fat diet the ONLY way to lose weight and improve health?

It broke my heart to think how many people at that "Shrinkdown" sign-up yesterday will lose a few pounds in the next couple of months eating foods like the apples, fruit bars, and water they provided at this event only to get frustrated by the disgusting choice of foods and from being hungry so much eating this way. That was my experience on a low-fat diet in 1999 and it wasn't pretty.

Click here to read more about my experience signing up for the "Shrinkdown" program and why livin' la vida low-carb could save a lot of the participants on this low-fat, low-calorie, portion-controlled diet a lot of disappointment.

SC Man Experiences 128-Pound Weight Loss Watching Calories, Carbs

Jimmy Dorsett lost 128 pounds watching his calories and carbs

One year ago, I blogged about an exciting weight loss initative taking place in my own backyard here in South Carolina called Shrinkdown. Thousands of overweight and obese people stopped by their local YMCAs all across the Palmetto state to say enough is enough with their weight and health problems. One man that did that locally in my hometown of Spartanburg, SC was 41-year old Jimmy Dorsett.

According to this Spartanburg Herald-journal column, Dorsett was more than just a little apprehensive about trying yet again to lose weight for the bazillionth time and the large crowds of people waiting to join the Shrinkdown efforts didn't calm his fears any. But the reality was he weighed nearly 400 pounds and NEEDED to be there although he once thought he would "always be big."

Yet, his fateful decision to stay which led to his eventual weight loss success was due to the prodding of his loving wife Lisa.

"There were so many people, and he asked, 'How are we going to do this?' and I said, 'One day at a time,'" she recalled.

Today, Jimmy Dorsett is still taking it day-by-day and is so glad his wife convinced him to stay. One year later, he has now lost an incredible 128 pounds and dropped 14 total pants sizes. WOWsers! What an amazing accomplishment that almost didn't happen because of his pride.

But the big payoff is what this weight loss has meant to him not just physically, but also emotionally.

"I really feel healthier, and I have more energy and my spirit is higher," Dorsett explained.

While the actual duration of the Shrinkdown program was only a couple of months (which resulted in a 35-pound weight loss over that time for Dorsett), the real challenge was whether he would maintain those new habits he had learned.

So, you might be wondering, how did he do it?

Dorsett began eating more fruits and vegetables and incorporated regular walking into his life. But what about his actual diet? I was pleased to see he pays close attention not just to his calories, but also his carbohydrates. In other words, he's livin' la vida low-carb--and he's committed to doing it for a lifetime!

"I learned this wasn't a diet," Dorsett said. "It was a life change."

WOO HOO! That is exactly what I talk about here often at my blog. Regardless of which plan you choose as your method for losing weight, just do it with all of your might and for the rest of your life. Nobody will debate me on this idea because only the individual can know what works for them. Jimmy Dorsett found his plan and now he's sticking to it!

When I read this story in my local newspaper, I decided to look up Dorsett's telephone number in the phone book to congratulate him on his phenomenal weight loss success. His wife Lisa answered the phone and I told her how proud I was of her husband Jimmy for getting his weight and health under control. I shared with her about my 180-pound weight loss in 2004 on low-carb and encouraged her to continue providing her husband with positive feedback so he can keep the weight off.

Lisa admitted to me that Jimmy had allowed himself to indulge over the Christmas holidays, but that he gotten right back on his low-carb diet and exercise routine at the first of the new year. She said the determination that Jimmy has displayed has astounded her and she is so happy to see her husband taking his weight and health more seriously now.

Interestingly, Lisa said the newspaper article left out an important part of Jimmy's weight loss--God's role in it. I told Lisa that the Spartanburg Herald Journal wrote a story on my weight loss too and omitted my mention of my faith and its impact on my success. I explained to her that kind of thing just comes with the territory when you talk with the media nowadays.

I previously explained in this blog post about how having faith in God can indeed help you in your weight loss efforts, so I won't bother repeating that here. Suffice it to say, Lisa and Jimmy believe in their heart of hearts that this would NOT have happened without the Lord's help. Amen because I couldn't agree more!!

