20 obesity

Body Mass Index (BMI):

A measure of an adult's weight in relation to his or her height, specifically the adult's weight in kilograms divided by the square of his or her height in meters.

Factors that can influence the chance of developing obesity include

Genetics Physiology Overweight and obesity in childhood Social factors Physical factors such as thyroid levels, or use of certain prescription medications

Obesity Chronic diseases linked to obesity include

Hypertension High cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL-cholesterol Type-2 diabetes Heart disease

Childhood Obesity (CDC, 2012)

Sugar drinks and less healthy foods on school campuses Advertising of less healthy foods Variation in licensure regulations among child care centers Lack of daily, quality physical activity in all schools. No safe and appealing place, in many communities, to play or be active. Limited access to healthy affordable foods. Greater availability of high-energy-dense foods and sugar drinks. Increasing portion sizes Lack of breastfeeding support. Television and media.

Obesity:

Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher.

Obesity Trends Among U.S. Adults Between 1985 and 2010

In 1990, among states participating in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 10 states had a prevalence of obesity less than 10% and no state had prevalence equal to or greater than 15%. By 2000, no state had a prevalence of obesity less than 10%, 23 states had a prevalence between 20-24%, and no state had prevalence equal to or greater than 25%. In 2010, no state had a prevalence of obesity less than 20%. Thirty-six states had a prevalence equal to or greater than 25%; 12 of these states (Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia) had a prevalence equal to or greater than 30%.

Genetic predispositions

Limitations "Most obesity, however, probably results from complex interactions among multiple genes and environmental factors that remain poorly understood (multifactorial obesity)" (CDC, 2012)

Treatments for obesity may include

Low-calorie diet and regular exercise Lifestyle changes Prescription medications (for some) Surgery Gastroplasty Gastric bypass Gastric banding

Data from the CDC

More than one-third of U.S. adults (35.7%) are obese Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer, some of the leading causes of preventable death In 2008, medical costs associated with obesity were estimated at $147 billion; the medical costs for people who are obese were $1,429 higher than those of normal weight Among non-Hispanic black and Mexican-American men, those with higher incomes are more likely to be obese than those with low income. 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, there is a trend—those with college degrees are less likely to be obese compared with less educated women. Between 1988-1994 and 2007-2008 the prevalence of obesity increased in adults at all income and education levels.

Obesity and morbid obesity

Obesity: BMI from 30 to 39.9 kg/m2 Morbid obesity: weight that exceeds 100% of normal Five of the nine leading causes of death in the United States are associated with obesity A multifactorial disease—many things cause obesity Metabolic syndrome—a cluster of risk factors

Dealing with the obesity epidemic requires us to change:

Our behaviors Our environment Our policies Our access to healthcare Our access to healthily options

The Environment

People may make decisions based on their environment or community. For example, a person may choose not to walk to the store or to work because of a lack of sidewalks. Community, home, child care, school, health care, and workplace settings can all influence people's health decisions. Therefore, it is important to create environments in these locations that make it easier to engage in physical activity and eat a healthy diet.

Diseases and Drugs

Some illnesses may lead to obesity or weight gain. These may include Cushing's disease, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Drugs such as steroids and some antidepressants may also cause weight gain.