Is obesity a pandemic or epidemic?

Is obesity a pandemic or epidemic?

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions globally, with more than 1 billion adults overweight – at least 300 million of them clinically obese – and is a major contributor to the global burden of chronic disease and disability.

Why is obesity becoming an epidemic?

The high caloric density and trans-fat content of fast food are only some of the factors contributing to the obesity epidemic. In the past 30 years, the portion sizes of many foods have increased, leading to increased energy intake.

Is obesity a rising problem?

Buried in recent headlines is the sobering fact that obesity is still on the rise in the United States. The latest federal data show that nearly 40 percent of American adults were obese in 2015–16, up from 34 percent in 2007–08. In 2016, five states had rates over 35 percent.

What is the increase in obesity?

The rates of American adults with obesity have continued to increase over the past decade according to researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In the years between 2007-2008 and 2015-2016, the report says the rates of obesity rose significantly among adults, from 33.7% to 39.6%.

How long has obesity been a problem?

Worldwide obesity has nearly tripled since 1975. In 2016, more than 1.9 billion adults, 18 years and older, were overweight. Of these over 650 million were obese. 39% of adults aged 18 years and over were overweight in 2016, and 13% were obese.

Is obesity getting better?

The Numbers. Despite the new attention paid to obesity by doctors, researchers, and the media, no discernable progress has been made in fighting obesity. According to most experts, it looks almost certain that obesity will get worse before it gets better.

How big is the problem of childhood obesity?

Childhood obesity is a serious problem in the United States putting children and adolescents at risk for poor health. Obesity prevalence among children and adolescents is still too high. For children and adolescents aged 2-19 years1: The prevalence of obesity was 18.5% and affected about 13.7 million children and adolescents.

How is junk food marketing a factor in the obesity epidemic?

Harvard nutrition expert Walter Willett compared the marketing of junk food to kids with an earlier era’s child labor practices, saying that young people have been “exploited” by both systems. He said such food marketing is an important factor in America’s obesity epidemic. “Children are being exploited, same as sweatshops,” Willett said.

How is fast food related to childhood obesity?

Fast food and childhood obesity. Eating out is another major contributor to childhood obesity. Studies show that calorie content of out-of-home meals that children consumed was 55% higher than that of in-home meals.

How does eating out increase the risk of obesity?

It is well known that eating out may lead to excess calorie intake and increases the risk of obesity because of large portion sizes and increased energy density of foods. Fast foods fall into this category of food. Fast foods are typically:-

It is well known that eating out may lead to excess calorie intake and increases the risk of obesity because of large portion sizes and increased energy density of foods. Fast foods fall into this category of food. Fast foods are typically:-

Harvard nutrition expert Walter Willett compared the marketing of junk food to kids with an earlier era’s child labor practices, saying that young people have been “exploited” by both systems. He said such food marketing is an important factor in America’s obesity epidemic. “Children are being exploited, same as sweatshops,” Willett said.

What’s the difference between Grade 1 obesity and Grade 3 obesity?

The WHO designations include the following: 1 Grade 1 overweight (commonly and simply called overweight) – BMI of 25-29.9 kg/m 2. 2 Grade 2 overweight (commonly called obesity) – BMI of 30-39.9 kg/m 2. 3 Grade 3 overweight (commonly called severe or morbid obesity) – BMI greater than or equal to 40 kg/m 2.

Which is the most widely accepted definition of obesity?

Although several classifications and definitions for degrees of obesity are accepted, the most widely accepted classifications are those from the World Health Organization (WHO), based on body mass index (BMI). The WHO designations are as follows: