Obesity Facts - The Cold Hard Truth
Posted: Saturday, May 24, 2008
by Tawne Bachus
HealthDirectNet.com
We now live in a time where obesity has truly begun to spiral out of control. According to the United States, Center for Disease Control (CDC), the obesity epidemic spread rapidly during the 1990s across all states, regions, and demographic groups. Obesity is defined as being over 30 percent above ideal body weight.
The below listed facts were taken from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's website on January 12, 2008:
Between 1980 and 2000, obesity rates doubled among adults. About 60 million adults, or 30% of the adult population, are now obese. Similarly since 1980, overweight rates have doubled among children and tripled among adolescents - increasing the number of years they are exposed to the health risks of obesity.
Fact: Obesity is already having an adverse impact on young people
Type 2 diabetes - once believed to affect only adults - is now being diagnosed among young people. 61% (sixty-one percent) of overweight 5- to10-year-olds already have at least one risk factor for heart disease, and 26% (twenty-six percent) have two or more risk factors.
Fact: Most people still do not practice healthy behaviors that can prevent obesity
The primary behaviors causing the obesity epidemic are well known and preventable: physical inactivity and unhealthy diet. Despite this knowledge:
· Only about 25% of U.S. adults eat the recommended five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
· Less than 25% of adolescents eat the recommended five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
· More than 50% of American adults do not get the recommended amount of physical activity to provide health benefits.
· More than 33% of young people in grades 9-12 do not regularly engage in vigorous physical activity.
What are the health consequences of overweight and obesity for adults? Again, according to the CDC, overweight and obese individuals are at increased risk for many health issues, including the following:
· Hypertension
· Dyslipidemia (for example, high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, or high levels of triglycerides)
· Type 2 diabetes
· Coronary heart disease
· Stroke
· Gallbladder disease
· Osteoarthritis
· Sleep apnea and respiratory problems
More important than this accumulation of statistics would be how a person feels about him or herself. Unfortunately, this list does not include the multitude of unmeasurable mental issues that are also driven through the minds of those plagued with obesity.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is not provided by a medical professional and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. Please consult your physician before beginning any course of treatment.
Copyright © 2008 Tawne Bachus
Tawne Bachus is the President of HealthDirectNet.com. HealthDirectNet.com offers affordable quality of life through better health. For more information on diet, weight loss or Slendcor, please visit the HealthDirectNet.com Home Page.
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