Health News

First Lady Michelle Obama has voiced her interest in tackling the obesity epidemic in children through her program Let's Move. Obesity rates in the United States have tripled in the past 30 years. Currently, we spend about $150 billion every year to treat obesity-related conditions.  The goals of Let's Move are to give parents support, provide healthier food in schools, help kids become more physically active, and make healthy, affordable food available in every part of the country. 

 In the video above, James Oliver exposes his involvement in the anti-obesity program in Huntington, W. VA. Oliver points out many examples of how unaware certain Americans are about the severity of the obesity crisis. 

 Health Statistics in America (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

  • Percent of noninstitutionalized adults age 20 years and over who are overweight or obese: 67% (2005-2006)
  • Percent of noninstitutionalized adults age 20 years and over who are obese: 34% (2005-2006)
  • Percent of adolescents age 12-19 years who are overweight: 18% (2005-2006)
  • Percent of children age 6-11 years who are overweight: 15% (2005-2006)
  • Percent of children age 2-5 years who are overweight: 11% (2005-2006)

What Causes Obesity? (World Health Organization)

The fundamental cause of obesity and overweight is an energy imbalance between calories consumed on one hand, and calories expended on the other hand. Global increases in overweight and obesity are attributable to a number of factors including:

  • a global shift in diet towards increased intake of energy-dense foods that are high in fat and sugars but low in vitamins, minerals and other micronutrients
  • a trend towards decreased physical activity due to the increasingly sedentary nature of many forms of work, changing modes of transportation, and increasing urbanization.
 

What are the Health Consequences of Being Overweight? (World Health Organization)

Being overweight or obese can have a serious impact on health. Carrying extra fat leads to serious health consequences such as cardiovascular disease (mainly heart disease and stroke), type 2 diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders like osteoarthritis, and some cancers (endrometrial, breast and colon). These conditions cause premature death and substantial disability.