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Obesity Facts
 What is Obesity?
Obesity is a disease that affects nearly
one-third of the adult American population
(approximately 60 million). The number of
overweight and obese Americans has continued
to increase since 1960, a trend that is not
slowing down. Today, 64.5 percent of adult
Americans (about 127 million) are
categorized as being overweight or obese.
Each year, obesity causes at least 300,000
excess deaths in the U.S., and healthcare
costs of American adults with obesity amount
to approximately $100 billion.
Health Effects
Persons with obesity are at risk of
developing one or more serious medical
conditions, which can cause poor health and
premature death. Obesity is associated
with more than 30 medical conditions, and
scientific evidence has established a strong
relationship with at least 15 of those
conditions. Preliminary data also show the
impact of obesity on various other
conditions. Weight loss of about 10% of body
weight, for persons with overweight or
obesity, can improve some obesity-related
medical conditions including diabetes and
hypertension.
Obesity In Youth
Diabetes, hypertension and other
obesity-related chronic diseases that are
prevalent among adults have now become more
common in youngsters. The percentage of
children and adolescents who are overweight
and obese is now higher than ever before.
Poor dietary habits and inactivity are
reported to contribute to the increase of
obesity in youth.
Today's youth are considered the most
inactive generation in history caused in
part by reductions in school physical
education programs and unavailable or unsafe
community recreational facilities.
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