The Epidemic of Obesity

Obesity is Epidemic 

Obesity is a serious epidemic in America. More than two-thirds of U.S. citizens are overweight, a frightening statistic that continues to increase. More than 23 million Americans are obese and one-third of these are considered super obese. Obesity increases the risk for diagnosis of many other chronic diseases.

BMI – Body Mass Index 

Overweight and obesity are determined by calculating your body mass index (BMI), which is your weight proportional to your height. BMI is considered a simple, reliable, low-cost screening measure of health. A BMI outside the normal range should be addressed by your healthcare team.  

Obesity for children and teens considers their growth and is measured differently than adults. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) names these categories for adults 20 and older: 

Health Effects 

The National Institutes of Health says that a weight increase of 20 percent or more above your ideal body weight is when weight-related health dangers appear. The risk of dying is five to 10 times higher than a normal weight person. The negative effects of obesity on your health are far reaching and have a serious financial impact. In 2016, obesity related conditions in the United States cost $260.6 billion to treat each year.  

Some of the negative effects of obesity include, but are not limited to: 

• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Metabolic syndrome
• Sleep apnea and other breathing problems
• Joint problems and osteoarthritis
• Depression