Researchers call it a "reversal of fortunes."
Generations of women have outlived their parents, but now, largely due to poor diet, women in the South may have their lives cut short, according to a study published this week by researchers at Harvard School of Public Health and the University of Washington.
Dr. Kimberly Champney, a cardiologist at Northside Hospital, sees this trend on a regular basis --- women in their 30s, morbidly obese suffering from weight-related heart conditions.
"The outlook is not good," said Champney --- unless lifestyle changes are made.
"Just consider the soft drinks and sweet tea," says Dr. Scott Steinberg, director of Bariatric Surgery at DeKalb Medical Center. "You get limitless refills. I don't think people realize how much sugar is in that."
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution asked local doctors for tips on some of the major risk factors associated with shrinking life spans.
Obesity
Cut fast food and soft drinks from your diet. Make exercise part of your daily routine. Go on a family walk after dinner.
Get an exercise buddy or consider a weight-loss program that holds you accountable for your weight loss. Start off with a modest goal of losing 10 percent of your weight so you won't get discouraged.
And start with an easy exercise plan --- such as walking 15 minutes three times a week --- so you don't set yourself up for failure. Jot down everything you eat, and weigh yourself daily.
Eat a fiber-rich diet that includes several portions of fruits and vegetables every day. But don't deprive yourself. Stop at one cookie or small piece of cake.
High blood pressure
A good diet and exercise are keys to controlling blood pressure. Watch the sodium in processed food, and avoid adding salt to foods. The Surgeon General recommends 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week. Avoid excessive alcohol consumption.
Diabetes
Get tested early, particularly if you are feeling symptoms such as frequent urination, excessive thirst and unusual weight loss.
Before people develop type 2 diabetes, they almost always have "prediabetes" blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to qualify as diabetes. Taking action to manage blood glucose during prediabetes can delay or prevent type 2 diabetes. A healthy diet and exercise are key to managing blood glucose levels.
Smoking
Take it one day at a time. Each day without a cigarette is good news for your health, family and bank account. Avoid alcohol and other drinks you associate with smoking. When cravings become overwhelming, take a warm bath or shower, go for a walk or meditate.
Talk to your doctor about whether nicotine gum, the patch or other nicotine replacement therapy is right for you. Don't be discouraged if you slip up. Many ex-smokers have to try several times before succeeding.
Don't be afraid to ask for help. Keep the Georgia Tobacco Quitline number handy: 1-877-270-7867.
Sources: Dr. Scott Steinberg, director of Bariatric Surgery at DeKalb Medical Center. Dr. Kimberly Champney, a cardiologist at Northside Hospital. American Diabetes Association. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Computer-assisted reporting specialist John Perry contributed to this article.
ABOUT THE STUDY
"The Reversal of Fortunes: Trends in County Mortality and Cross-Country Mortality Disparities in the United States"
Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health and the University of Washington studied mortality data county by county between 1959 and 2001 (the last year data were available).
In the South, as well as the southern portions of the Midwest and Texas, life expectancy has stagnated or even fallen since the 1980s.
In Georgia, life expectancy for women ranged from a low of 75 (in Clay, Calhoun, Randolph, Stewart and Quitman counties) to a high of 81 (in Fayette County). The vast majority of counties in Georgia, however, fell short of the national average, which hit all-time highs --- 74 years for men, 80 years for women.
Men in the region also saw a dip in life expectancy, but the numbers were less alarming (4 percent of males, compared to 19 percent of females). And the drop was attributed, in part, to reasons including HIV/AIDS and homicide.
Copyright 2008 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution