Good News! Childhood Obesity Rates Declining in NYC
Marion Nestle / Food Politics
Dec. 16, 2011
Just in time for the holidays, we get some good news. The New York City Health Department reports that rates of childhood obesity are falling.
If the rates were staying constant, I’d consider it a step forward. But these results show rates going down, even if only by a few percentage points.
The Bloomberg administration says the numbers are a result of its anti-obesity initiatives, some focused especially on children. Health Commissioner Dr. Tom Farley told the New York Times that he attributes
the progress partly to the city’s aggressive advertising campaign against sugary sodas, which he said may have altered what parents were providing to their children. The city has also tried to add healthier options to school lunch menus, enacted strict rules on the calorie and sugar content of snacks and drinks in school vending machines, and even put limits on bake sales, a move that caused some grumbling.
As I explained to Bloomberg News, if this trend continues, it will represent the first truly positive development in years.
It also suggests that the health department’s unusually aggressive efforts to address obesity may be paying off. If so, they should inspire other communities to do the same kinds of things. If nothing else, they raise awareness of the problem and help create an environment more conducive to healthy eating.
On the national level, Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign also has raised awareness. Could it be that we are getting to a tipping point?
It’s pretty clear by now what works. A Cochrane meta-analysis of 55 studies finds strong evidence to support beneficial effects of child obesity prevention programs on BMI, particularly for kids age 6 to 12.
The interventions showing the most promise are just like those in New York City:
- School curriculum that includes healthy eating, physical activity and body image
- School sessions for physical activity throughout the school week
- Improvements in nutritional quality of the food supply in schools
- Environments and cultural practices that support children eating healthier foods and being active throughout each day (see yesterday’s post)
- Support for teachers and other staff to implement health promotion strategies and activities (e.g. professional development, capacity building activities)
- Parent support and home activities that encourage children to be more active, eat more nutritious foods and spend less time in screen based activities
These are showing measurable benefits. Shouldn’t every city start doing them.
Source: Marion Nestle / Food Politics
Bariatric Surgery for Severe Obesity – NIDDK
Bariatric Surgery for Severe Obesity
- Bariatric Surgery for Adults
- Bariatric Surgery for Youth
- The Normal Digestive Process
- Types of Bariatric Surgery
- Medical Costs
- Research
- Resources
- References
Bariatric surgery may be the next step for people who remain severely obese after trying approaches other than surgery‚ especially if they have a disease linked to obesity.
Severe obesity is a chronic condition that is hard to treat with diet and exercise alone. Bariatric surgery is an operation on the stomach and/or intestines that helps patients with extreme obesity to lose weight. This surgery is an option for people who cannot lose weight by other means or who suffer from serious health problems related to obesity. The surgery restricts food intake, which promotes weight loss and reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes. Some surgeries also interrupt how food is digested, preventing some calories and nutrients, such as vitamins, from being absorbed. Recent studies suggest that bariatric surgery may even lower death rates for patients with severe obesity. The best results occur when patients follow surgery with healthy eating patterns and regular exercise.
Currently, bariatric surgery may be an option for adults with severe obesity. Body mass index (BMI), a measure of height in relation to weight, is used to define levels of obesity. Clinically severe obesity is a BMI > 40 or a BMI > 35 with a serious health problem linked to obesity. Such health problems could be type 2 diabetes, heart disease, or severe sleep apnea (when breathing stops for short periods during sleep).
Recent Development
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved use of an adjustable gastric band (or AGB) for patients with BMI > 30 who also have at least one condition linked to obesity, such as heart disease or diabetes.
Who is a good adult candidate for surgery?
Having surgery to produce weight loss is a serious decision. Anyone thinking about having this surgery should know what it involves. Answers to the following questions may help patients decide whether weight-loss surgery is right for them.
Is the patient:
- Unlikely to lose weight or keep it off over the long term using other methods?
- Well informed about the surgery and treatment effects?
- Aware of the risks and benefits of surgery?
- Ready to lose weight and improve his or her health?
- Aware of how life may change after the surgery? (For example, patients need to adjust to side effects, such as the need to chew food well and the loss of ability to eat large meals.)
- Aware of the limits on food choices, and occasional failures?
- Committed to lifelong healthy eating and physical activity, medical follow-up, and the need to take extra vitamins and minerals?
