Obesity is defined as having a body mass index equal to or
greater than 30. This means, for example a 5'4'' individual being 30 lbs
overweight is obese.
According the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, the 2008 statistics show that more than one third of adults (over 72 million) in the U.S. are obese. And 17% of U.S. children are classified, not as overweight, but as obese also.
The Distribution of Obesity
The CDC tells us that over the past decades, obesity rates have increased. This means that more people are becoming obese faster. The phenomenon has been observed for all societal groups regardless of age, sex, ethnic group, educational level, or geographic region. It doesn't seem to matter how you classify the population, all population classes have increased significantly.
It should be noted that African-Americans were 51%, and Hispanics 21% more likely to be obese than Caucasians. They have also found that 14.6% of children from low-income households, 2-4 years old are obese. 19% of children aged 6-11 years are obese, while 17.4% of those aged 12-19 years were obese.
It is estimated that 80% of the overweight children 10-15 years old will become obese adults by the age of 25. Even at that young age, they will have increased risk of heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.
Young people usually have problems with overweight and obesity because of the lifestyle and eating patterns they learn at home.
Obesity's Health Consequences
Obesity leads to a dramatic increase in health costs, physical problems. Some of the diseases or conditions associated with obesity are:
Coronary heart disease
Type 2 diabetes
Endometrial, breast, and colon cancers
High blood pressure
High total cholesterol or High triglyceride levels (fats in the blood)
Stroke
Liver and gall bladder disease
Sleep apnea and other respiratory problems
Degeneration of cartilage and underlying bone within a joint (osteoarthritis)
Reproductive health complications
The diseases/conditions listed above are in the order that the CDC lists them.
The Economic Impact of Obesity
To give you an idea of the economic impact of obesity on our economy look at the following facts. In 2006, the average obese individual spent $1,400 more in health care than did people who had normal weight. Treatment for obesity related medical problems were estimated in 2008 to be as high as $147 billion.
Health care costs related to obesity among children and adolescents from the years 1979-1981 were $35 million, but by the time period of 1997-1999, it had increased to $127 million.
The CDC states that the causes of obesity in America are numerous and complex because they occur at so many different levels: social, environmental, economic, and personal.
Obese Adults, by State, 2008
In 2008, the latest year the CDC has published figures, Colorado showed itself to be the skinniest state with 15%-19% of the population obese. The figures increase all the way up to Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia weighing in at 30% or more of the population as obese.
You will need to consult a Body Mass Index table to determine your BMI (Body Mass Index).
According the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, the 2008 statistics show that more than one third of adults (over 72 million) in the U.S. are obese. And 17% of U.S. children are classified, not as overweight, but as obese also.
The Distribution of Obesity
The CDC tells us that over the past decades, obesity rates have increased. This means that more people are becoming obese faster. The phenomenon has been observed for all societal groups regardless of age, sex, ethnic group, educational level, or geographic region. It doesn't seem to matter how you classify the population, all population classes have increased significantly.
It should be noted that African-Americans were 51%, and Hispanics 21% more likely to be obese than Caucasians. They have also found that 14.6% of children from low-income households, 2-4 years old are obese. 19% of children aged 6-11 years are obese, while 17.4% of those aged 12-19 years were obese.
It is estimated that 80% of the overweight children 10-15 years old will become obese adults by the age of 25. Even at that young age, they will have increased risk of heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.
Young people usually have problems with overweight and obesity because of the lifestyle and eating patterns they learn at home.
Obesity's Health Consequences
Obesity leads to a dramatic increase in health costs, physical problems. Some of the diseases or conditions associated with obesity are:
Coronary heart disease
Type 2 diabetes
Endometrial, breast, and colon cancers
High blood pressure
High total cholesterol or High triglyceride levels (fats in the blood)
Stroke
Liver and gall bladder disease
Sleep apnea and other respiratory problems
Degeneration of cartilage and underlying bone within a joint (osteoarthritis)
Reproductive health complications
The diseases/conditions listed above are in the order that the CDC lists them.
The Economic Impact of Obesity
To give you an idea of the economic impact of obesity on our economy look at the following facts. In 2006, the average obese individual spent $1,400 more in health care than did people who had normal weight. Treatment for obesity related medical problems were estimated in 2008 to be as high as $147 billion.
Health care costs related to obesity among children and adolescents from the years 1979-1981 were $35 million, but by the time period of 1997-1999, it had increased to $127 million.
The CDC states that the causes of obesity in America are numerous and complex because they occur at so many different levels: social, environmental, economic, and personal.
Obese Adults, by State, 2008
In 2008, the latest year the CDC has published figures, Colorado showed itself to be the skinniest state with 15%-19% of the population obese. The figures increase all the way up to Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia weighing in at 30% or more of the population as obese.
You will need to consult a Body Mass Index table to determine your BMI (Body Mass Index).
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