Obesity



**OBESITY FACT SHEET**
2/10/09

- United States 30.6% of the population is considered Obese Obesity means having too much body fat. It is different from being overweight, which means weighing too much. The weight may come from muscle, bone, fat and/or body water. Both terms mean that a person's weight is greater than what's considered healthy for his or her height. Childhood obesity rates have tripled over the past two decades. The calorie-dense, fatty, salty diet eaten by American children, combined with the serious lack of physical activity means that 25% of kids under 10 years of age have high cholesterol, high blood pressure or some other contributor to heart disease. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003–2004, about one-third of adults in the United States are overweight and slightly more than one-third are obese. The survey also shows differences in overweight and obesity according to racial/ethnic groups. Overweight and obesity are also common in groups with low incomes. Women with low incomes are about 50 percent more likely to be obese than women with higher incomes. Among children and teens, overweight in non-Hispanic White teens is related to a lower family income. Low-income families also buy more high-calorie, high-fat foods, which may add to the problem. This is because they tend to cost less than more healthful foods such as fruits and vegetables. Between 1962 and the year 2000, the number of obese Americans grew from 13% to an alarming 31% of the population. -- 63% of Americans are overweight with a Body Mass Index (BMI) in excess of 25.0. -- 31% are obese with a BMI in excess of 30.0. -- Childhood obesity in the United States has more than tripled in the past two decades.  -- According to the U.S. Surgeon General report obesity is responsible for 300,000 deaths every year.
 * A person’s weight is the result of many factors, including environment, family history and genetics, metabolism (the way your body changes food and oxygen into energy), behavior or habits, and other factors.
 * For most people, overweight and obesity are caused by not having energy balance. The amount of calories you get from food and drinks is energy IN. The amount of energy your body uses daily is energy OUT. To maintain a healthy weight, energy IN and energy OUT should balance over time.
 * Overweight and obesity are calculated using the body mass index (BMI). BMI is an estimate of body fat and a good gauge of your risk for diseases that occur with more body fat. Adults can calculate their BMI using the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s [|online calculator], or your health care provider can calculate your BMI.
 * Children’s BMI is calculated based on growth charts for their age and sex. This is called BMI-for-age percentile. For more information, go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s [|BMI-for-age calculator].
 * Treatment for overweight and obesity includes lifestyle changes. These changes mean cutting back on calories, following a healthy eating plan, being physically active, and making behavioral changes.
 * When lifestyle changes aren’t enough, other treatment options for some people are weight loss medicines and surgery.
 * To manage weight and prevent unhealthy weight gain, adults should aim for 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity most days of the week. To keep up weight loss, aim for 60 to 90 minutes of daily moderate-intensity physical activity.
 * Children and teens should strive for 60 minutes of physical activity a day.
 * Overweight and obesity in children and teens can be prevented with healthy food choices and more physical activity. Parents and families should create habits that encourage healthful food choices and physical activity early in a child’s life.
 * In women, overweight and obesity are highest for non-Hispanic Black women (about 82 percent), compared to about 75 percent for Mexican American women and 58 percent for non-Hispanic White women.
 * In men, overweight and obesity also are higher for minority groups. They’re highest for Mexican American men (about 76 percent), compared to about 71 percent for non-Hispanic White men and about 69 percent for non-Hispanic Black men.
 * About 19 percent of school-aged children and about 17 percent of teens are overweight.
 * About 18 percent of school-aged children and about 17 percent of teens are at risk for overweight.
 * In male children and teens, overweight is highest for Mexican Americans (about 22 percent), compared to 17 percent for non-Hispanic Whites and about 16 percent for non-Hispanic Blacks.
 * In female children and teens, overweight is highest for non-Hispanic Blacks (23 percent), compared to 16 percent for Mexican Americans and about 14 percent for non-Hispanic Whites. **Income**