Obesity Epidemic

Obesity Epidemic

Overweight and obesity are problems across all geographic regions and all segments of

the population. Although disparities exist by age, gender, socioeconomic status, and

race/ethnicity, the prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased across all of these

groups in the last 30 years. Even though prevalence of overweight remained stable during this

period, obesity rates have doubled since 1980 (WHO, 2011). Among most individuals,

overweight and obesity result from the consumption of excess calories, inadequate physical

activity, or both. However, obesity is not always caused by simple behavioral issues. For

instance, genetic determination such as the way a body expends energy or the hormones that

affect the way calories are processed can also contribute (CDC, 2011). Changes in dietary and

physical activity patterns are often the result of environmental and societal changes.

In 2004, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ranked obesity as the

number one health risk facing America (2011) Currently obesity results in an estimated 400,000

deaths a year and costs the national economy nearly 122.9 billion annually (CDC, 2011).

According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), the term obesity is generally defined as an

excessive amount of body fat in relation to lean body mass. Obesity refers to a body weight that

is at least 30 percent over the weight for a specific height (AOA, 2000).

The health conditions of the overweight and obese are serious issues and are rapidly

increasing. In 2000, about 56% of adults were overweight and nearly 20% were obese. At that

time, rates of overweight and obesity had soared by 25% and 61%, respectively, since 1991

(Mokdad, 2001). According to 2007-2008, the National Health and Nutrition Exam Survey

(NHANES), using height and weight, indicates that an estimated 34.2% of United States adults

age 20 years and over are overweight; 33.8% are obese and 5.7.% are extremely obese (NCHS,

2010). The prevalence of these conditions is also high and increasing rapidly. The NHANES

2007-2008 data for adults age 20 and over suggest an increase in obesity between the late

1980's and today in the United States, with the estimate age-adjusted prevalence moving

upward from a previous level of 23% in 1988-1994 to approximately 34% in 2007-2008(2010).

In 2010, no state had a prevalence of obesity less than 20%. Thirty-six states had a prevalence

of 25% or more; twelve of these states had a prevalence of 30.0% or more (CDC, 2011).

According to the NHANES, between 1988-1994 and 2007-2008, the prevalence of obesity

among men increased from 20.3% to 31.9% among non-Hispanic white men; 21.2% to 37.3%

among non-Hispanic black men; 23.9% to 35.0% among Mexican American men (2010). Among

women in 1988-1994 to 2007-2008, the prevalence of obesity among women also increased

from 22.9% to 33.0% in non-Hispanic white women; 38.2% to 49.6% in non-Hispanic black

women; 35.3% to 45.1% in Mexican American women (NHANES, 2011). The South has the

highest obesity prevalence (29.49%), followed by the Midwest (28.7%), Northwest (24.97%) and

the West (24.1)(CDC, 2011). Non-Hispanic blacks have the highest rates of obesity (44.1%)

compared with Mexican Americans (39.3%), all Hispanics (37.9) and non-Hispanic whites

(32.6%) Among obesity and socioeconomic status, higher income women are less likely to be

obese than low-income women. There is no significant relationship between obesity and

education among men. Among women, however, those with college degrees are less likely to

be obese compared with less educated women (CDC, 2011).

Overweight and obesity are major contributors to preventable morbidity and premature

deaths. The health problems associated with obesity are numerous. Because obesity has been

linked to several serious medical conditions, someone who is 40% overweight is twice as likely

to die prematurely as is a normal weight person (WebMD, 2011). Overweight and obese

individuals have an increased risk of developing heart disease/stroke, high blood pressure,

diabetes, cancer and osteoarthritis (WHO, 2011). Heart disease and stroke are the leading

causes of death and disability for people in the United States. Overweight people are more

likely to have high blood pressure which is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, than

people who are not overweight (WebMD, 2011).

Because overweight children and adolescents are more likely to become overweight or

obese adults, these rates foreshadow an even greater problem in the future. Childhood obesity

is associated with a higher chance of obesity, premature death and disability in adulthood (CDC,

2011). Obesity in childhood also increases the risk of fractures, hypertension, early signs of

cardiovascular disease, insulin-resistance and psychological effects (WebMd2011).

Type 2 Diabetes in Adolescents