Obesity in the United States
Obesity in the United States, is at an all time high and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is a national epidemic. The impact of obesity is widespread and it has become a serious health problem and one of great concern because it is contributing to the increasing number of premature deaths.
According to The United Health Foundation’s, they found that in the US alone “there was a 5 percent increase in obesity rates among American adults in 2018, from the 29.9 obesity percentage in 2017 to 31.3 percent in 2018.”
It is now considered a chronic disease by a number of the leading health organizations like National Institutes of Health and American Medical Society.
The most common forms of being overweight or obese is naturally connected to overeating and the lack of physical activity. These factors not only cause weight gain but also are the reasons for different preventable illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, complications of pregnancy and certain types of cancer that are some of the leading causes of premature death.
Genetics, environment, metabolism, behavior and culture are also important factors to consider when you determine the reason for being overweight. Genetics affect the hormones involved in regulating fat, causing a deficiency called Leptin. This particular hormone is produced in fat cells in the placenta and when there is a deficiency, the ability to control weight by signaling the brain to eat less is altered.
There is also a increase in health care costs and a burden of increased medical expenses on the healthcare industry.
When you look at the groups of society that are more susceptible to obesity, those at the greatest risk for obesity are Hispanics and black women. No clear reasons are given but the numbers are higher than any other race.
Statistics show that women with higher education and income are less likely to be overweight than those with lower incomes. There showed a clear correlation among those educated and those less educated but no correlation found between obesity and education in men.