There is no sure method, including surgery, to produce and maintain weight loss. Some patients who have bariatric surgery may have weight loss that does not meet their goals. Research also suggests that many patients regain some of the lost weight over time. The amount of weight regain may vary by extent of obesity and type of surgery. Habits such as snacking often on foods high in calories or not exercising can affect the amount of weight loss and weight regain. Problems that may occur with the surgery, like a stretched pouch or separated stitches, may also affect the amount of weight loss.
Success is possible. Patients must commit to changing habits and having medical follow-up for the rest of their lives.
Rates of obesity among youth are high. Bariatric surgery is sometimes used to treat youth with extreme obesity. Although it is becoming clear that teens can lose weight after bariatric surgery, many questions still exist about the long-term effects on teens’ developing bodies and minds.
Who is a good youth candidate for surgery?
Experts in childhood obesity and bariatric surgery suggest that families consider surgery only after youth have tried for at least 6 months to lose weight and have not had success.1 Candidates should meet the following criteria:
- Have extreme obesity (BMI > 40 )
- Be their adult height (usually at age 13 or older for girls and 15 or older for boys)
- Have serious health problems linked to weight, such as type 2 diabetes or sleep apnea, that may improve with bariatric surgery
In addition, health care providers should assess potential patients and their parents to see how emotionally prepared they are for the surgery and the lifestyle changes they will need to make. Health care providers should also refer young patients to special youth bariatric surgery centers that focus on meeting the unique needs of youth.
Mounting evidence suggests that bariatric surgery can favorably change both the weight and health of youth with extreme obesity. Over the years’ gastric bypass surgery has been the main operation used to treat extreme obesity in youth. An estimated 2,700 youth bariatric surgeries were performed between 1996 and 2003.2 A review of short-term data from the largest inpatient database in the United States suggests that these surgeries are at least as safe for youth as adults. As yet, AGB has not been approved for use in the United States for people younger than age 18. However, favorable weight-loss outcomes after AGB for youth have been reported abroad.
Normally, as food moves along the digestive tract, digestive juices and enzymes digest and absorb calories and nutrients. After we chew and swallow our food, it moves down the esophagus to the stomach, where a strong acid continues the digestive process. The stomach can hold about 3 pints of food at one time. When the stomach contents move to the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine), bile and pancreatic juice speed up digestion. Most of the iron and calcium in the food we eat is absorbed there. The other two parts of the nearly 20 feet of small intestine absorb nearly all of the remaining calories and nutrients. The food particles that cannot be digested in the small intestine reside in the large intestine until eliminated.
How does surgery promote weight loss?
Bariatric surgery restricts food intake, which leads to weight loss. Patients who have bariatric surgery must commit to a lifetime of healthy eating and regular exercise. These healthy habits may help patients maintain weight loss after surgery.
The type of surgery that may help an adult or youth depends on a number of factors. Patients should discuss with their health care providers what kind of surgery is suitable for them.
What is the difference between open and laparoscopic surgery?
Bariatric surgery may be performed through “open” approaches, which involve cutting the stomach in the standard manner, or by laparoscopy. With the latter approach, surgeons insert complex instruments through 1/2-inch cuts and guide a small camera that sends images to a monitor. Most bariatric surgery today is laparoscopic because it requires a smaller cut, creates less tissue damage, leads to earlier hospital discharges, and has fewer problems, especially hernias occurring after surgery.
However, not all patients are suitable for laparoscopy. Patients who are considered extremely obese, who have had previous stomach surgery, or who have complex medical problems may require the open approach. Complex medical problems may include having severe heart and lung disease or weighing more than 350 pounds.
What are the surgical options?
There are four types of operations that are commonly offered in the United States: AGB, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), biliopancreatic diversion with a duodenal switch (BPD-DS), and vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG). (See Figure 1.) Each surgery has its own benefits and risks. The patient and provider should work together to select the best option by considering the benefits and risks of each type of surgery. Other factors to consider include the patient’s BMI, eating habits, health conditions related to obesity, and previous stomach surgeries.
Figure 1
Diagram of Surgical Options. Image credit: Walter Pories, M.D. FACS.
Adjustable Gastric Band
AGB works mainly by decreasing food intake. Food intake is reduced by placing a small bracelet-like band around the top of the stomach to restrict the size of the opening from the throat to the stomach. The surgeon can then control the size of the opening with a circular balloon inside the band. This balloon can be inflated or deflated with saline solution to meet the needs of the patient.
Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
RYGB restricts food intake. RYGB also decreases how food is absorbed. Food intake is limited by a small pouch that is similar in size to the pouch created with AGB. Also, sending food directly from the pouch into the small intestine affects how the digestive tract absorbs food. The food is absorbed differently because the stomach, duodenum, and upper intestine no longer have contact with food.
Biliopancreatic Diversion with a Duodenal Switch
BPD-DS, usually referred to as a “duodenal switch,” is a complex bariatric surgery that includes three features. One feature is to remove a large part of the stomach. This step makes patients feel full sooner when eating than they did before surgery. Feeling full sooner encourages patients to eat less. Another feature is re-routing food away from much of the small intestine to limit how the body absorbs food. The third feature changes how bile and other digestive juices affect the body’s ability to digest food and absorb calories. This step also helps lead to weight loss.
In removing a large part of the stomach, the surgeon creates a more tubular “gastric sleeve” (also known as a VSG, discussed later). The smaller stomach sleeve remains linked to a very short part of the duodenum, which is then directly linked to a lower part of the small intestine. This surgery leaves a small part of the duodenum available to absorb food and some vitamins and minerals.
However, when the patient eats food, it bypasses most of the duodenum. The distance between the stomach and colon becomes much shorter after this operation, thus limiting how food is absorbed. BPD-DS produces significant weight loss. However, a decrease in the amount of food, vitamins, and minerals absorbed creates chances for long-term problems.
Some of these problems are anemia (lower than normal count for red blood cells) or osteoporosis (loss of bone mass that can make bones brittle).
Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy
VSG surgery restricts food intake and decreases the amount of food used. Most of the stomach is removed during this surgery, which may decrease ghrelin, a hormone that prompts appetite. Lower amounts of ghrelin may reduce hunger more than other purely restrictive surgeries, such as AGB.
VSG has been performed in the past mainly as the first stage of BPD-DS (discussed earlier) in patients who may be at high risk for problems from more extensive types of surgery. These patients’ high risk levels are due to body weight or medical issues. However, more recent research indicates that some patients who have VSG can lose a lot of weight with VSG alone and avoid a second procedure. Researchers do not yet know how many patients who have VSG alone will need a second stage procedure.
What are the side effects of these surgeries?
Some side effects may include bleeding, infection, leaks from the site where the intestines are sewn together, diarrhea, and blood clots in the legs that can move to the lungs and heart.
Examples of side effects that may occur later include nutrients being poorly absorbed, especially in patients who do not take their prescribed vitamins and minerals. In some cases, if patients do not address this problem promptly, diseases may occur along with permanent damage to the nervous system. These diseases include pellagra (caused by lack of vitamin B3—niacin), beri beri (caused by lack of vitamin B1—thiamine) and kwashiorkor (caused by lack of protein).
Other late problems include strictures (narrowing of the sites where the intestine is joined) and hernias (part of an organ bulging through a weak area of muscle).
Two kinds of hernias may occur after a patient has bariatric surgery. An incisional hernia is a weakness that sticks out from the abdominal wall’s connective tissue and may cause a blockage in the bowel. An internal hernia occurs when the small bowel is displaced into pockets in the lining of the abdomen. These pockets occur when the intestines are sewn together. Internal hernias are thought to be more dangerous than incisional ones and need prompt attention to avoid serious problems.
Some patients may also require emotional support to help them through the changes in body image and personal relationships that occur after the surgery.
Bariatric procedures, on average, cost from $20,000 to $25,000. Medical insurance coverage varies by state and insurance provider. In 2004, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reduced barriers to obtaining Medicare coverage for obesity treatments. Bariatric surgery may be covered under these conditions:
- If the patient has at least one health problem linked to obesity
- If the procedure is suitable for the patient’s medical condition
- If approved surgeons and facilities are involved
Patients can contact staff at their regional Medicare, Medicaid, or health insurance office to find out if the procedure is covered and to obtain facts about options.
In 2003, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) of the NIH partnered with researchers to create the Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery, or LABS. LABS researchers are experts in bariatric surgery, obesity research, internal medicine, behavioral science, and related fields. Their mission is to plan and conduct studies that will lead to more knowledge about bariatric surgery and its impact on the health and well-being of patients with extreme obesity. More information about LABS is available at http://www.niddklabs.org .
