Understanding the Obesity Epidemic: Causes, Consequences, and Solutions
Many people scoff at weight problems, viewing them as something an individual should control without complaint. After all, if you’re overweight, isn’t the simple solution to just exercise more and eat less? Maybe. But if it were that easy, there wouldn’t be such a staggering obesity epidemic in the United States.
“Epidemic” may seem like a dramatic word, but how else would you describe a twofold increase in obesity cases in the U.S. over the past two decades? In the early 1980s, and even before then, weight issues were rarely discussed. It simply wasn’t a major concern.
However, in the 21st century, obesity has become one of the leading health problems in America. What’s especially troubling about obesity is that it’s closely related to nearly thirty medical conditions, some of which are life-threatening. A person who is severely overweight is at an increased risk for heart attacks, hypertension, glaucoma, various cancers (colon, uterus, breast, and esophagus), sleep apnea, respiratory issues, depression, type 2 diabetes, gallbladder disease, stroke, osteoarthritis, and much more.
Who is at Risk?
So who is at risk? How many Americans are struggling with weight problems, particularly obesity? Obesity is more prevalent in the U.S. than in any other country, including other Western industrialized nations like the United Kingdom. And it’s not just adults facing weight problems—children and adolescents are also affected. According to the National Institutes of Health, 17% of children and adolescents aged 2 to 19 years were overweight in 2004. Even more alarming, 32.2% of adults suffer from obesity (that’s almost 90 million people), a significant increase from those simply being overweight. An additional 30% of Americans are considered overweight.
These statistics are only expected to rise. Dr. Marion Nestle has called the obesity epidemic “astronomical.” We may not just be dealing with a health problem in America; we may be facing a health emergency.
The United States Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 300,000 deaths annually are associated with obesity, and in the year 2000 alone, obesity cost the national economy $117 billion.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that Americans living in Louisiana, Mississippi, and West Virginia are the most at-risk populations for obesity. Sadly, other states aren’t far behind. Only a few states have obesity rates under 20%—and they’re mostly in New England.
The national government has set a goal to reduce the obesity rate to less than 15% for U.S. adults. But at the current rates, that goal seems difficult to achieve. Obesity is, unfortunately, a problem that seems to be getting worse rather than better.
There is, however, a silver lining. While obesity is influenced by genetic factors that are out of our control, it is mostly a result of behavior and environment, which can be changed. This means that the obesity problem, which emerged rapidly over the past two decades, can likely be reversed just as quickly.
The key to solving the obesity epidemic is understanding its complicated causes. In today’s society, with urban sprawl, an overwhelming amount of television and video games, fast food on every corner, and little opportunity for physical activity, it’s easy to fall into a lifestyle that promotes weight gain. Recognizing the pitfalls of an affluent culture is the first step to solving the problem.
Fighting Obesity Starts with Prevention
It’s often difficult to break old habits, but one important way to combat the obesity epidemic is to connect with youth and prevent these habits from starting in the first place! If children can learn to eat well and incorporate exercise into their daily routine, the rates of obesity may start to decline as they grow into adulthood. Educational programs, strong parenting, and nutritious cafeteria food can all make a significant difference for kids.
But right now, 30.2% is a significant number. Are you part of that percentage? If you want to find out if you are at a healthy weight, you don’t need to make a trip to the doctor’s office. However, you also need to do more than just weigh yourself. To determine if you’re at an average weight, calculate your body mass index (BMI).
BMI is determined by three numbers: your height in inches, your weight in pounds, and a conversion factor of 703. First, square your height (for example, if you are 65 inches tall, multiply 65 by 65). Then take your weight and divide it by that number (for example, 130 pounds divided by 4225). Finally, multiply the fraction you calculated by 703. Now you have your BMI! In this case, the BMI is about 21.6. A healthy BMI should fall between 18.5 and 24.9. If your BMI is below 18.5 or above 25, you are either underweight or overweight. However, don’t be overly concerned about a few extra pounds. Only if your BMI exceeds 30 should you be classified as obese. And there’s a 30% chance that you’re obese.
Remember that calculating BMI for a child or teen uses the same formula, but the results should be compared to other children of the same age and gender to determine if it’s healthy. Don’t use adult BMI guidelines for children.
Obesity is often misunderstood by those who don’t take it seriously, but it is a chronic and very dangerous problem that affects too many Americans. As the percentage of obese Americans continues to rise, research into obesity is also increasing, offering hope for a healthier future.
