Obesity
Now that overweight and obesity have been defined, the rest of the website will deal only with obesity and issues and concerns related to obesity.
Obesity is common
According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than one third of adults in the United States are obese (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012c).
To view a map and a table of the prevalence of obesity among adults in the United States, go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention web site at: http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html.
Obesity is costly
It was estimated that medical costs related to obesity would reach $147 million in 2008 (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012c).
Individuals who are obese, on average, spend $1,429 more in medical expenses than do individuals of normal weight (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012c).
Obesity is serious
Individuals who are obese are at greater risk of suffering from the following conditions than are individuals of normal weight: (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012a)
To view a map and a table of the prevalence of obesity among adults in the United States, go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention web site at: http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html.
Obesity is costly
It was estimated that medical costs related to obesity would reach $147 million in 2008 (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012c).
Individuals who are obese, on average, spend $1,429 more in medical expenses than do individuals of normal weight (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012c).
Obesity is serious
Individuals who are obese are at greater risk of suffering from the following conditions than are individuals of normal weight: (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012a)
- Coronary heart disease
- Type 2 diabetes
- Cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon)
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Dyslipidemia (for example, high total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides)
- Stroke
- Liver or Gallbladder disease
- Sleep apnea and respiratory problems
- Osteoarthritis (a degeneration of cartilage and its underlying bone within a joint)
- Gynecological problems (abnormal menses, infertility)