To help determine if bariatric surgery is appropriate for youth, NIH launched Teen-LABS in 2007. From 2007 to 2012, the multicenter study is collecting data from teens who plan to have surgery. The data will help to evaluate bariatric surgery’s benefits and risks. Researchers are collecting data about medical problems related to obesity, other health risk factors, and quality of life from these patients before they have surgery and 2 years after surgery. Researchers will then compare the teen outcomes to data from adults. These websites offer more information about Teen-LABS: http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/apr2007/niddk-16.htm and http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/teen-LABS.
The following list of publications, websites, and organizations may be of use for patients or health care providers discussing bariatric surgery.
Additional Reading from the Weight-control Information Network
Active at Any Size. This fact sheet provides ideas and tips on how people considered to be overweight or obese can be physically active. It focuses on overcoming common barriers and setting goals. Available at http://www.win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/active.htm.
Binge Eating Disorder. This fact sheet provides information and resources for patients who may have binge eating disorder. Available at http://www.win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/binge.htm.
Dieting and Gallstones. This fact sheet explains what gallstones are, how they form, and the roles obesity and rapid weight loss play in developing gallstones. Available at http://www.win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/gallstones.htm.
Weight Loss for Life. This booklet describes ways to lose weight and encourages healthy eating habits and regular physical activity. Available at http://www.win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/for_life.htm.
Additional Reading for Health Care Providers
Pharmacological and Surgical Treatment of Obesity: Evidence Report/Technology Assessment: Number 103. Shekelle PG, Morton SC, Maglione M, et al. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). AHRQ Publication Number 04–E028–1; 2004. Rockville, MD. This report reviews the scientific evidence on weight-loss drugs and bariatric surgery among children, youth, and adults. Available at http://www.ahrq.gov/downloads/pub/evidence/pdf/obespharm/obespharm.pdf [PDF - 3,450 Kb].
Additional Resource
American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
100 SW 75th Street
Suite 201
Gainesville, FL 32607
Phone: 352-331–4900
Fax: 352-331–4975
Internet: http://www.asmbs.org/
Weight-control Information Network
1 WIN Way
Bethesda, MD 20892–3665
Phone: 202-828–1025
Toll-free number: 1–877–946–4627
Fax: 202–828–1028
Email: win@info.niddk.nih.gov
Internet: http://www.win.niddk.nih.gov
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
NIH Publication No. 08–4006
March 2009
Updated June 2011
1. Inge TH‚ Krebs NF‚ Garcia VF‚ et al. Bariatric surgery for severely overweight adolescents: concerns and recommendations. Pediatrics. 2004 Jul;114(1):217–23.
2. Wilson ST‚ Thomas HI‚ Randall SB. Bariatric surgery in adolescents: recent national trends in use and in-hospital outcome. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. 2007;161(3):217–221.
Toll free: 1–877–946–4627; Fax: 202–828–1028; Email: win@info.niddk.nih.gov
Weight-control Information Network, 1 WIN Way, Bethesda, MD 20892–3665
Last Modified: July 28, 2011
Source:
Weight Loss Diet – Is Your Medicine Making You Fat!
GET YOUR KIDS INTO THE KITCHEN!
By Shane Nolan
Few people taking Medications for common Ailments expect to gain Weight! Those pills the Doctor or Specialist recommend or prescribed may be what is causing you to stack on the Kilos and making your weight loss diet even more difficult to manage. Many drugs can boost your appetite, cause bloating and slow your metabolism to a crawl. Here’s what to do.
Pharmaceutical Drugs on the market today are known to have many side-effects with some possibly being worse than the symptoms they are supposed to be relieving.
* STEROIDS-weight loss reversal.
> Some patients on Steroids can have an increase in their weight by up to 7% or more. Studies have found some patients had weight gains of up to 12.5 to 15 kilograms with long term use.
> Steroids treat conditions such as allergies, asthma and arthritis conditions. They mimic hormones that regulate your metabolism and immune system, and help by reducing inflammation and suppressing the immune system. However, an excess of steroids can mimic levels of Cortisol, the stress hormone. As the body needs more energy when stressed, it re-distributes fat to the stomach for easy access. Fat is also sometimes stored on the back of the neck, a condition known as Cushing’s Syndrome.
