QUIZ: Overweight And Obesity
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How much do you know about one of the most serious public health problems in the nation? Take our overweight and obesity quiz and find out.
Posted 6 May 2010
What percentage of Louisiana schoolchildren can be classified as overweight or obese?
- Less than 10%
- 25%
- 50%
- More than 50%
In 2009, the Picard Center for Child Development and Lifelong Learning conducted a study of over 14,000 students in six Louisiana parishes. The study found that 20% of the children were overweight, while a shocking 32% were obese. Dr. Billy R. Stokes, the center's executive director, named three culprits in these findings. "We've seen over three decades of children gaining weight due to poor eating habits, a decrease in physical activity, and an increase in television and media use."
Among American children aged 2 to 18, what percentage of their daily calories come from snacking?
- 10%-20%
- 20%-30%
- 30%-40%
- 40%-50%
According to a study published in Health Affairs magazine, American children between the ages of 2 and 18 derive a full 27% of their daily caloric intake from snacking. The study compared data from Federal diet surveys conducted between 1977 and 2006, and compared to thirty years earlier, snacks have increased calorie counts and snacking itself has become more frequent, with the majority of the nation's children supplementing their three meals a day with nonstop grazing on potato chips, soda and candy bars. "We are at the point where every age group in America is moving towards constant eating," said study co-author Barry Popkin, "and we see no evidence that's going to slow down."
What fitness guru tipped the scales at 268 pounds when he graduated from high school?
- Gilad Janklowicz
- Harvey Walden IV
- John Basedow
- Richard Simmons
Fitness coach Richard Simmons has been a beloved figure for decades, legendary as much for his red shorts and Afro as he is for his nutrition and exercise advice. But believe it or not, the peppy, flamboyant trainer once struggled with his weight, just like the people he's counseled. He was raised in New Orleans' French Quarter where, according to his website, "lard was a food group and dessert mandatory." This led to the exercise guru growing up overweight and graduating from high school at an alarming 268 pounds. He eventually lost the weight through diet and exercise, and went on to open his own fitness center in 1974. Soon after, Simmons found himself on the stationary bike to stardom, releasing fitness videos, writing books and appearing as himself on "General Hospital" and "CHiPs."
What is Southwest Airlines' policy regarding the seating of extra large passengers?
- They are provided with a second seat free of charge
- They are required to buy a second seat
- They are required to pay an additional fuel surcharge
- They are required to use the bathroom immediately prior to takeoff
In February 2010, generously proportioned movie director Kevin Smith was on a Southwest airlines flight, and he was informed that he would have to buy the seat next to him, per the carrier's "customer of size" policy. He refused, insisting that he could fit inside of the confines of his 17-inch seat, so the captain had him removed from the plane. He was put on another flight one hour later, from which he unleashed multiple Twitter diatribes describing his ordeal, including one that read, "Look how fat I am on your plane! Quick! Throw me off!"
What is the name of First Lady Michelle Obama's campaign against childhood obesity?
- Let's Active
- Let's Get Small
- Let's Go Fly A Kite
- Let's Move
First Ladies of the United States have traditionally had signature issues that they have promoted. Nancy Reagan espoused a strong anti-drug message, Laura Bush spearheaded education and women's health initiatives and, currently, Michelle Obama has been crusading against childhood obesity with her "Let's Move" campaign. She contends that part of the challenge in fighting obesity is the lack of healthy foods available in many communities. "If a family lives in a neighborhood with a grocery store nearby, it is simple," she said. "They're more likely to put fresh fruits and vegetables on the table because they'll have access to it."
Which of the following is not served at Heart Stoppers Sports Grill in Delray Beach, Florida?
- Fried Twinkie
- Jalapeno peppers stuffed with cream cheese
- Three-pound hamburger
- Two fried chicken patties with bacon and cheese
Florida's Heart Stoppers Sports Grill is infamous for its artery-blocking food. The restaurant is decked out in hospital décor, and features such culinary delights as the "Heart Attacker" hamburger and "Chili Chest Pain Fries." Still, there's nothing on the menu like KFC's "Double Down," which is essentially a bacon and cheese sandwich with two pieces of fried chicken standing in for the bread. Despite its impressive payload of 540 calories, 32 fat grams and 1380 milligrams of sodium, it's nothing compared to Burger King's 800-calorie Tendercrisp chicken sandwich, with 46 grams of fat.
Which of the following people did not have gastric bypass surgery?
- Carnie Wilson
- Jeff Garlin
- Roseanne Barr
- Sharon Osbourne
Jeff Garlin is perhaps best known from the HBO series "Curb Your Enthusiasm," in which he plays the manager of "Seinfeld" creator Larry David. He has suffered from weight problems since childhood, weighing 320 pounds at his peak. Finally the former Second City alumnus decided that enough was enough, and he began a regimen of exercise and changes to his eating habits that have seen him lose 60 pounds so far. But don't say he's dieting. "I don't believe in dieting, and I will never diet. I don't diet. I eat very healthy, and I exercise."
Obesity is the primary medical reason that new personnel are being rejected from what profession?
- Animal husbandry
- Basketball
- Logging
- Military
The United States may be engaged in two overseas wars, but the military may have to wind them down within the next 20 years, or else find itself without enough recruits to fight them. According to a group of retired officers called "Mission: Readiness," weight is now the primary reason that recruits are rejected. While there have always been people physically unfit for service, the group claims that rising obesity rates now make over a quarter of young adults unable to fight, a sharp increase that will endanger the number of battle-ready troops by the year 2030.
A team of research scientists recently proposed fighting obesity by instituting an 18% tax on what food?
- Bacon
- Cheese fries
- Donuts
- Pizza
There are few pleasures in life like a freshly delivered pizza. As the steam ascends to the skies like Icarus, a heavenly aroma permeates the nasal passages, much as a masseuse relieves aching sinew. And best of all, there are no dishes to wash afterwards. Sadly, this ecstatic state crashes back down to earth with the realization of how many paper towels are needed to soak up the pools of grease. And that doesn't even begin to address the shocking levels of sodium and fat in each slice. With this in mind, a group of American scientists have estimated that an 18% tax on pizza will reduce consumption, making it possible to lower the caloric intake of the nation's adults by 56 calories a day and lower their weight by 5 pounds per year.
What region of the United States has the highest rates of overweight and obesity?
- Appalachia
- Ozarks
- Rockies
- Rust Belt
The highest rates of overweight and obesity in the United States can be found in the Appalachian region of the Southeast, which includes such states as Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky and Mississippi. Almost one-third of adults there are overweight and diabetes afflicts 10% of the population. Dr. Sue Cantrell, Health Director of the Lenowisco Health District in Virginia, attributes these numbers to sedentary lifestyle, failure to exercise and the delicious but harmful regional cuisine. "I was raised on that food," Cantrell says. "But my parents were outside gardening and working, mowing. There was no TV for hours at a time in the evening. But that changed."
Your score:
- Salad
You are a light and sensible food option.
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One Nation Overweight - Sandwich
Not bad, but those slices of bread have carbs.
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One Nation Overweight - Bacon double cheeseburger
You are high in calories and low in nutrition.
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One Nation Overweight
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