We hear all the time about putting the “D” in Detroit city.  But this probably isn’t what observers mean intended when they said that:  Detroit has been listed for 2010 among the “Fattest Cities” by Men’s Health magazine, earning a D+ in its health ranking.

Grand Rapids scored just slightly better, earning a C+.  While Detroit didn’t get beat up as badly as Texas in the post, the dubious distinction is a reminder that Detroit needs to put down the bucket of chicken wings and hit the track, basketball court, or pool.

Pudgy, plump, plentiful, fat, flabby, chunky, obese, corpulent, “large and in charge”, “big boned”, or “more to love”  many Detroiters are addicted to a dangerous drug.  Only this drug is perfectly legal — fat.

Fatty foods have been shown in a recent study published in Nature to raise levels of dopamine in the brain, much like alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs.  Like most drugs, though, the addiction comes at a price — obesity leads to increased risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, joint wear, and a number of other ailments.

Studies show that fat has similar addictive effects to drugs.

Those health risks impact not just yourself, but others.  America may face a near insurmountable challenge in adopting national healthcare, largely because it’s simply so much fatter than other nations.  More Americans are obese than any other North American nation and that dramatically raises the cost of covering the uninsured and underinsured with a public option.

It’s equally important both to confront loved ones who suffer from obesity and to treat them with compassion.  After all, scientific evidence points that the eating habits that lead to obesity are driven by addiction.  Much like a drug addiction, intervention is frequently needed, but loving support is needed as well.

Those who are looking to clean up their act can try these tips:

1. Cut corn syrup from your diet.  Switch to sugar-free sodas and lower-sugar cereals.
2. Cut the butter.  Avoid baked goods.
3. Consider the “2-to-1″ ratio when it comes to fats vs. proteins.  If the FDA percentage of saturated or unsaturated fat of a food item is significant and more than twice its protein content, it’s generally a good idea to avoid it.
4. Eat up — when it comes to fruits and veggies [See our special on Detroit grocer Kim's Produce].  You’re probably not going to get fat off eating oranges.
5.  Exercise.  Diet is not enough.  Start with gentler activities — biking, walking, and casual swimming, then step up to more intense exercise like weight lifting, running, cross-country skiing, or competitive swimming, once your endurance is sufficient.

Let’s work together and try to earn Detroit an A-rating — joining the likes of Burlington, VT and Portland, OR.  After, all while it’s great to be in the “D”, Detroit’s D+ health rating demands another big “D” — diet.