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We're fat. And unhealthy because of it.
So concludes a study released this week by the California Center for Public Health Advocacy (CCPHA). The findings augment a year-old CCPHA study that found California had in 2005 more than four times as many fast-food restaurants and convenience stores as supermarkets and produce vendors.
The study contends that "what we eat and the likelihood of being obese are influenced by the foods available in neighborhoods." It links the high rate of obesity to the "increased risk of morbidity and mortality from chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes."
To reach its conclusions, the CCPHA analyzed data on fast-food outlets, convenience stores, supermarkets and produce vendors in the state's most populated counties and cities - which did not include the city of South Lake Tahoe or El Dorado County.
In a nutshell, here's what researchers discovered: Residents in cities with many convenience stores and fast-food restaurants are likely to be fatter and more chronically ill than people in areas with easy access to full-service grocery stores and fruit-and-vegetable markets.
That's tempered, though, by the fact that most fast-food restaurants offer less-fattening, healthy alternatives to their typical high-calorie choices. And some convenience stores have been known to offer a meager supply of fruit, vegetables and other nutritious food.
South Lake Tahoe has its share of tempting fast-food restaurants - approximately 39, according to statistics compiled by the city's Economic Development Department. It also has about 10 convenience stores.
But our city also has about 75 traditional sit-down restaurants and a pretty good choice of high-quality, full-service supermarkets and health-food stores. So, overall, there is a pretty good mix of choices for residents and tourists.
The CCPHA certainly offers points to consider, but from our point of view, it all boils down to this: If we're too lazy to put the effort into eating well, we get what we deserve.
Our city's chock full of healthy eating alternatives: Choose them.
So concludes a study released this week by the California Center for Public Health Advocacy (CCPHA). The findings augment a year-old CCPHA study that found California had in 2005 more than four times as many fast-food restaurants and convenience stores as supermarkets and produce vendors.
The study contends that "what we eat and the likelihood of being obese are influenced by the foods available in neighborhoods." It links the high rate of obesity to the "increased risk of morbidity and mortality from chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes."
To reach its conclusions, the CCPHA analyzed data on fast-food outlets, convenience stores, supermarkets and produce vendors in the state's most populated counties and cities - which did not include the city of South Lake Tahoe or El Dorado County.
In a nutshell, here's what researchers discovered: Residents in cities with many convenience stores and fast-food restaurants are likely to be fatter and more chronically ill than people in areas with easy access to full-service grocery stores and fruit-and-vegetable markets.
That's tempered, though, by the fact that most fast-food restaurants offer less-fattening, healthy alternatives to their typical high-calorie choices. And some convenience stores have been known to offer a meager supply of fruit, vegetables and other nutritious food.
South Lake Tahoe has its share of tempting fast-food restaurants - approximately 39, according to statistics compiled by the city's Economic Development Department. It also has about 10 convenience stores.
But our city also has about 75 traditional sit-down restaurants and a pretty good choice of high-quality, full-service supermarkets and health-food stores. So, overall, there is a pretty good mix of choices for residents and tourists.
The CCPHA certainly offers points to consider, but from our point of view, it all boils down to this: If we're too lazy to put the effort into eating well, we get what we deserve.
Our city's chock full of healthy eating alternatives: Choose them.
