Obesity is a disease that affects nearly
one-third of the adult American population (approximately 60
million). The number of overweight and obese Americans has
continued to increase since 1960, a trend that is not slowing
down. Today, 64.5 percent of adult Americans (about 127 million)
are categorized as being overweight or obese. Each year, obesity
causes at least 300,000 excess deaths in the U.S., and
healthcare costs of American adults with obesity amount to
approximately $100 billion.
Obesity is the second leading cause of
unnecessary deaths.
Did You Know?
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Obesity is a chronic disease with a
strong familial component.
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Obesity increases one's risk of
developing conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes
(type 2), heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease and
cancer of the breast, prostate and colon.
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Health insurance providers rarely pay for
treatment of obesity despite its serious effects on health
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The tendency toward obesity is fostered
by our environment: lack of physical activity combined with
high-calorie, low-cost foods.
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If maintained, even weight losses as
small as 10 percent of body weight can improve one's health.
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The National Institutes of Health
annually spends less than 1.0 percent of its budget on
obesity research.
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Persons with obesity are victims of
employment and other discrimination, and are penalized for
their condition despite many federal and state laws and
policies.
What is BMI?
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a mathematical calculation used to
determine whether a patient is overweight. BMI is calculated by dividing a person's body
weight in kilograms by their height in meters squared (weight
[kg] height [m]2) or by using the conversion with
pounds (lbs) and inches (in) squared as shown below, This number
can be misleading, however, for very muscular people, or for
pregnant or lactating women. Being obese and being overweight are not the
same condition. A BMI of 30 or more is considered obese and a
BMI between 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight.
There are many factors that impact a person's
health risk relative to their BMI such as a waist size, smoking,
the types of foods someone eats regularly, exercise, and medical
conditions associated with obesity including diabetes, high
blood pressure, high cholesterol, and coronary heart disease.
Obesity
- A Global Epidemic
The prevalence of overweight and obesity is
increasing worldwide at an alarming rate in both developing and
developed countries. Environmental and behavioral changes
brought about by economic development, modernization, and
urbanization have been linked to the rise in global obesity.
Obesity is increasing in children and adults, and true health
consequences may become fully apparent in the near future.
Women and Obesity
Obesity plays a significant role in causing
poor health in women, negatively affecting quality of life and
shortening quantity of life. More than half of adult U.S. women
are overweight, and more than one-third are obese. The life
expectancy of women in the U.S. is approaching 80 years of age,
and more women than ever are expected to turn 65 in the second
decade of the new millennium. Prevention and early treatment of
obesity are crucial to ensuring a healthy population of women of
all ages.
Health Effects
There are many obesity-related
conditions, which uniquely or mostly affect women, including
those detailed below.
Diabetes, hypertension and other
obesity-related chronic diseases that are prevalent among adults
have now become more common in youngsters. The percentage of
children and adolescents who are overweight and obese is now
higher than ever before. Poor dietary habits and inactivity are
reported to contribute to the increase of obesity in youth.
Today's youth are considered the most
inactive generation in history caused in part by reductions in
school physical education programs and unavailable or unsafe
community recreational facilities. In the U.S., only the state
of Illinois requires daily physical education for students in
grades K to 12.
This fact sheet outlines many factors related
to obesity in youth that make it the major health care challenge
for the 21st century.
Overweight and Obesity Defined
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Overweight and obesity for children and
adolescents are defined respectively in this fact sheet as
being at or above the 85th and 95th percentile of Body Mass
Index (BMI).
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Some researchers refer to the 95th
percentile as overweight and other as obesity. The Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which provides
national statistical data for weight status of American
youth, avoids using the word "obesity," and identifies every
child and adolescent above the 85th percentile as
"overweight."
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The AOA uses the 95th percentile as
criteria for obesity because it:
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corresponds to a BMI of 30 which is
obesity in adults. The 85th percentile corresponds to a
BMI of 25, adult overweight.
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is recommended as a marker for when
children and adolescents should have an in-depth medical
assessment.
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identifies children that are very
likely to have obesity persist into adulthood.
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is associated with elevated blood
pressure and lipids in older adolescents, and increases
their risk of diseases.
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is a criteria for more aggressive
treatment.
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is a criteria in clinical trials of
childhood obesity treatments.
Health Effects of Obesity
Persons with obesity are at risk of
developing one or more serious medical conditions, which can
cause poor health and premature death. Obesity is associated
with more than 30 medical conditions, and scientific evidence
has established a strong relationship with at least 15 of those
conditions. Preliminary data also show the impact of obesity on
various other conditions. Weight loss of about 10% of body
weight, for persons with overweight or obesity, can improve some
obesity-related medical conditions including diabetes and
hypertension.
