Obesity Is An Epidemic

Note: To learn how to increase your weight loss and reduce the belly fat, get the Death to Obesity Weight Loss ebook and the Power of Juicing ebook.

Obesity is becoming a global epidemic in both children and adults. Obesity is associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality as well as reduced life expectancy; and, is associated with numerous co-morbidities such as cardiovascular diseases (CVD), Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, certain cancers, and sleep apnea/sleep-disordered breathing.

Health service use and medical costs associated with obesity and related diseases have risen dramatically and are expected to continue to rise. Besides an altered metabolic profile, a variety of adaptations/alterations in cardiac structure and function occur in the individual as adipose tissue accumulates in excess amounts. Hence, obesity may affect the heart through its influence on known risk factors such as dyslipidemia, hypertension, glucose intolerance, inflammatory markers, and obstructive sleep apnea/hypoventilation.

As depicted in the diagrams below, obesity is an epidemic in the United States and worldwide. About two-thirds of adults in the United States are overweight, and almost one-third are obese, according to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Recent studies have shown that obesity is one of the key risk factors for many of our diseases, including heart disease and diabetes. Consequently, losing weight is one of the key strategies to prevent heart disease and diabetes.

Obesity is the second largest cause of preventable deaths, after tobacco, in the United States. Obese patients are more liable to develop a range of associated diseases than people of normal weight. Among these diseases are:
• Diabetes       
• Heart disease
• Strokes
• High blood pressure  
• Cancer       
• Obstructive sleep apnea

How is obesity determined?

BMI Calculation
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) identified overweight as a BMI of 25 to 29.9 kg/m², and obesity as a BMI of 30 kg/m² or greater. Calculating BMI is simple and quick:

BMI =            Weight in pounds X 703          
               Height in inches X Height in inches

For example, if you weight 220 pounds and your height is 6 ft 3 in. or 75 inches, your BMI is as follows:
BMI =     220 X 703   
                75 X 75
BMI =     200 X 703   
               72 X 72
BMI = 27.5

However, you do not have to do this calculation – you can use a BMI chart or go online and use one of many free BMI calculators to figure out your BMI. 
  
BMI Ranges:
Underweight = <18.5
Normal weight = 18.5-24.9
Overweight = 25-29.9
Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater

But the BMI does have limitations. One problem with using BMI as a measurement tool is that very muscular people may fall into the “overweight” category when they are actually healthy and fit. Another problem with using BMI is that people who have lost muscle mass, such as the elderly, may be in the “healthy weight” BMI category (BMI 18.5 to 24.9) when they actually have reduced nutritional reserves. BMI, therefore, is useful as a screening tool for individuals and as a general guideline to monitor trends in the population, but by itself is not diagnostic of an individual patient’s health status. Further assessment of patients should be performed to evaluate their weight status and associated health risks.

What Causes Obesity?
Being seriously overweight is not caused by one single factor. There are a number of things that may interact and contribute to one becoming morbidly obese. That's why our Death to Diabetes^® Weight Loss Program provides a complete range of educational products and services to address all of these factors:
• High-Fat /High-Calorie diets
• Physical inactivity
• Biochemical/hormonal
• Emotional or psychological factors
• Genetics
• Culture
• Gender
• Age
• Medical problems
• Medications

High-Fat/High-Calorie Diet - Ounce for ounce, fat provides more than twice as many calories as protein or carbohydrates (nine calories for fat versus four calories for carbohydrates). This energy difference may explain how fat promotes weight gain. Yet even when caloric intake is the same, a person eating a high-fat diet tends to store more excess calories as body fat than someone eating a lower fat diet. Often low-fat foods are high in calories.

Physical Inactivity – Overweight people are usually less physically active than normal weight adults. Seriously overweight people may have difficulty moving. The additional weight can cause pain in the feet, knees and ankles. It can cause shortness of breath, making you feel tired quickly. Also, we have so many labor-saving devices now that it is difficult for people to get exercise in the amounts the body requires. For example, we drive to the corner store for a frozen dinner. We drive home, click the garage door opener and relax on the couch with the remote control. All these devices can keep us from physical activity.

Biochemical/hormonal – The combination of a high-fat/high-calorie diet of “dead” and processed foods and very little physical activity creates biochemical and hormonal imbalances in the body that leads to leptin resistance and/or insulin resistance.

Genetics - Genes play a part in how your body balances calories and energy. Children whose parents are obese also tend to be overweight. A family history of obesity increases your chances of becoming obese by about 25 to 30 percent. Heredity does not destine you to be overweight, but by influencing the amount of body fat and fat distribution, genes can make you more susceptible to gaining weight. You cannot change your genetic makeup by willpower any more than you can make yourself taller or shorter by wishing. But you can still achieve your weight loss goals even with a family history of obesity.

Culture - People learn to eat and cook the way in which they were brought up. Food choices and combinations are learned very early in life. Social events and family rituals are often centered around large meals.
Today's culture promotes eating habits that contribute to obesity. People may serve large portions and foods that are most readily available instead of choosing foods that are most nutritious. Cooking with butter, chocolate and other high-caloric foods is a normal part of the American diet. Also, food is often used as a reward in this country. Children are treated to sweets for cleaning their room, and the team is taken for pizza or ice cream after the game. Seldom is eating only when hunger is present.

Emotional or Psychological Factors - Food is often a source of solace or celebration. If we feel blue, we may turn to food. If we celebrate a new job or birthday, we may go out to a big dinner. If a friend is grieving, we bake them a pie. Often as children, parents told us to clean our plates. Food carries many significant memories from our past. Food may be your best friend. Food may become less important in your life after weight loss, especially if you have surgery. Weight loss will allow you to acquire new interests in your life and become more active and varied in your activities.

Gender - Muscle uses more energy than fat does. Men have more muscle than women, and burn 10 percent to 20 percent more calories than women do at rest. For this reason, women are more likely to be obese.

Age - As you get older, the amount of muscle in your body tends to decrease, and fat accounts for a greater percentage of your weight. This lower muscle mass leads to a decrease in metabolism. Your metabolism also slows with age. Together, these changes reduce your calorie needs. If your food intake is not adjusted, you will gain weight.

Medical Problems – Some of the health problems include diabetes, low thyroid function or other hormonal imbalance.

Medications – OTC and prescription drugs can lead to weight gain because they create hormonal and biochemical imbalances in the body.

Note: For more information, get the Weight Loss ebook PDF at this link:
http://www.shop.deathtodiabetes.com/product.sc?categoryId=2&productId=74

Obesity Statistics in the U.S.