The “American Obesity” phenomenon has reached a critical point. Skyrocketing rates of obesity among all groups of Americans are converting in a major public and U.S> government concern: two out of every three Americans are reported overweight and one out of three is reported as obese.
One in three is expected to have diabetes by 2050. Minorities and poor are the people that are profoundly affected. African-Americans have a 50 percent higher prevalence of obesity and Hispanics 25 percent higher when compared with whites.
How did obesity get so out of hand and why? As result of highly processed food, high sugar and fat consumption, artificial sweeteners, chemical food additives, growth hormones, corticosteroids and antibiotics in meat, nitrites and nitrates in vegetables, pollution, toxicity, chronic stress, lack of exercise, food addiction, overconsumption of fast food, high caloric- nutritionally-empty foods we are going to the road of personal, financial and health care destruction.
Obesity, as part of the metabolic syndrome cluster, is converting in potential debilitating pandemic. New and staggering statistics are showing that the obesity epidemic is not slowing down. CDC statement is that, obesity is highly costly condition that can reduce quality of life and increase the risk for many serious chronic diseases and premature death.
According to late Gallup-Healthways study findings (Feb 10, 2011): “More Americans are becoming overweight or obese, exercising less, and eating unhealthy foods. Based on telephone interview with 673,000 adults, in the period (Jan 2008- Dec 2009) the study showed that 63.1% of adults in the U.S. were either overweight or obese in 2009- still a measurable increase from 62.2% the previous year.
Body mass index (BMI) was used as common denominator of body fat, based on height and weight. A BMI of 30 or greater is considered obese, overweight- between 25-29.9, normal-18.5-24.9 and underweight- less than 18.5. (You can calculate your BMI www.webmd.com/diet/calc-bmi-plus.)
The Gallup-Healthways study found that:
- 36.6% of Americans are overweight and 26.5% obese. Despite the rise was not statistically relevant the increase is still measurable, showing that obesity is again on a rise.
- 18.3% of young Americans, 27.6% between ages 30-44, 30.6% among 45-64 year olds and 24, 2% of people 65 and over are reported as obese.
- Men are more likely than women to be obese, 27.8% compared to 25.2%.
- African-Americans in 2009 were among the most likely to be obese (36.2%) compared to the national average of 26.5%. Obesity rate among Hispanics (28.3%) is also higher than the national average. Asians are far less likely to be obese, with only 9.6% falling into that category.
- 59.2% of obese Americans exercised at least one day per week, comparatively with 69.9% of overweight people and 73.8% of normal-weight people.
- Between people who ate their required portions of daily vegetables and fruits are between: 71.6% of normal-weight people; 69% of underweight people; 68.9% of overweight and 67.2% of obese people
- Obese people are far more likely to report being diagnosed with high metabolic syndrome, hypertension, elevated cholesterol, type-2 diabetes, and to have cardiovascular problem.
- Of all reported people with high blood pressure: 46.2% were obese, 31.1% were overweight, 19.3% were of normal weight, and 17.2% underweight.
- Of all reported people with bad cholesterol profile: 36.8% were obese, 30.1% overweight, 19.2% normal weight, and 14.1% underweight.
- Of all reported diabetics: 21.1% were obese, 9.8% overweight, 5% normal weight, and 4.2% underweight.
- Of all reported people with heart attack: 6.3% were obese, 4.8% overweight, 3.3% normal weight, and 4.4% underweight.
- Of all reported people with depression:, 23.3% were obese, 15.3% overweight, 15% normal weight, and 20% underweight.
- The report concludes that obesity is still on the rise and that reversing this trend may require the involvement of communities, businesses, and governments.
NHANES programs data from 2001-2002 and 2003-2004 suggest increasing obesity trends since 1999-2000y among men but not among women. (Hedley et al., 2004; Ogden et al., 2006) Comparisons between 2003-2004 and 2005-2006 showed no significant changes but had limited statistical power as nostatistically significant change since 2003-2004 were found. (Ogden et al., 2009)
According to CDC (2010) 26.5% (72, 5 millions of American) are obese, and 36.6% (129, 6 millions) are overweight: Overall, self-reported obesity prevalence in the United States is 26.7%; Non-Hispanic blacks (36.8%); Hispanics (30.7%), people who did not graduate from high school (32.9%), adults between 50--59 years (31.1%) and 60--69 years (30.9%).
By state, obesity prevalence ranged from 18.6% in Colorado to 34.4% in Mississippi; only Colorado and the District of Columbia (19.7%) had prevalence of <20%; nine states had prevalence of ≥30%. As conclusion of the issued by the U.S. Surgeon General -Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity- (2001 and 2007) no state had met the Healthy People 2010 objective to reduce obesity prevalence among adults to 15%. (Source, CDC 2010)
