What if you were too big to fit through a doorway? How would you feel if everywhere you went, you knew that people were staring at you and cracking jokes at your expense? Is it because of a disease or something you can control? Obesity has now become a medical condition in which excess body fat has gathered to the extent that it may reduce life expectancy. You are considered to be obese if you are so overweight that it endangers your health. Obesity is linked to many diseases like heart disease, breathing difficulties during sleep, certain types of cancer and osteoarthritis. The question is, do these problems cause obesity? Or do they come from obesity?
The main treatment for obesity is dieting and physical exercise. Se
vere cases, surgery is done to reduce stomach volume and/or bowel length. Obesity is the leading preventable cause of death worldwide, and with the dramatic increase, it is viewed as one of the most serious public health problems of the 21st century. Although being obese was viewed as wealthy and happy in history, it is now a symbol of laziness and disgust.
So what has caused North America to become the heaviest continent in the world? Well, 1 out of 3 Americans are considered obese. There are fast food joints everywhere. We have become a culture that sits behind a screen all day. The average American man has a waist the size of 40 inches which is an increase of 5 inches compared to 40 years ago. The average American women have a waist of 37 inches which is an increase of 7 inches compared to 40 years ago. It is estimated that over 67% of the US adult population are overweight or obese. So with stats and a lifestyle like this, it’s inevitable that we aren’t the heaviest continent in the world.
By becoming obese, you increase the chances of the following:
Disease
Relative risk for women
Relative risk for men
Type 2 Diabetes
12.7
5.2
Hypertension
4.2
2.6
Myocardial infarction
3.2
1.5
Cancer of colon
2.7
3.0
Angina Pectoris
1.8
1.8
Gall bladder disease
1.8
1.8
Ovarian cancer
1.7
N/A
Osteoarthritis
1.4
1.9
Stroke
1.3
1.3
Just because obesity runs in families, this does not mean that it is genetic and it certainly does not mean that it is impossible to do something about it. Families eat together. They develop a common attitude towards food. The diet may be high in fat. Large, high calorie meals may be normal and everyone is expected to clear the plate. In some families the provision of sweets and cakes is an index of love. Being at risk of obesity does not make obesity inevitable. It means that the individual has to work harder to maintain an acceptable weight. Obesity is multi-factorial.
The sad thing is that 18% of children today are obese. Thi
s means that out of 1000 children, 180 of them are obese. That is a scary statistic to me. It is important to teach kids to eat healthy when they are young so they can carry those skills throughout their life. 70% of children who are obese will remain obese their entire life. Children become more at risk for disease’s and a very unhealthy lifestyle. Adult obesity has been linked to childhood obesity. It all comes back to the starting point.
Obesity is a rapid growing problem and but it doesn’t have to stay that way. No matter how much excess weight or fat you have, if you want to lose weight permanently, your diet program should be directed toward a slow, steady weight loss. According to official government dietary guidelines, unless your doctor feels your particular health condition would benefit from more rapid weight loss, you should expect to lose no more than 2 pounds of fat a week, although initial loss (mainly water) may be greater. Losing more weight is no guarantee that weight loss is likely to be permanent. Don´t be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect. It is this fragile thread that binds us together.
Flegal KM, Carroll MD, Ogden CL, et al; Prevalence and trends in obesity among US adults, 1999-2000.; JAMA. 2002 Oct 9;288(14):1723-7. [abstract]
Haslam D, Sattar N, Lean M; ABC of obesity. Obesity--time to wake up. BMJ. 2006 Sep 23;333(7569):640-2.
The main treatment for obesity is dieting and physical exercise. Se
vere cases, surgery is done to reduce stomach volume and/or bowel length. Obesity is the leading preventable cause of death worldwide, and with the dramatic increase, it is viewed as one of the most serious public health problems of the 21st century. Although being obese was viewed as wealthy and happy in history, it is now a symbol of laziness and disgust.So what has caused North America to become the heaviest continent in the world? Well, 1 out of 3 Americans are considered obese. There are fast food joints everywhere. We have become a culture that sits behind a screen all day. The average American man has a waist the size of 40 inches which is an increase of 5 inches compared to 40 years ago. The average American women have a waist of 37 inches which is an increase of 7 inches compared to 40 years ago. It is estimated that over 67% of the US adult population are overweight or obese. So with stats and a lifestyle like this, it’s inevitable that we aren’t the heaviest continent in the world.
By becoming obese, you increase the chances of the following:
Disease
Relative risk for women
Relative risk for men
Type 2 Diabetes
12.7
5.2
Hypertension
4.2
2.6
Myocardial infarction
3.2
1.5
Cancer of colon
2.7
3.0
Angina Pectoris
1.8
1.8
Gall bladder disease
1.8
1.8
Ovarian cancer
1.7
N/A
Osteoarthritis
1.4
1.9
Stroke
1.3
1.3
Just because obesity runs in families, this does not mean that it is genetic and it certainly does not mean that it is impossible to do something about it. Families eat together. They develop a common attitude towards food. The diet may be high in fat. Large, high calorie meals may be normal and everyone is expected to clear the plate. In some families the provision of sweets and cakes is an index of love. Being at risk of obesity does not make obesity inevitable. It means that the individual has to work harder to maintain an acceptable weight. Obesity is multi-factorial.
The sad thing is that 18% of children today are obese. Thi
s means that out of 1000 children, 180 of them are obese. That is a scary statistic to me. It is important to teach kids to eat healthy when they are young so they can carry those skills throughout their life. 70% of children who are obese will remain obese their entire life. Children become more at risk for disease’s and a very unhealthy lifestyle. Adult obesity has been linked to childhood obesity. It all comes back to the starting point.Obesity is a rapid growing problem and but it doesn’t have to stay that way. No matter how much excess weight or fat you have, if you want to lose weight permanently, your diet program should be directed toward a slow, steady weight loss. According to official government dietary guidelines, unless your doctor feels your particular health condition would benefit from more rapid weight loss, you should expect to lose no more than 2 pounds of fat a week, although initial loss (mainly water) may be greater. Losing more weight is no guarantee that weight loss is likely to be permanent. Don´t be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect. It is this fragile thread that binds us together.
Flegal KM, Carroll MD, Ogden CL, et al; Prevalence and trends in obesity among US adults, 1999-2000.; JAMA. 2002 Oct 9;288(14):1723-7. [abstract]
Haslam D, Sattar N, Lean M; ABC of obesity. Obesity--time to wake up. BMJ. 2006 Sep 23;333(7569):640-2.
