Wow, some kind of miracle has occurred. Suddenly the 400,000 premature deaths expected from inactivity and obesity this year has dropped to only 25,000. That's amazing, surely the most startling improvement in American health since the polio vaccine.

Or perhaps, as a fellow and more famous Missourian once said, "There are lies, damned lies, and statistics."

The Center for Disease Control (CDC,) the respected authority on practically anything regarding health from AIDS to athlete's foot, determined the 400,000 figure. They sounded the alarm several years ago that Americans were too inactive and eating too many calories.

They pointed out that the human body reacts poorly to obesity and inertia and suffers a long list of ailments from the annoying to the chronic, eventually shaving years off the expected lifespan. The CDC's radical recommendation? That the general public should move more and eat less, especially fewer processed foods.

Not surprisingly, companies whose bottom line depends on expanding waistlines took serious exception to the idea of people eating less. Consumer Freedom, a consortium of food and beverage producers and restaurants launched attacks on the CDC statistics, questioning their validity and the Center's motivation. They charged that the CDC's numbers were flawed and, not only do they want people not to enjoy eating, they are out to curtail your American freedoms.

They also attack the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Morgan Spurlock of "Super Size Me," and practically anything or anyone else that might decrease sales.

The CDC's numbers might well be questionable, as statistics are prone to be. Or, as the accountant replied when asked how much is two and two? "How much do you want it to be?"

What if the "Consumer Freedom" types of interests also decide that tobacco-related death numbers are overblown and drunk driving fatalities are grossly exaggerated? They'll have a field day.

Reason is the victim between the statisticians and the marketing blitz. Look around. Fat folks are everywhere, diabetes is rampant, and heart disease kills most of us. Most of the frequent causes of death are lifestyle related. Long before stats, the CDC or drive-through windows it was understood that too much weight is hard on a body. Plato, Confucius and Thomas Jefferson all made references to the need for exercise and moderate eating.

Let the special interests fight it out amongst themselves to attain their own agendas. Most lay folk can rely on common sense. Put your body in some kind of motion, enjoy good food in moderation, and strive to look good naked. There are benefits in that, too.

Brenda Berstler is the founder of the Walking Example Group (WE-GO) a non-profit organization encouraging walking and walkable communities. Visit their website at www.we-go.org.