'F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing in America, 2009': Islam can help

July 2, 6:52 PMBaltimore Muslim ExaminerJ. Samia Mair

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Obesity statistics in the United States are alarming. The most recent evidence is the 104-page report F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing in America, 2009, released by the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation on July 1.

U.S. Obesity Statistics

The report's Major Findings include:

Adult Obesity Rates and Trends

• Adult obesity rates continued to rise in 23 states. Rates did not decrease in any state. Nearly 2/3 of states have adult obesity rates above 25%. Four states have rates above 30%. In 1991, no state had an obesity rate above 20%. In 1980, the national average of obese adults was 15%.
• Adult obesity rates rose for a 2nd year in a row in 16 states, and rose for a 3rd year in a row in 11 states. Mississippi had the highest rate of obese adults at 32.5%. Colorado had the lowest rate at 18.9% and is the only state with a rate below 20%.
• Obesity and obesity-related diseases such as diabetes and hypertension continue to remain the highest in Southern states. Eight of the 10 most obese states are in the South. In addition, all 10 states with the highest rates of diabetes and hypertension are in the South.
• Adult diabetes rates increased in 19 states in the past year. In 7 states, more than 10% of adults now have type 2 diabetes.

Child and Adolescent Obesity Rates and Trends

• The percentage of obese and overweight children (ages 10 to 17) is at or above 30% in 30 states. Mississippi had the highest rate of obese and overweight children at 44.4%. Minnesota and Utah had the lowest rate at 23.1%.
• Eight of the 10 states with the highest rates of obese and overweight children are in the South, as are 9 of the 10 states with the highest rates of poverty.
• Nationwide, less than 1/3 of all children ages 6 to 17 engage in vigorous activity, defined as participating in physical activity for at least 20 minutes that made the child sweat and breathe hard.

Yeah, for Colorado! At least I think. The state has the lowest percentage of obese adults at 18.9%, BUT that still means about 1 in 5 adults are obese!

What does Islam say about eating?

Islam often is described as a way of life and not a religion. Islam guides its followers in all aspects of life, including eating.

There are many statements in the Qur'an and the Hadith* about such things as proper eating etiquette, what to eat, how much to eat, and the spiritual and physical benefits of controlling one's appetite. Some scholars have stated that the appetite is more difficult to control than lust. And if a person can gain control of the appetite, it will help him/her to control other desires.

For example, it states in the Qur'an:

O YOU who have attained to faith! Do not deprive yourselves of the good things of life which God has made lawful to you, but do not transgress the bounds of what is right: verily, God does not love those who transgress the bounds of what is right. Thus, partake of the lawful, good things which God grants you as sustenance, and be conscious of God, in whom you believe. (The Message of the Qur'an, 5:87-88)

O CHILDREN of Adam! Beautify yourselves for every act of worship, and eat and drink [freely], but do not waste: verily, He does not love the wasteful! (The Message of the Qur'an, 7:31)

The Prophet Muhammad, may Allaah bless him and grant him peace, made numerous statements about eating. For example,

"No man fills a container worse that his stomach. A few morsels that keep his back upright are sufficient for a man. If eating is necessary, then he should fill one-third with food, one-third with drink and leave one-third for easy breathing." (At-Tirmidhi)

"Two people's food is enough for three and three people's is enough for four." (Bukhari)

"The blessing of food is in washing before and after the meal. (Imam Ahmad)

Thus, we are instructed to eat good, healthy foods in moderation. We should never eat to our fill and wash our hands before and after eating. Sound familiar? It should. Current public health research advises the same.

Islam has far more to say about food and eating and much has been written on this topic. Its teachings are worth investigating.

Of course, diet is only half of the equation. Weight gain results from consuming too many calories and expending too few. Maintaining one's physical health is also important in Islam, but that is a topic of another post.

Adult Obesity State Rankings

1. Mississippi (32.5%); 2. Alabama (31.2%); 3. West Virginia (31.1%); 4. Tennessee (30.2%); 5. South Carolina (29.7%); 6. Oklahoma (29.5%); 7. Kentucky (29.0%); 8. Louisiana (28.9%); 9. Michigan (28.8%) 10. (tie) Arkansas (28.6%) and Ohio (28.6%); 12. North Carolina (28.3%); 13. Missouri (28.1%); 14. (tie) Georgia (27.9%) and Texas (27.9%); 16. Indiana (27.4%); 17. Delaware (27.3%); 18. (tie) Alaska (27.2%) and Kansas (27.2%) 20. (tie) Nebraska (26.9%) and South Dakota (26.9%); 22. (tie) Iowa (26.7%) and North Dakota (26.7%) and Pennsylvania 26.7%; 25. (tie) Maryland (26.0%) and Wisconsin (26.0%); 27. Illinois 25.9%; 28. (tie) Oregon (25.4%) and Virginia (25.4) and Washington (25.4%); 31. Minnesota (25.3%); 32. Nevada( 25.1%); 33. (tie) Arizona (24.8%) and Idaho (24.8%); 35. Maine (24.7%); 36. New Mexico (24.6%); 37. New York (24.5%) 38. Wyoming (24.3%); 39. (tie) Florida (24.1%) and New Hampshire (24.1%); 41. California (23.6%); 42. New Jersey (23.4%); 43. Montana (22.7%); 44. Utah (22.5%); 45. District of Columbia (22.3%); 46. Vermont (22.1%); 47. Hawaii (21.8%); 48. Rhode Island (21.7%); 49. Connecticut (21.3%); 50. Massachusetts (21.2%); 51. Colorado (18.9%)

Obese and Overweight Children Ages 10-17 State Rankings

1. Mississippi (44.4%); 2. Arkansas (37.5%); 3. Georgia (37.3%); 4. Kentucky (37.1%) 5. Tennessee (36.5%) 6. Alabama (36.1%); 7. Louisiana (35.9%); 8. West Virginia (35.5%); 9. District of Columbia (35.4%); 10. Illinois (34.9%); 11. Nevada (34.2%); 12. Alaska (33.9%); 13. South Carolina (33.7%); 14. North Carolina (33.5%); 15. Ohio (33.3%); 16. Delaware (33.2%); 17. Florida (33.1%); 18. New York (32.9%); 19. New Mexico (32.7%) 20. Texas (32.2%) 21. Nebraska (31.5%); 22. Kansas (31.1%); 23. (tie) Missouri (31.0%) and New Jersey (31.0%) and Virginia (31.0%); 26. (tie) Arizona (30.6%) and Michigan (30.6%); 28. California (30.5%); 29. Rhode Island (30.1%); 30. Massachusetts (30.0%) 31. Indiana (29.9%) 32. Pennsylvania (29.7%); 33. (tie) Oklahoma (29.5%) and Washington (29.5%); 35. New Hampshire (29.4%); 36. Maryland (28.8%); 37. Hawaii (28.5%); 38. South Dakota (28.4%); 39. Maine (28.2%); 40. Wisconsin (27.9%); 41. Idaho (27.5%); 42. Colorado (27.2%); 43. Vermont (26.7%); 44. Iowa (26.5%); 45. (tie) Connecticut (25.7%) and North Dakota (25.7%) and Wyoming (25.7%); 48. Montana (25.6%); 49. Oregon (24.3%); 50. (tie) Minnesota (23.1%) and Utah (23.1%)

Source: New Report Finds Obesity Epidemic Increases, Mississippi Weighs in as Heaviest State 

*Hadith -collection of sayings, actions, approvals of the Prophet Muhammad (saas)

For more info: Zoning to combat obesity, Mayo on hand washing, CDC on Obesity