> Steroids also cause more sugar to be released into your blood, which is stored as fat, causes fluid retention and can greatly decrease the benefits of your weight loss diet.
> Obesity specialist study comments: “Corticosteroids commonly lead to weight gain by increasing appetite and depositing fat in the abdomen and trunk. Doctors should explain to patients that weight gain can occur and advise that they increase their activity levels and focus more on their weight loss diet or regime”.
> Talk with your doctor or specialist if you have any concerns on any medications you may be taking. If possible, try to reduce the strength of your medication or reduce the amount taken, but ONLY if you have been advised by your doctor or specialist first.
> Try Other Options- Many natural health products on the market today can help you with your ailments, just as well as, and very often much better than most pharmaceutical drugs. Natural products for your weight loss diet, arthritis and general health are safer and better options.
*DIABETES DRUGS-weight loss Inhibitor.
> Possible Weight Gains- Sulfonylureas lead to weight gain of 2.5 to 5 kilograms during the 1st year of taking this drug. TZD’s have been linked to weight increases of 1 to 2.5 kilograms over a year.
> Many people with type 2 diabetes are prescribed Sulfonylureas, which stimulates the body to make more insulin to lower blood sugar levels. But. sometimes they cause blood sugars to drop so far that they cause hunger and make patients eat more putting pressure on your weight loss diet regime.
> Another group of diabetes drugs, Thiazolidinediones (TZD’s), help make the body more sensitive to insulin, but also cause it to hold onto salt, causing swelling and weight gain inhibiting your weight loss.
> The Australian Diabetes Council state that some medications do not contribute to weight gain, such as Biguanides and Dpp-4 Inhibitors. But there are other medications that will contribute to weight gain.
> All medications have side-effects, if you are concerned about heart disease, gaining weight etc, exercising for 30minutes every day and a quality weight loss diet of natural products, can be incredibly helpful.
> The Australian Diabetes Council dieticians state that weight loss for people with type 2 diabetes who are also overweight is extremely difficult and can be very stressful. A quality diet and proper control is vitally important in controlling and preventing further complications.
> Natural products with no side-effects can help your body with vital ingredients which help your major organs, and to provide the necessary boost to promote overall bodily functions.
*BLOOD PRESSURE DRUGS-makes weight loss difficult.
> Beta Blockers treat high blood pressure, anxiety and irregular heart beat by lessening your adrenaline’s action on the nervous system. Eventually, blood pressure drops and the heart and your metabolism slows. These drugs can also make patients feel very tired and make weight loss difficult as well.
> Beta Blockers do not usually cause weight gain themselves but can make it very difficult for weight loss. Because these drugs limit how fast the heart can beat, they can reduce the ability to be fully active and burn fat.
> Some patients may be able to switch to Ace Inhibitors, which dampen down levels of the hormone Angiotensin 11, these relax blood vessels and makes blood pressure drop without sparking hunger pangs.
As stated above, every pharmaceutical drug has some side-effect which can be very dangerous and can cause organ damage, ulcers, or some nasty ailment when the product was originally administered to help another ailment. Plain and simply, these drugs are not good for the human body and it’s organs.
If you are truly concerned about your current medication, there are many other Natural Weight Loss, Heart Health, Arthritis Pain Relief and general Overall Health Products available today that can achieve excellent results.
For more Information about natural products you can Email me or Visit the Natural Health Product Blog to learn more or View more about the great products, on the links below. Natural products are easily absorbed by the body are a better and much safer option for You or Your loved ones!
Regards Shane Nolan
Source: Published At: Isnare.com Free Articles Directory – http://www.isnare.com/
—Email Me.—Visit Natural Health Products Blog!View Products and Learn More!!
My Raw Food Journey – 6 month update: Parts 1 and 2
Source: Uploaded by GreenMomZoe on Jul 5, 2010 to YouTube
Comments (GreenMomZoe)
Hi, I have a question. I have never even had kids yet, but my belly looks like I am pregnant!! The rest of my body is skinny, I have always been like this and i can’t seem to lose my belly fat. My mom and grandma also have big bellys, but small arms, legs and so I know it’s hereditary. I am a semi-vegetarian. I still eat fish, eggs and chicken, no other animals. I do eat a lot of sugar, but my stomach has always been big. What can I do?? 
fantard100 1 week ago
@fantard100 To target the belly, the best approach is crunches to strengthen the abdominal muscles.
