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Obesity is a serious, chronic medical condition which is associated with a wide range of debilitating and life-threatening conditions1.  Obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI calculated as kg/m2) of >=302.  The disease has been known to develop over time and once it has, it is difficult to treat.  Unfortunately, those who are obese are predisposed to other diseases as well.

            Research shows that an estimated 97 million adults in the United States are overweight or obese and are at risk of morbidity from hypertension, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, other respiratory problems, and endometrial, breast, prostate, and colon cancers3.  For example, one study showed that with five kilograms of weight loss, blood pressure (BP) was reduced by 15 and 20 mm Hg, diastolic and systolic respectively; and, the BP remained lowered as the weight stayed off4.

            At the government level, heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the United States since 1921, and stroke has been the third leading cause since 1938; together they account for approximately 40% of all deaths. 

             Dietary and exercise habits are the indicating factors to reduce obesity and related diseases.  Reversing the obesity trend will require changes in individual behavior and the alteration of societal barriers to healthy choices.

 

References

1. Gill, T. P. (1997). Key issues in the prevention of obesity. British Medical Bulletin, 53 (2) 359-338.

2. Noel, M., Hickner, J., Ettenhofer, T., & Gauthier, B. (1998). The high prevalence of obesity in Michigan primary care practices: an UPRNet study. Journal of Family Practice, 47 (39), 39-43.

                3. Executive summary of the clinical guidelines on the identification, evaluation, and treatment of overweight and obesity in adults. (1998). Expert Panel. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 98 (10), 1178-1191.

4. Sjostrom, M., Karlsson, A. B., Kaati, G., Yngve, A., Green, L. W., & Bygren, L. O. (1999). A four week residential program for primary health care patients to control obesity and related heart risk factor: effective application of principles of learning and lifestyle change. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 53 (2), 72-77.