Chicago: Survey finds Americans fatter than they think

Americans are even fatter than they think they are, with nearly a third of all adults almost 59 million people rated obese in a disturbing new government survey based on actual body measurements.

One in five Americans, or 19.8 percent, had considered themselves obese in a 2000 survey based on people’s own assessments of their girth.

The new 1999-2000 survey puts the real number at 31 percent a doubling over the past two decades. The new number is considered more reliable since people consistently underestimate their weight.

In addition, a measurement-based survey of young people found that 15 percent of youngsters ages 6 to 19 were seriously overweight. That is nearly 9 million youths and triple the number in a similar assessment from 1980.

The findings appear in today’s Journal of the American Medical Assn.

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys have been conducted periodically for several years. Twenty-three percent of adults were obese in 1994 and 15 percent in 1980.

New York City: 15th-century statue topples, shatters

A 15th-century marble statue of Adam regarded as priceless toppled over at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and broke into dozens of pieces, the director said Tuesday.

“An accident like this is a deep emotional loss,” Philippe de Montebello said.

The life-size nude by Venetian sculptor Tullio Lombardo fell after its pedestal gave way, de Montebello said. The accident happened after closing time Sunday, when a security guard heard a crash.

“It could have been a problem with its construction, or maybe (the pedestal) had just been moved too many times,” de Montebello said.

Conservationists should be able to restore the statue, but the work could take as long as two years, de Montebello said.

The statue, dated 1490-95, came to the museum in 1936 and is part of its permanent collection.

Washington, D.C.: Ford recalling models with adjustable pedals

Ford Motor Co. is recalling more than 400,000 Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable cars with adjustable pedals because the brake and accelerator may be so close they can cause drivers to hit the accelerator accidentally when trying to slow down.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which had been investigating the problem since March, announced the recall Tuesday. Ford spokesman Todd Nissen said the problem has caused 18 accidents, injuring two people.

The recall involves 424,164 vehicles, 369,614 of which were sold in the United States. All 2000 and 2001 models with adjustable pedals are covered, as well as a few 2002 models built before Sept. 14.

Adjustable pedals allow drivers to sit farther from the steering wheel and still reach the gas and brake pedals. The Sable comes with adjustable pedals as standard equipment, and they are optional on the Taurus.