One of the neat things about Jimmy's outstanding weight loss success is that fact that his wife Lisa and teenaged son Jimmy Ray both went on this diet with Jimmy to support his efforts. Lisa lost 32 pounds and Jimmy Ray shed nearly 20 pounds. Lisa told me they have gained back some of the weight, so they need to get back on it again. Ironically, she said her husband is now being the example for THEM!

I had to share with Lisa about how Christine weighed 95 pounds on our wedding day while I was around 350 pounds. This more than 250-pound weight gap has now been whittled down to less than 75 pounds in 2007! HA! Christine really HATES it when I tell this story which is why I keep telling it. LOL! Hey, I've gotta whip that girl into shape, ya know? Oh the irony of just a few years that have passed.

The real "it" moment for Jimmy when it all sunk in and he realized his life had dramatically changed was when he went to fasten the seatbelt buckle on the rides at the local country fair a few months back during the Fall.

"Tears got in my eyes and I said, 'Last year, I could not do this,'" Dorsett stated.

Man, that brings back memories for me, too. Sitting in a movie theater seat, realizing your gut is no longer touching the steering wheel of your car, walking down a narrow hallway easily, rings falling off my fingers and so much more. These are little changes that happen to you when you lose weight, but every single one of them are confidence boosters that propel you to want to keep the weight off forever.

For all intents and purposes, Jimmy Dorsett got his life back in 2006 and extended it for many years to come. His blood pressure is stable, he feels better and younger than he ever has in his entire life, and he can now wear his own wedding ring again for the first time in a very long time.

"I'm just so proud of him," Lisa said. "He's a new man. I told him he's sexy, and he likes to hear that. He's my hunk now."

Sounds like we know WHY Jimmy was so successful now, don't we? Lisa reminds me a lot of Christine who encouraged me all the way through my weight loss and she still does to this day. I couldn't have done it without her and neither could Jimmy Dorsett do it without Lisa. It's yet another low-carb weight loss success story with a happy ending.

Government-Subsidized Gym Memberships?

Meredith says obesity would drop with universal access to fitness clubs

When I write about various topics of interest at my blog, the feedback that I receive from people about my posts usually spawns another discussion entirely on a similar subject matter. And that's exactly what has happened today.

I received an e-mail from a 20-year old Pilates Instructor from Los Angeles, California named Meredith who wanted to comment on my recent column entitled "Obesity: A Product Of Affluence Or Poverty?" As a certified fitness trainer and health advocate through her Pilates classes and at her blog The Pilates Body, Meredith has an intriguing perspective about what she believes is needed to help reverse the obesity epidemic in the United States and the unique role the government should play in that.

Here's what she wrote to me:

I love the passion you have for this important topic. And congratulations to you for making such a huge accomplishment!

I thought your statement about not "waiting on the government to come up with a plan" was the most notable. I agree it is not the responsibility of the government to help the obese and overweight lose the pounds, and I also do not think they should wait around for the government to do something.

However, I think the government should provide the ability for everyone to be a member of a health club or fitness program. As a Pilates instructor, I know it can be incredibly expensive to have a consistent trainer and pay for club memberships. Americans simply do not have the extra money to pay for these things.

If employers and insurance companies covered fitness regimens in their policies, I truly believe people could stay motivated to lose the weight and keep it off. It’s all about access and motivation, and I think there is something the government—and employers--can do!

So, Meredith, in essence, believes we should have government-subsidized gym memberships since many people cannot afford to pay for them. That's the premise of her solution to the obesity problem in a nutshell. But I have several concerns with this proposal she has made.

From an anecdotal standpoint, let me offer my experience about free gym memberships. I was extremely fortunate when I began livin' la vida low-carb in January 2004 because I work for a company that provides as part of the benefits package a complimentary family membership to the YMCA. How fortuitous! To Meredith's point, at the time I believed there was NO way I would have been able to afford the hundreds of dollars annually to be a member.

However, after losing 180 pounds in part because of my daily workouts at the YMCA, I spoke with the head of benefits last year bragging about how much I enjoy going to the gym and she shared with me a startling statistic--98 percent of the employees in the company have NEVER used their free gymn membership. NEVER. As in, they don't go. They haven't even bothered to darken the doors even once. Holy cow, what's going on? And the membership even includes three FREE sessions with a certified fitness trainer, too. EEEEK! What's wrong with these people?!

