Obesity in America
America faces an obesity epidemic. 68% of adults and nearly one-third of children are considered at least overweight. Childhood obesity is at such high levels that First Lady Michelle Obama has started a national program called 'Let's Move' to help reverse the trend. Lack of exercise, too much sugar added to too many foods, a lack of healthy food choices in schools and workplaces, urban food deserts, and a lack of understanding of how to choose and prepare healthy, low-fat foods have all been blamed.
Scary Childhood Obesity Facts:
- 8 out of 10 children who are overweight at age 10-15 will be obese as adults
- In 1980, 5% of children ages 2-5 were obese; by 2008 10.4% of children in that age group were obese
- In 1980 6.5% of children age 6-11 were obese; by 2008 19.6% of children in that age group were obese.
- 5% of children age 12-18 were obese in 1980, but by 2008 that percentage had nearly quadrupled to 18% of children.
What causes obesity?
When a person consumes more calories from food than they are able to burn, in an amount that is excessive, they become obese. Too many calories in one's diet combined with a lack of exercise are the key causes of obesity. Genetics and certain drugs can also contribute to obesity.
What diseases does obesity lead to?
Obesity can lead to liver and gallbladder disease, coronary heart disease, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, gynecological problems, type 2 diabetes, cancers, and hypertension.
Which country has the most fat people as a percentage of the population?
The U.S. is the fattest country in the world, followed by Mexico, U.K., Slovakia, and Greece. Here is how the U.S. ranks compared to the top five fattest countries in the world:
- U.S.: 74.1% of people are overweight and 30% of those are obese.
- Mexico: 68.1% of people are overweight and 24% of those are obese.
- U.K.: 63.8% of people are overweight, and 23% of those are obese.
- Slovakia: 56.3% of people are overweight, and 22.4% of those are obese.
- Greece: 68.5% of people are overweight, and 22% of those are obese.
What's the difference between being obese and being overweight?
Overweight refers to a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 25; obese refers to a BMI greater than thirty. Body Mass Index is a measure of your weight in relation to your height. To calculate your BMI, multiply your weight in pounds and divide that by the square of your height in inches.
What's the fattest state in the U.S.?
In order of the fattest first, Mississippi, Alabama, West Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, Kentucky, North Carolina, Michigan, and Arkansas are the top ten fattest states.
Are women in the U.S. fatter than men?
In the U.S., 27.5% of males are obese, while 33.4% of females are obese.
Why are poor people in the U.S. usually fatter than rich people?
Poor people often live in areas where there is a 'food desert', that is, there is a lack of super markets and other sources of a variety of foods. On the other hand, in poor neighborhoods there are often a large variety of cheap, fattening, fast food sources right on their block. Many poor people are unaware of the effect of added sugars and fats and how they can affect their health. They may also have poor skills in terms of how to cook food and how to get more nutrition out of their food dollars. The poor may also be struggling to make enough money; mom may be working two jobs and have very little time to prepare nourishing meals. Children may spend hours in front of the TV because there is no place to walk safely out of doors.
Time Magazine reported in 2004 that one in four adults below the poverty level were obese, compared with 1 in 6 in households with an income of $67,000 or more. For minorities, poverty has an even harsher effect: obesity strikes 1 in 3 poor African Americans.
What is an average weight for a teenager?
Teenagers spend a lot of time worrying about whether they are a 'normal weight' or 'average weight'. Average weight is the amount a person would normally weigh based on their height and age, but people come in so many different shapes and sizes that it is difficult to apply an average to each individual. Finding out their BMI (body mass index) will help establish whether they are overweight or not. In order to calculate your BMI, multiply your weight in pounds and divide that by the square of your height in inches.
How much is obesity costing America?
Obesity is costly, not only to the people who suffer from it, but to the nation as a whole. It is estimated that a total of $117,000,000,000.00 ($117 billion) in medical expenses result when the cost of all the diseases caused by obesity are combined. Productivity is also reduced, costing the business world approximately $3.9 billion dollars. This figure includes the cost to the workplace of Type 2 diabetes ($98 million) and heart disease ($8.8 million).
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