The Obesity Epidemic
More than one-third of U.S. adults (over 72 million people)
and 17% of U.S. children are obese. During 1980–2008, obesity rates
doubled for adults and tripled for children. During the past several
decades, obesity rates for all population groups—regardless of age, sex,
race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, education level, or geographic
region—have increased markedly.
Obesity and Health Disparities
Recent reports show that substantial differences exist in
obesity prevalence by race/ethnicity, and these differences vary by sex
and age. For example, according to 2005–2008 data from the National
Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 51% of non-Hispanic black women
aged 20 years or older were obese, compared with 43% of Mexican
Americans and 33% of whites. Among females aged 2–19 years, 24% of
non-Hispanic blacks, 19% of Mexican Americans, and 14% of whites were
obese. Efforts are being made to reduce these disparities by focusing
interventions on subgroups with high prevalence of obesity.
Health Consequences of Obesity
Obesity increases the risk of many health conditions, including the following:
-
Coronary heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure.
-
Type 2 diabetes.
-
Cancers, such as endometrial, breast, and colon cancer.
-
High total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides.
-
Liver and gallbladder disease.
-
Sleep apnea and respiratory problems.
-
Degeneration of cartilage and underlying bone within a joint (osteoarthritis).
-
Reproductive health complications such as infertility.
-
Mental health conditions.
Obesity is Costly
In 2008, overall medical care costs related to obesity for U.S.
adults were estimated to be as high as $147 billion. People who were
obese had medical costs that were $1,429 higher than the cost for people
of normal body weight. Obesity also has been linked with reduced worker
productivity and chronic absence from work.
|