Sadly, this says a lot about our culture. We already knew that people in general are lazy and unmotivated to get started about making necessary changes in their lives. It took me 32 years to finally get serious about my health and weight problem. While it may sound good to provide every American with a free gym membership compliments of the United States government and/or their employer, what's the reality going to be? Will people take actually advantage of it or just ignore it completely? If the trend among my fellow co-workers is any indication, then it doesn't appear very much would change.

That's not to say I think Meredith's idea is necessarily a bad one considering all the other ridiculous social programs that our government has come up with over the years. But how effective would having fitness classes like the ones she teaches available at no charge if the people who need it the most choose to stay at home snacking on Cheetos while watching football? I don't think we have a budget problem necessarily, Meredith, but rather a refusing-to-budge one instead. :)

Speaking of money, though, your other point was that people can't afford a gym membership. I have to disagree with that and here's why. If paying to be a member of a fitness club was indeed a priority to them, then people would allocate money from their personal budget to pay for it. Period. We do it all the time with extra expenses such as fast food, bowling, golf, movies, vacations, etc. Health clubs could be subsidized by replacing some of these other activities with payments to this place that could help them lose weight and get into shape. We buy what we want to buy and, unfortunately, gym memberships aren't at the top of the list.

Let me put on my public policy hat for a moment (I have an M.A. in the subject) and talk about this issue of "the government's money." In a nutshell, THEY DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY! Not one red cent. What they have is OUR money and we have elected them to be the caretakers of that money to provide the best services to the Americans who need assistance. This is a reality that too many people forget about when election time comes and they fall prey to the pork barrel legislation that their Congressman promises to them. Isn't that so nice of them to spend my money on such inconsequential things!

When you start talking about the government paying for gym memberships, what you are basically saying is that people will be paying the government more money in the form of higher taxes to pay for themselves to have a gym membership. So, in the end, people actually CAN afford to join a health club when the government mandates it by offering universal gym memberships. UGH!

Furthermore, if the government stops short of funding the gym memberships out of the federal budget and instead passes legislation requiring business owners to give their employees open access to their local health club, then they are simply passing on an unfunded mandate to companies who will be forced to reduce their payroll dollars or raise their prices to be able to afford this incentive for their employees. Why do we want to put this onus on the foundation of our economy? Is it their duty to make their employees get fit?

Is this really the answer, Meredith? You know I'm a big supporter of exercise, but that's not the entire answer regarding obesity. We also need a multitude of nutritional approaches promoted to help people make wise choices about their weight problem. Since the government already dishes out unsolicited dietary advice, it certainly is within their realm of responsibility to provide information about a variety of programs that people could choose from to get healthy and lose the weight.

What are your thoughts about Meredith's idea for the government and/or employers paying for a free health club for every man, woman, and child in this country? Would it work to reduce obesity? Or do you agree with me that it would be a lesson in futility, unfortunately, because people don't have the passion and desire within themselves to get healthy? Share your comments below or e-mail me at livinlowcarbman@charter.net.

9-18-06 UPDATE: Meredith blogged about her free gym membership idea today providing further support for her belief that the underprivileged are being denied access to this key part of their fitness plan.

Here's a quote from that post:

"If employers and health insurance companies included nutritional counseling and health club memberships in their policies...people would be better informed about what they put in their bodies, and they would have the opportunity to exercise safely on a daily basis. Additionally, if the companies provided incentives for employees and carriers participating in a fitness and nutrition routines, Americans would be much more successful in losing weight."

I still hear UNFUNDED MANDATE screaming in my ears or the BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU mentality that the federal government would bring to the table if they got involved in this issue. But even to the point of simply asking companies to provide these incentives, how many people will use them, Meredith?

I work for a pretty major company and you saw the percentage of people who never take advantage of their free gym membership. How much money is WASTED by companies trying to do something positive for the health of their employeees because they do not appreciate what they are getting? I keep waiting for the day when the benefits department sends out a notice telling us they are discontinuing the YMCA membership because of lack of participation and budget cuts. That day is coming sooner than later.