The United States' waistline has expanded considerably over the years, with Pennsylvania ranked as the state with the 15th highest rate of adult obesity, according to a recent report by the Trust For America's Health.
While Mississippi was the heaviest state with 28.1 percent of its adults in the obese range, Pennsylvania wasn't far behind at 24 percent, coupled with a combined obesity and overweight population rate of 60.2 percent, according to the nonpartisan, non-profit organization's findings in its report from late last month.
Judy Walter, a registered dietician at Altoona Hospital, said she didn't find the statistic shocking.
"I think people need education, and we've gotten to the point that we've lost sight of normal portion size," she said. "We're seeing a number of kids with Type 2 diabetes, secondary to obesity."
Obesity is determined by a body mass index (BMI) scale that compares height to weight. A person with a BMI above 30 is considered obese, while a BMI of 25 to 29.9 is overweight and 18.5 to 24.9 is healthy.
Jill Patterson, an assistant professor of nutritional sciences, said she thinks that while college students aren't as heavy as the general public, she has noticed parallels in weight gain between the generations.
In spring 2005, 29 students were referred by University Health Services (UHS) clinicians to weight reduction counseling because of weight issues -- 70 percent of whom visited Melissa Martilotta, a UHS registered dietician.
Walter attributed the problem to complacency.
"I think we're very sedentary and not very active," she said. "We've gotten used to eating fast food and high-fat foods."
In recent years, government initiatives have pushed for healthy choices at restaurants to try and combat the obesity problem, a solution that some local eateries say they have been trying for years.
"We do have lots of salads and lean cut beef and chicken," said Lincoln Stuyvesant, manager of Prospector's Allegheny Rib Company, 2080 Cato Ave. "We've always done this."
Todd Henry, general manager of Chili's Bar & Grill, 137 S. Allen St., said the restaurant has had its "Guiltless Grill" specials throughout his 11 years at the eatery.
"Basically, the menu lists calories, carbohydrates, grams of fat and things like that," he said. "I'd probably say the chicken platter or sandwich sell the best."
On-campus dining commons are taking various measures to institute healthy options into their meals, such as forming and modifying recipes to create 50 healthy options.
Walter said it is important to do more than eat healthy. "We're eating and we're on the run, but being busy and exercising aren't the same thing."
