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Obesity: A National Concern

Obesity continues to rise. With over 60% of adults overweight and 28% obese and 13% of kids age 6-8 years and 14% of adolescents overweight, it is no surprise that the weight loss market is back in a big way. The weight loss industry sold over $1 billion dollars for the year ending 2002. With deaths on the increase from the use of diet pills, it is important to improve the public’s awareness on the safe methods of losing weight and keeping it off. Obesity plays a big role in accelerating chronic disease. Why are we getting heavier with more diet books, diet aids, gymnasiums and personal trainers?

Obesity is a complex issue which involves environmental, behavioral and genetic factors. Weight gain results from excess energy intake and/or inadequate energy expenditure More than 60% of adults in the U.S. do not engage in regular physical activity and more than 25% are sedentary according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

 Heart disease is the no.1 killer in the U.S. killing approximately 1 million people in 2002. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), at least 58,800,000 million Americans suffer from some form of heart disease. Furthermore, 50 million suffer from high blood pressure and 35% of people with hypertension don’t even know they have it. About every 60 seconds, someone dies from a coronary event. The American Diabetes Association on 3/25/03 published a report, which was ‘diabetes alert day’. This report stated that diabetes affects 17 million Americans and kills 210,000 people annually. It is the 5^th deadliest disease in the U.S. and more than a million people develop the disease each year. Sadly, nearly 6 million people do not know they have the disease. The good news is that for the most part better health education; good nutrition and physical activity play a major role in the prevention and management of these diseases.

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