GreenMomZoe 2 days ago
How do you look now, 2011? you look great anyway!
GiselleBellyDancer 2 weeks ago
@GiselleBellyDancer I look pretty much the same. My diet is a bit less raw – 60% to 75% – but it’s working fine.
GreenMomZoe 1 week ago
Top Comments
@LordShandor I will have to disagree. Losing 30 lbs. in 6 months is not exactly “invisible” change in one’s body. And how do you know that I eat “too many” calories and don’t exercise “enough”? I have not gained any weight since that video was made (actually lost 5 lb. more) and I’m constantly moving and on the go with my business RAWbundant. I barely get free time to sit down and rest. So you are incorrect in your assumptions.
GreenMomZoe 6 months ago
How tall are you? You look great and don’t lose too many curves. You have a nice hourglass shape like me! I’m 5’4 and my body looks best at 135-140. If I lose more I start to look hollow in the face.
katjastar1 1 month ago
Love your accent btw… 
rickmack22 2 days ago
@BadMarriageMORECawbs I’m not sure if you are referring to me as “delusional” and wanting to be “anorexic” because those were NEVER my goals! I’ve been a professional volleyball player for many years and carried weight at about 165 – 175 lbs at 5’11″. I was NEVER a skeleton-looking woman because my body isn’t built to be skinny. But being over 200 lbs. made me feel fat…it just wasn’t me. There is a big difference between wanting to look skinny and wanting to look fit.
GreenMomZoe 2 days ago
i agree, shes delusional and sounds like her goal is to look like an anorexic skeleton . sick , i know alot of women who have been brainwashed by the media to think someone weighing 120 pounds is Fat ! im convinced they all want to look like twigs of skin and bone, this fat phobia with women is starting to get Psychotic and turn into a Mental disorder
BadMarriageMORECawbs 3 days ago
Part 2
BMI – Calculating Your Body Mass Index
Source : Uploaded by bradpilon on Oct 23, 2008 to YouTube
http://www.EatStopEat.com – fasting for weight loss. Brad Pilon answers a question on BMI (Body Mass Index) and how to calculate your BMI using the Body Mass Index Equation.
Brad talks about why your waist to height ratio is better than your BMI as an easy way to determine when and if you need to lose weight.
A healthy BMI still may not be a good indicator of body fat.
Brad Pilon is the author of Eat Stop Eat, an easy and effective weight loss program based on the combination of flexible intermittent fasting and resistance training.
Learn more about the ease and simplicity of fasting for weight loss by visiting http://www.EatStopEat.com
Obesity is Getting Bigger in the United States
July 7th, 2011
Obesity is getting bigger in the United States
Two-thirds of all adults and about a third of all children and teenagers in the United States are overweight or obese according to a report release Thursday by the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF).
According to “F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future 2011,” adult obesity increased in 16 states during the past year and rates soared to 30% or more in these 12 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia. Four years ago, only one state – Mississippi – had an adult obesity rate of more than 30%. No state showed a decrease in it obesity rate in Thursday’s report.
Nine of the 10 states with the highest adult obesity numbers are in the South. Mississippi, for the seventh year in a row, had the highest adult obesity rate at 34.4%. Colorado, at 19.8%, had the lowest, and in fact is the only state in the country with an adult obesity rate under 20%. Twenty years ago no rate was above 15%. The report found rates grew fastest in Alabama, Tennessee and Oklahoma and slowest in Colorado, Connecticut and the District of Columbia.
“There was a clear tipping point in our national weight gain over the last twenty years,” said Jeff Levi, Executive director of TFAH. “And we can’t afford to ignore the impact obesity has on our health and corresponding health care spending.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the medical costs associated with obesity are staggering– totaling about $147 billion in 2008. More than 80% of people in this country with type-2 diabetes are overweight and new diagnoses doubled in 10 years, according to Thursday’s report. Overweight and obese people are at risk of developing high blood pressure and high cholesterol, risk factors for cardiovascular disease and stroke. They may also be at greater risk of colon, kidney and esophageal cancer.
African Americans, Latinos, those with low incomes and less education had the highest overall rates, topping 30 to 40% in many states. The report found about 33% of adults who made less than $15,000 a year or did not graduate from high school were obese.
