Boreal B[l]og

Two years ago, volunteers from the U of A and Pima County Medical Society (PCMS) assisted several schools in Tucson to weigh and measure 6^th grade students.  I inputted much of the data and did the entire analysis.   We had a census, not a sample, of 1100 students in 5 schools.  We learned that the median body mass index (BMI) was the 89^th percentile, 14% were above the 95^th percentile (5’3”, 150 pounds), and 7% were above the 99^th percentile. The typical student was obese. One in 14 was massively obese (5’, 220 pounds).

These are the most complete data on obesity prevalence I have seen.  What has been quoted nationally has been a sample of 40,000 teenagers.  With volunteers, we obtained complete data on 1100 6^th graders in one city.  School administrators told us these data would be taken to other superintendents.  We heard nothing; our calls and e-mails were not returned.

Tucson still has the chance to be the only place in the country where we could know the BMI on every 6^th grade public school student.  We could do it at virtually no cost with volunteers.  What we would discover is not known, but these data suggest we have a major local problem with obesity.

I am discouraged that as far as I have determined Activate Tucson has not considered determining the scope of the problem.  Unless we know the obesity prevalence annually, we will never know if what we do is worthwhile.

We need only the following:  permission to come to each school for two days, the second day to measure those who were absent on the first, a scale, a tape measure, somebody inputting the data, and somebody to analyze it.  As both a physician and a statistician, I am willing to do the last two for free.  U of A nurses and retired physicians are willing to volunteer.

In 2009, I hoped for national volunteerism and mandatory national service.  I hoped that we would actually count something important, count it right, and then determine what we should do with the data.  I hoped we would do away with the “fluff” that so many community activities have had, and I hoped we’d finally do something right in Arizona.  I was wrong.

The schools have ignored the data, the community isn’t interested in dealing with facts, we have significant numbers of obese 12 and 13 year-olds, and those who have $15 million to spend have not shown a way to prove whether their actions will work.

I am disappointed but not surprised.  I live in Arizona.

The scan didn’t come through well, so here it is the old way (goes with the old guy).

29 December 2009

On another such marriage–a.k.a. ” a couple of thoughts from an old guy.”

Here are a few rules I try to live by, and believe me, I’m no husband of the year.

1.  In relationships, the little things are the big things.  I say please and thank you a lot to my wife when she does the dishes I usually do or takes care of an errand I usually do.  If I clean the litter boxes (which she usually does), she thanks me.  It shows respect and appreciation, which are essential for a marriage to last.  I don’t say “I love you,” a lot; neither of us does.  But we do thank each other often and “please” is part of our house vocabulary.

2.  Take 100% percent responsibility for your part in any conversation.  That means instead of, “I didn’t say that,” you acknowledge that you did say that (maybe you really did–we all misspeak), not in a passive-aggressive manner, but that you truly believe that you did.  Then you can add, “What I should have said was….”  I’ve learned this defuses a lot of hot issues.

3.  I’m a “have to fix it” guy when my wife has a problem.  One day, long ago, I had no fix, so I sat there and listened.  Afterward, my wife thanked me profusely for just listening.  I didn’t think I did anything.  But I did a lot by keeping my mouth closed and my ears open.  Such a concept!

4.  When I mentioned that I was going to write you, my wife commented that when she came in at the end of the day,  I got up from the couch and kissed her.  Just that.  I never really thought it was a big deal, but to her it really is.

I wish I had known all this stuff 38 years ago when we got married.  Then again, I did learn it and, obviously, I’m still learning.  Makes me wonder what else I’m missing!  But at least I try.

I tell teenage guys to marry women smarter than they are; fortunately for them, that won’t be difficult.

Tucson