POUND OF FLESH
Reprinted from the ACJ - May, 2004

This is Dave Brown's 92nd article in the Health Watch series, which now spans well over a decade of writing for the Automotive Cooling Journal.

In the past, while reading this fine magazine, if you heard the term 'The Big Three' you probably thought of GM, Chrysler and Ford. More recently a Japanese Manufacturer, or two, may have popped into your mind. In light of the fact that this is a health article, I propose that when you here the term 'Big Three', think of smoking, obesity and lack of exercise. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) these three health factors play a major role in causing 35 % of the deaths in the USA. Compare that with car crashes which cause only 1.8 % of the deaths in this country and your eyebrows should go up. It seems devastating. Now, to be realistic, I'm not sure sitting on the couch, watching the game, eating chips is more dangerous than climbing into the back seat for a nap, after setting the cruise control, but still, it should cause us concern. Why? Because all of these conditions are preventable. We decide how these conditions will prolong or shorten our lives. You may have heard recently that 65 % of us are overweight and that obesity and lack of exercise will exceed smoking as the number 1 killer in America. Smoking causes 435,000 deaths per year while obesity and a sedentary lifestyle contributed to 400,000 deaths. Here is something to ponder. These numbers are based on data from the year 2000. Do you eat more or less fast food than in 2000? Have the portions of burgers and fries gotten smaller? Do you still get out and hike or golf or play Frisbee as much as you used to? My guess is that obesity has already surpassed smoking as the scary monster in the closet, or refrigerator, as the case may be. It won't be long and you will see employees huddled outside buildings, shivering, and downing whoppers on their breaks. Don't want second hand grease polluting the office. Restaurants, already a tough business, may not do so well when city ordinances require them to be "Smoke, and food, free environments".

OK, so the guy on the bar stool, next to you, is fat but what about you? (By the way excessive drinking contributes to only 3.5 % of deaths. A 'Nader for President' bumper sticker is only a percentage point behind that.) How much of your tire is 'spare'? Experts use the Body Mass Index (BMI) as an indicator of how overweight we are. You can calculate your BMI as follows. You may want to grab a calculator.

The formula for BMI is BMI = your weight in kilograms(kg) (your height in meters (m))2 (that's squared) Obviously a scientific formula; no one in the real world (read US) uses kg's and m's. First, your weight in kg. weight kg = your weight in lbs. 2.205 Second, your height in meters height m = your height in inches 39.37 Put it all together BMI = weight in kg's (height in meters)2

If the resulting number is less than 25, you are OK. 25 - 30, you are overweight. 30 - 35, you are obese. Over 35 and you are considered morbidly obese. Morbid; that means deadly. Stay out of that category; even if you have to grow a couple of inches. Those of us that are 'overweight' are at an increased risk of the other 'Big Three'; heart disease, cancer, and stroke. Those of us that are rated 'obese' are said to be in danger. The obese, on average, spend 36 % more at the doctor's office and 77 % more at the pharmacy. No numbers on how much more at Micky D's.

To quote the delicate statement made by Tommy Thompson, Director of Health and Human Services (HHS) "We're just too darn fat, ladies and gentlemen, and we're going to do something about it". He then suggested selling your car and walking everywhere; eating only tofu, and only when you pass out from hunger. Actually, he suggested a much less painful methodology. Eat slightly smaller portions, take half of the meal home. Take the stairs, instead of the elevator. Play kick the can, with the kids, instead of just yelling at them to stay out of your yard. Walk the golf course, save a few bucks on the cart. When was the last time you rode a bike? Go for a walk instead of watching reruns. Skip the fries; buy a smaller soda than the 'big trough'. Small steps, lots of them, are the easiest way to move in the right direction. No pun intended. Do something, whatever you like. It's not hard and can be fun!

When the skinny, chain smoking, alcoholic on the next bar stool is considered to be in better health than the rest of us; it's time to do something. Get up; Get out, Get healthy! Hey' there's another 'Big Three'.

The above article was written by David M. Brown, Chief Engineer of Johnson Manufacturing Company, Inc. and is published by JOHNSON with the expressed approval of the National Automotive Radiator Service Association and the Automotive Cooling Journal. Other reproduction or distribution of this information is forbidden without the written consent of JOHNSON and NARSA/ACJ. All rights reserved.

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Phone 563-289-5123 or Fax 563-289-3825