The researchers found that a lack of access to fresh fruits, vegetables and other healthful foods in some neighborhoods and a dearth of safe community areas for families to walk and for children to play all factor into the obesity epidemic.
But there’s more to it. “Portion sizes in restaurants are much larger than they have been, soft drinks at convenience stores are much larger than they have been,” said Dr. James Marks, senior vice president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “When people have a larger size they will eat more. Snacking has gone up more and more. All of these things contribute.”
“We’ve built inactivity into our lifestyles. We’ve designed communities around cars,” said Levi. “Kids are watching TV and sitting around computers. We’ve found plenty of ways to entertain ourselves that don’t include activity.”
“The information in this report should spur us all – individuals and policymakers alike – to redouble our efforts to reverse this debilitating and costly epidemic,” said Dr. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “Changing policies is an important way to provide children and families with vital resources and opportunities to make healthier choices easier in their day-to day-lives.”
Recommendations include making sure all food and drinks sold in schools meet the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans, increasing access to quality and affordable foods, expanding the amount and intensity of physical activity in schools and in out-of-school programs, increasing physical activity by providing communities safe places to walk, bike and play, introducing pricing incentives to help people buy healthier foods and regulating how and where unhealthy foods are marketed to children.
Marks says what’s particularly tragic is the increase in type 2 diabetes among younger adults and kids. “Since the 1970s, the rate of obesity has tripled or quadrupled in children,” said Marks. “We’ve got an even larger problem coming in our children.”
Source: Saundra Young – CNN Medical Senior Producer
Lap Band Surgery In Older People
By Adriana N.
With more people now living longer, the result has been new health issues facing the increasing aging population. Our society is now seeing an increase in obesity rates among the aging population. The issue of obesity and the aging population has become a serious medical issue. Because obesity has become a health issue across all spectrums of the population, medical science has developed safer and effective weight loss surgery methods.
One such method is Lap Band Surgery. Research has revealed that Lap Band Surgery in older people is a safe way to help older people lose weight and live healthier lives. Morbid obesity and mortality rates have been steadily increasing which has led medical researchers to come up with safe ways to help the obese drop the excess weight. There have been a number of studies that have shown that Lap Band Surgery has become a very safe and effective method of helping patients 50 and over lose weight.
Results have shown that older patients suffering from obesity who have had Lap Band Surgery have experienced no more significant complications than any other age group. Any complications were consistent with other typical complications that can happen such as pouch dilations, band slippages, and band erosion, The rates of these complications, like the other age groups, were very low which is consistent with the research indicating that Lab Band Surgery is a safe and minimally invasive procedure.
Weight loss surgery for an older person has shown to be an effective method of losing weight. The weight loss achieved was much the same as younger people who had the surgery. Weight loss patients who have undergone the surgery not only experience a drastic loss of weight, but they also experienced relief of symptoms and conditions resulting from obesity such as alleviating or resolving diabetes, breathing better because lung function is improved, adapting a healthier and active lifestyle, living longer, and reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Obese older patients have experienced a number of other improvements in their quality of life such as improved energy levels, mental health, and an improvement in their overall physical well being.
The result of having this surgery means fewer trips to the doctor and the hospital, which means less of a financial strain on society. The increase in the aging population along with the increase in the rates of obesity has become a major health concern in our society. Fortunately, research has shown that the majority of patients who are older have had positive results after having Lap Band Surgery. Most medical experts believe that the age of a potential Lap Band Surgery candidate should not be an issue when considering him or her for the weight loss procedure.
If you are an obese older person who is considering Lap Band Surgery, it is important to consult with you physician and a Lab Band Surgeon to discuss if the surgery is right for you. The result of having this type of weight loss procedure can be a longer, happier, and healthier life.
Laparoscopic Lap band surgery Canada is designed to induce weight loss by limiting food consumption. The adjustable gastric band is the safest surgical procedure for weight loss, unique because it is adjustable and reversible. When doing research for laparoscopic surgery, read up about Lap band cost and be sure to visit the CIBO Weight Loss Clinic.
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Lack of Sleep Leads to Weight Gain
By Samuel Peterson
Lack of sleep makes the body low on energy and thus, lethargic. Apart from this it makes us skip all the exercises in the day and to add to it, we indulge in eating sugary and fatty food. Once we gain weight, these tendencies tend to continue and harm all efforts to lose the extra pounds also.
