Fifteen years ago, Michigan had an obesity rate of 17.2 percent and was ranked fourth most obese state in the nation. The obesity rate in Michigan increased by 77 percent over the last 15 years.

“Today, the state with the lowest adult obesity rate would have had the highest rate in 1995,” said Jeff Levi, Ph.D., executive director of TFAH. “There was a clear tipping point in our national weight gain over the last twenty years, and we can’t afford to ignore the impact obesity has on our health and corresponding health care spending.”

In addition, for many states, their combined rates for overweight and obesity, and rates of chronic health problems, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, have increased dramatically over the past two decades. For Michigan, long-term trends in rates include:

• Fifteen years ago, Michigan had a combined obesity and overweight rate of 53.6 percent. Ten years ago, it was 59.3 percent. Now, the combined rate is 65.7 percent.
• Diabetes rates have doubled in ten states in the past 15 years. In 1995, Michigan had a diabetes rate of 7.6 percent. Now the diabetes rate is 9.5 percent.
• Fifteen years ago, Michigan had a hypertension rate of 23.1 percent. Now, the rate is 28.7 percent.

These alarming trends are very important to people with mental illness, because research has shown that people with serious mental illness die, on average, 25 years earlier than the general population. (See Report on Morbidity (Illness) and Mortality (Death) in People with Serious Mental Illness.)

Increasing awareness is just a first step. The next step is a call to action: What can YOU do to eat more healthy foods? How can YOU avoid unhealthy foods? How can YOU increase your physical activity? YOUR health is important – and YOU are worth the effort!

Have you seen the giant marshmallows in the stores yet? They are about four times the size of regular marshmallows. They look like fun, don’t they? They look like something the kids would just love! In fact, some kids try a contest to see how many marshmallows they can fit in their mouths at once.

Before you buy them let me tell you a story. My sister must have thought they were pretty cool when she saw them and bought a bag to share with her friends. After supper she joyfully passed them out so everyone could enjoy them with her.

We think she must have popped the whole thing in her mouth as we all do with a regular sized marshmallow. We can’t ask her if that is how it happened because we never got a chance to have another conversation with her. When she tried to swallow it got stuck. It blocked her airway. Even though the Heimlich maneuver was performed immediately, because the marshmallow was so soft and sticky, it wouldn’t come out. Her airway remained blocked. 911 was called, and CPR began immediately. The ambulance got there in record time. Ambulance personnel got the tube in her throat and quickly transported her to the hospital. When the doctor went to adjust the position of the tube, that marshmallow popped out. They were amazed. They had never seen a patient in this situation because of a marshmallow.

We choose to think of our sister’s passing as something that happened while she was doing two things she loved to do – sharing with friends and having something a little bit sweet to eat.

So in the end, we are asking you to think twice before you give these enormous treats to your child or to an impaired person. It could be the last thing you ever do for them.

If current trends continue, 1 in 3 American adults could develop diabetes over the next few decades.

Click on these resources to see if you are at risk and to find out what you can do to reduce your risk of developing diabetes:

• Review Symptoms (from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Check Your Risk (A quiz you can take)
• Prevent Diabetes (Learn the steps you can take)
• More Resources… (Lots of information through MedLine)

To explore an in-depth, interactive learning center on diabetes, log in to our Health Education Answers area, and choose the diabetes section.

But what kinds of questions should I be asking my doctor? Those are the things that I always think of when something happens but never remember when I actually get into the doctor’s office. Below are some of my own personal suggestions and I would recommend you writing them down (whichever ones suit you the best) and keep them in your pocket at all times so that you can’t forget when you attend your medical appointments:

General Questions:

• What is my ideal body weight supposed to be?
• How can I learn to manage stress better?
• How can I make regular exercise a part of my life when I’m so busy all the time?
• Could you please explain my test results to me (blood test, screens, exams, x-rays, etc.)?
• What would be a good “diet” for me to go on?

With regards to medical care in general:

• What might have caused this illness?
• What is this illness called?
• Is this illness likely to go away on its own?
• Is the pain likely to diminish or go away?
• How do you want to treat this illness?
• What are other ways to treat this illness?
• What is the time frame for this illness?
• Is a hospital stay necessary?
• What lifestyle changes should I begin to make sure this doesn’t happen again?

Although this might sound like a lot, questions ARE the answer when it comes to your own well-being. People with Mental Illness are dying 25 years earlier than the general population. With even a start of preventative measures such as the ones above, we can and will make those statistics change for the better. Good luck!

In Wellness. . . .Mary Beth