The obesity problem is still getting worse! Recently there were statistics released by the government stating that there are now more obese Americans than overweight! Here is a copy of the article which can also be found on the MedlinePlus website.
Reuters Health-Monday, January 12, 2009
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of obese American adults outweighs the number of those who are merely overweight, according to the latest statistics from the federal government.
Numbers posted by the National Center for Health Statistics show that more than 34 percent of Americans are obese, compared to 32.7 percent who are overweight. It said just under 6 percent are "extremely" obese.
"More than one-third of adults, or over 72 million people, were obese in 2005-2006, the NCHS said in its report.
The numbers are based on a survey of 4,356 adults over the age of 20 who take part in a regular government survey of health, said the NCHS, which is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The figures come from the 2005-2006 survey and are the most current available.
"During the physical examination, conducted in mobile examination centers, height and weight were measured as part of a more comprehensive set of body measurements," the NCHS report said.
"Although the prevalence of obesity has more than doubled since 1980, the prevalence of overweight has remained stable over the same time period," it said.
Obesity and overweight are calculated using a formula called body mass index. BMI is equal to weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Someone with a BMI of 25 to 29 is classified as overweight, 30 to 40 counts as obese and people with BMIs of 40 or more are morbidly obese.
A person 5 feet 5 inches tall becomes overweight at 150 pounds (68 kg) and obese at 180 pounds (82 kg). The U.S. National Institutes of Health has an online BMI calculator at www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/.
In the 1988-1994 surveys, 33 percent of Americans were overweight, 22.9 percent were obese and 2.9 percent were morbidly obese. The numbers have edged up steadily since.
Being overweight or obese raises the risk of heart disease, diabetes, some cancers, arthritis and other conditions.
In May, the CDC reported that 32 percent of U.S. children fit the definition of being overweight, 16 percent were obese and 11 percent were extremely obese.
Childhood and adult obesity has emerged as a growing problem not only in the United States but also in many countries around the world.
Source: Reuters Health Information[Internet]
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After reading those statistics, I did some more research and found a program that I believe may be able to aid in the fight against obesity. The program is called Small Steps. They have a Small Steps Adult & Teen and Small Steps Kids programs. Here is a brief description straight from the Small Steps website:
Today's lifestyle doesn't allow much room for health. And that's where Small Steps comes in. We know that it's impossible for many people to make dramatic lifestyle changes. Instead, we want to help you learn ways that you can change small things about your life and see big results.
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The Small Steps Adult & Teen offers over 170 healthy tips, sections for: Get The Facts-which helps you get correct health information, Eat Better -which provides tips and resources for healthier eating , Get Active -which provides tips,resources and an activity tracker, Learn More, and Portion Control. Small Steps Kids offers information, games and activities.
Having information is a good thing but what really makes the difference is what you do with the information. I hope that if you decide to check out the Small Steps Program that you can find some useful information and be able to apply it to your life or share it with friends or family that may benefit from it. After all, they say "It's what the hero does that makes him/her a hero..."! So, maybe you can try taking some small steps and see if they can add up to big results for you?
Source:Small Steps Program Link
Brian Francis,CNC
www.herbalfix.biz
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