DID YOU KNOW?

• The current generation of American children could be the first in United States history to have shorter life expectancies than their parents. The epidemic of childhood obesity, if left unchecked, could shorten life spans by as much as five years.
• Obesity rates have tripled in the past 30 years.
• Today in the United States, 1 in 3 children is overweight, and 1 in 6 is obese.
• 36% of adults are overweight and 30% are obese. Together that means that 2 out of 3 adults are obese or overweight!
• America has the highest rate of obesity in the WORLD.
• Between $50-80 billion dollars is spent each year on healthcare treating the effects of obesity and overweight. This number, although shocking, doesn’t reflect the personal cost – the loss of quality of life, the suffering, and premature death that accompanies obesity and overweight.
• 300,000 people each year die from obesity, the second leading cause of preventable death after tobacco.
• Almost half of U.S. women today begin pregnancy overweight or obese, increasing the likelihood that their children will be obese.
• Nationally, African Americans have the highest rates of obesity, with 32% of men and 39% of women qualifying as obese. That is 51% higher than the prevalence of obesity in whites, and 30% higher than Latinos.

DISEASES AND HEALTH PROBLEMS LINKED TO OBESITY INCLUDE:

• Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke – all these diseases disproportionately affect African Americans.
• Gallbladder disease and gallstones.
• Fatty liver disease.
• Osteoarthritis and gout, two diseases that affect the joints.
• Breathing problems, including sleep apnea, which causes a person to stop breathing for a short time during sleep.
• Reproductive problems in women, including menstrual irregularities and infertility.

 

MANY FACTORS CONTRIBUTE TO OBESITY AND MAY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED TO SOLVE THIS EPIDEMIC:

Behavioral factors:

• Overeating – such as too large portion sizes and drinking beverages with added sugar which adds calories but no nutritional value.
• Lack of physical exercise – children and adults today children spend less time engaged in physical exercise and activity.  Daily participation in school physical education dropped from 42% to 28% in the last 15 years.  Less than one-third of high school students meet currently recommended levels of physical activity.
• Sedentary behavior –
• Lifestyle changes such as cars, elevators, dishwashers, power lawn mowers, etc. replace hours spent being physically active with more sedentary behaviors.
• 78% of Americans do not meet recommended basic activity levels and 25% are completely sedentary.
• Television watching is the number one habit linked with overweight and obesity.  On average, Americans watch 28 hours of TV a week. The average adult spends 8 hours a day in front of screens (TV and computer).  Children spend an additional 3 hours using computers, video games and cell phones, adding up to an estimated 7 hours 38 minutes each day spent using media devices.
• All of this behavior contributes to overweight by taking time from physical activity, increased snacking in front of the TV, lowering metabolism, and influencing children and adults to make unhealthy food choices through advertising.
• Environmental factors - our environment often does not support healthy habits.
• Today, more people drive long distances to work instead of walking, live in neighborhoods without sidewalks, tend to eat out or get “take out” instead of cooking.
• Snacking from vending machines with high-calorie, high-fat snacks at school and work adds empty, extra calories to everyday.
• Social factors including poverty and a lower level of education are linked to obesity.
• High-calorie processed foods cost less and are easier to find and prepare than healthier foods, such as fresh vegetables and fruits.
• Limited opportunities for physical activity due to inadequate access to safe recreation places or the cost of gym memberships.
• Psychological factors – many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom, sadness, loneliness or anger.