Understanding Obesity
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.
Despite its toll taken
in death and disability,
obesity does not receive
the attention it
deserves from
government, the health
care profession or the
insurance industry.
-
Research is
severely limited by
a shortage of
funds.
-
Inadequate
insurance coverage
limits access to
treatment.
-
Discrimination and
mistreatment of
persons with
obesity is
widespread and
often considered
socially
acceptable.
Obesity Facts
-
Obesity is a
chronic disease
with a strong
familial component.
-
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.
-
Health insurance
providers rarely
pay for treatment
of obesity despite
its serious effects
on health.
-
The tendency toward
obesity is fostered
by our environment:
lack of physical
activity combined
with high-calorie,
low-cost foods.
-
If maintained, even
weight losses as
small as 10 percent
of body weight can
improve one's
health.
-
The National
Institutes of
Health annually
spends less than
1.0 percent of its
budget on obesity
research.
-
Persons with
obesity are victims
of employment and
other
discrimination, and
are penalized for
their condition
despite many
federal and state
laws and policies.
Overall Prevalence
-
Approximately 127
million adults in
the U.S. are
overweight, 60
million obese, and
9 million severely
obese.
-
Body Mass Index
(BMI) is a
measurement tool
used to determine
excess body weight.
Overweight is
defined as a BMI of
25 or more, obesity
is 30 or more, and
severe obesity is
40 or more.
-
The number of
adults who are
overweight or obese
has continued to
increase.
Currently, 64.5
percent of U.S.
adults, age 20
years and older,
are overweight and
30.5 percent are
obese. Severe
obesity prevalence
is now 4.7 percent,
up from 2.9 percent
reported in the
1988 - 1994
National Health and
Nutrition
Examination Survey
(NHANES) by the
Centers for Disease
Control and
Prevention (CDC).
