We're still going the wrong way: Obesity in U.S. worsens in 2007

William Atkins
Friday, 18 July 2008 19:13

Science - Health

As reported by hundreds, probably thousands, of news reports, obesity is a major factor in health-related problems. Some of the diseases that are more common among obese people are strokes, heart diseases, and type-2 diabetes.

The CDC defines obesity as a body mass index (BMI, which is the ratio of a person’s weight to height) of 30 or above. For example, a person who is five-foot, ten-inches tall and weighs 209 pounds would be considered to have a BMI of 30, and be labeled as obese by the CDC.

For calculate your BMI, please go to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website “Calculate your BMI.”

Assistant professor of medicine Howard D. Sesso, Brigham and Women’s Hospital (Boston, Massachusetts) stated, "These data from the CDC confirm that the epidemic of obesity continues to spread, whether looking at population trends in the short- or long-term.” [Washington Post]

One of the saddest parts of the report was related to the national health promotion and disease prevention program called “Healthy People 2010.” It is working toward the goal of reducing obesity in the United States among adults to 15% or less by the year 2010.

What was sad was, in 2007, none of the fifty states or the District of Columbia met that 2010 goal. However, we still have three years to turn things around. The likelihood of that goal being attained, according Sesso, who was quoted by The Washington Post article, is “dim.”

Sesso stated, "This report highlights the need not only to outright prevent the development of obesity over the life-course, but also to improve efforts to reduce body weight in those already classified as obese.” [Washington Post]

To learn more about obesity, along with practical weight control methods and healthy food recipes, and how you can reduce your weight, please go to the United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Library’s website “Weight and Obesity.”