America is overweight! Unbelievable but true, one out of every third American is overweight and that's enough to proof the authenticity of the statement. According to the reports of a recent survey 34 percent of U.S. adults aged 20 to 74 years are overweight, and an additional 27 percent are obese. About half of all women aged 20 to 74 are overweight or obese.
What is Exactly Obesity?
Obese and overweight isn't one and the same things. People suffering from obesity have a huge amount of extra fat, not just little bit extra body fat. An obese person is easily prone to serious health hazards.
Childhood Obesity
Childhood obesity has several causes, but basically it is an imbalance between energy in (how much calories obtained from food) and energy out (how much calories expended in the basal metabolic rate and physical activity) as with adult obesity. Parents are the first school of children; it is their responsibility to inhibit healthy habits in children's mind. They should teach children about the perilous consequences of obesity, it is their duty to implant the importance of being fit. Some vital lessons which has to be provided to children are-
1. Keep away from junk food.
2. Avoid high cholesterol or sugar level food.
3. Provoke them to play outdoor games.
4. Tell them the importance of regular exercise.
Hazardous Obesity
Obesity gives birth to serious diseases like type two diabetes, heart diseases and stroke; it also leads to cancer and premature death. The risk of diabetes is significantly related to obesity, the risk of morbidity, mortality and chronicle illness are serious threats associated with diabetes. The condition has worsened in the recent times, obesity and diabetes are responsible for around 300,000 deaths in U.S alone, and there has been a concurrent increase in diabetes related to obesity. Obesity is responsible for health havocs such as:-
Cancer
Being overweight may increase the risk of developing several types of cancer, like cancers of the colon, esophagus, and kidney, uterine and postmenopausal breast cancer in women.
Hyperlipidemia
High cholesterol is caused by the build up of excess fatty substances in the artery walls.
Sleep Apnea
Fat stored in the neck and throughout the body can produce substances that cause inflammation. Inflammation in the neck may be a risk factor for sleep apnea.
Liver Disease
Fatty liver disease occurs when fat builds up in the liver cells and causes injury and inflammation in the liver.
Gallstones
Being overweight and eating a diet high in fat, particularly saturated fat, is a major contributor to the formation of gallstones.
Osteoarthritis
In addition, people with more body fat may have higher blood levels of substances that cause inflammation. Inflammation at the joints may raise the risk for osteoarthritis.
Diabetes
Over 80% of people with diabetes are overweight or obese.
David Turner, an associated editor to Epharma.md, is a contributing author to the http://www.epharma.md for distinct article sites/journals. Please feel free to visit http://www.epharma.md/article/weight_loss/index.html for more information on Weight Loss related issues. Or write to him AT david.turner001@gmail.com. Any comments and /or suggestions will be highly appreciated. Please note that this article is not a substitute for medical advice.