Recently, the New York Times had an interesting article about how Americans are eating less, and calorie consumption and obesity levels among most demographic groups have dropped.
The story said that after decades of worsening diets and increases in obesity, calories consumed by Americans have declined for the first time in more than 40 years. The declines are universal through most major demographic groups, “including higher- and lower-income families, and blacks and whites.”
Interestingly, the amount of soda Americans drink has dropped by 25 percent since the late 1990s. “As calorie consumption has declined, obesity rates appear to have stopped rising for adults and school-aged children and have come down for the youngest children, suggesting the calorie reductions are making a difference,” the Times reported.
The news outlet reported that the reversal appears to have occurred because Americans are beginning to realize that they can damage their health by eating and drinking too much.
Although this is good news, it does not mark an end of the obesity epidemic. According to the Times, one-third of American adults are still considered obese, which increases the likelihood of diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
To read the Times report, which includes interviews with dieticians and doctors, you can view the source link below.
Obesity Can Worsen Disabilities
It is good that people are becoming aware that obesity can lead to long-term illnesses. As Social Security attorneys, we often hear from clients who start feeling better once they diet, something that we will admit, is very hard to do if you have a disability.
Interestingly, a common misconception about Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is that you can collect benefits simply by being overweight. This is false. The Social Security Administration (SSA) removed obesity from its impairment listings in 1999.
Individuals who are obese must have other conditions including musculoskeletal, respiratory, and cardiovascular problems such as diabetes, hypertension, gall bladder disease, sleep apnea, stroke, osteoarthritis or cancer, in able to collect SSDI benefits.
It should come as no surprise that people with disabilities may struggle with their weight. Often, they have to adjust to a sedentary life, and if their diet is not good, they can put on weight, worsening their condition.
However, many people with disabilities are still able to seek out physical therapy and/or diet, finding ways to keep weight off, even though it may be a struggle.
If you have questions about collecting SSDI, speak to our Tulsa disability attorneys at (918) 265-1404.
Troutman & Troutman, P.C. – Tulsa Social Security disability lawyers
