Discusses the spreading obesity crisis, who is affected and measures for getting into better condition.
The numbers of obese and overweight individuals have reached epidemic proportions. Adults and children alike are compromising good health with no end in sight.
Unhealthy Weight Gain Crosses Borders
Studies from the International Obesity Task Force estimate 300 million people worldwide as obese with 22 million of the world's children under age 5 classified as obese or overweight. Staggering statistics such as these have allegedly prompted organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) to seek assistance from corporate food producers to remedy the epidemic.
According to the Media Awareness Network (2000), forty-six percent of Canadian adults are overweight or obese and obesity rates for kids have tripled during the last twenty years.
An astounding eight of ten Americans over age 25 are overweight. Obesity Statistics (2007) report 58 million Americans are overweight, 40 million are obese and more than 3 million morbidly obese. To worsen matters, obesity contributes to a host of diseases such as cancer, stroke, heart disease, hypertension, organ failure, diabetes, mental illness and more.
Body Fat Drugs And Genetics
Obesity and overweight combined with the typical high fat North American diet can cause liver or kidney damage when using commonly prescribed drugs such as acetaminophen, diuretics and antibiotics. Obesity also ranks a close second to smoking as a major cause of death in the US.
Genetics could play a minor role in excessive weight gain. There are some inherited characteristics that may cause individuals to carry excess body fat. However, genetics is dismissed as a leading cause due to the enormous growth rate of obesity in just thirty years and the fact subsequent generations are becoming fatter points to environmental factors such as overeating and physical inactivity as major contributors to obesity and overweight.
Assessing Disease Risk
Obesity is defined as an excessive accumulation of body fat. Obese individuals have greater likelihood of death from any cause compared to individuals at healthier body fat levels. Too much fat over taxes the body causing its systems to weaken at rates faster than normal. The Weight Control Information Network (WIN) estimates obese people have a 10 - 50 percent increased risk of morbidity versus individuals within normal range on the Body Mass Index (BMI).
BMI Guidelines:
- Underweight < 18.5
- Normal 18.5 - 24.9
- Overweight 25.0 - 29.9
- Obesity, Class 1 30.0 - 34.9
- Obesity, Class 2 35.0 - 39.9
- Obesity, Class 3 > 40
A formula to determine BMI is weight (lbs)/height (in) x height (in) multiplied by 704.5. BMI readings are a practical method that's easy to use for people interested in a borderline assessment of disease risk.
BMI is widely used in clinical settings to identify, evaluate and treat overweight or obese individuals. Since BMI values are best suited to average populations, extremely muscular individuals, who have a low percentage of body fat, will not always place within acceptable ranges. Most NFL running backs, receivers, linebackers and defensive backs would place outside BMI norms although they could be extremely healthy.
Alternatives To Measure Body Fat
BMI methods fail to recognize body components such as fluids, bones, organs, muscle or distinguish between essential and storage fat. Excess fat stored in the form of adipose tissue leads to obesity and unhealthy weight gain.
To formulate a clearer profile of disease risk associated to being over-fat, alternative methods can also be applied. There are tools used by clinicians that place more emphasis on body fat levels rather than simply focusing on height to weight ratios like those found in BMI.
Advanced modes of measurement are usually expensive, require technical skills and are normally inaccessible to the general public. However, a relatively inexpensive practical tool for measuring body fat is a caliber. Using calipers require practice but is worth the effort for accurate body fat readings. They can be purchased at Fit Buy or Rizon4Dealz.
Typical Caliper Body Fat/Obesity Values:
- Age (18 - 39) Male 20% + Female 33% +
- Age (40 - 59) Male 22% + Female 34% +
- Age (60 - 79) Male 25% + Female 36% +
Related articles on reducing unhealthy bodyweight:
Quick Weight Loss and Get The Metabolism Advantage
References:
Blechman, S and Fahey, T. (June 2007). Obesity and High-Fat Diets Make Some Drugs Dangerous, For Women Fitness Rx, 24.
Ann Collins (2007).General Causes of Modern Obesity. Causes of Obesity, (Online).
Ann Collins (2007). Latest Obesity Statistics. Obesity Statistics, (Online).
Ann Collins (2007). Obesity Statistics-Children: International Child Obesity. Obesity Statistics-Children, (Online).
Hatfield, F. (2004). Body Composition, Fitness the Complete Guide, 339-347.
Weight Control Information Network (2007). Statistics Related to Overweight and Obesity. WIN, (Online).