Many experts have researched and concluded that that if the body gets less sleep than it needs the appetite for high calorie food increases. The whole idea to eat healthy is disrupted and we thus, put on weight. The human body has many hormones and two of these affect the appetite and the satiety levels. Ghrelin results in eating more and the other Leptin stops the appetite and encourages expenditure of energy.
Lack of sleep results in increased levels of Ghrelin and reduced levels of Leptin, which means we eat much more than the body wants. Sleep deprived people eat high calorie food and put on weight. The extra calories that we consume tend to accumulate around the stomach. The increased waistline is very dangerous as it increases the risk of type II diabetes.
Insulin levels get altered in the body due to less of sleep thus, increasing the risk of diabetes. The body’s tolerance for glucose is said to decrease when it does not get sufficient sleep. Ideally the glucose levels act perfectly when one gets about nine hours of sleep at night. It is not that if you sleep less for one night you tend to put on weight as the next day you will be eating sugary food. This causes a problem if lack of sleep becomes a routine.
The extent of the problem when one sleeps less can be controlled by being careful what you eat. Sleeping less after a healthy diet can still lead to increased weight but the amount can be controlled. An unhealthy diet with insufficient sleep hours apart from causing weight gain makes it extremely difficult to reduce weight.
The problem of less sleep and obesity is also noticed in children. Doctors say that if you sleep properly it is not certain that you will lose weight but this is a fact, lack of sleep will lead to weight gain. Sound sleep is very essential for the body to function the way it has to. To get a proper sleep one needs to take proper rest. The body needs it and you need to give it, there is no alternative to it.
One should exercise early in the day and not before bedtime. Exercise is said to help one sleep properly, only if done at the right time. One needs to eat right, like adequate proteins. Whole grains and fibre rich food is very essential for the body. Many people think alcohol calms you but if had near bedtime it tends to disrupt sleep. It increases calories and results in less sleep thus, the weight gain.
The key to a healthy body is to give it sufficient sleep and rest. The body works like machinery and it also needs its share of care and rest to keep working the way it is designed to.
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What is Overweight and Obesity?
border=”0″/>What is Overweight and Obesity
U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health
- What are overweight and obesity?
- How are weight-related health risks determined?
- Body Mass Index Table
- Why do statistics about overweight and obesity differ?
- Prevalence Statistics Related to Overweight and Obesity
- Economic Costs Related to Overweight and Obesity
- Other Statistics Related to Overweight and Obesity
About two-thirds of adults in the United States are overweight, and almost one-third are obese, according to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001 to 2004. This fact sheet presents statistics on the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the United States, as well as the health risks, mortality rates, and economic costs associated with these conditions. To understand these statistics, it is necessary to know how overweight and obesity are defined and measured, something this publication addresses. This fact sheet also explains why statistics from different sources may not match.
Overweight and obesity are known risk factors for:
■diabetes
■coronary heart disease
■high blood cholesterol
■stroke
■hypertension
■gallbladder disease
■osteoarthritis (degeneration of cartilage and bone of joints)
■sleep apnea and other breathing problems
■some forms of cancer (breast, colorectal, endometrial, and kidney)
Obesity is also associated with:
■complications of pregnancy
■menstrual irregularities
■hirsutism (presence of excess body and facial hair)
■stress incontinence (urine leakage caused by weak pelvic floor muscles)
■psychological disorders, such as depression
■increased surgical risk
■increased mortality
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What is overweight and obesity?
Overweight refers to an excess of body weight compared to set standards. The excess weight may come from muscle, bone, fat, and/or body water. Obesity refers specifically to having an abnormally high proportion of body fat.[1] A person can be overweight without being obese, as in the example of a bodybuilder or other athlete who has a lot of muscle. However, many people who are overweight are also obese.
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How are weight-related health risks determined?
Various methods are used to determine if someone’s weight has increased his or her health risks. Some are based on the relationship between height and weight; others are based on measurements of body fat. The most commonly used method today is the body mass index (BMI). BMI is an index of weight adjusted for the height of an individual.
BMI can be used to screen for both overweight and obesity in adults. It is the measurement of choice for many obesity researchers and other health professionals, as well as the definition used in most published information on overweight and obesity. BMI is a calculation based on height and weight, and it is not gender-specific in adults. BMI does not directly measure percentage of body fat, but it is a more accurate indicator of overweight and obesity than relying on weight alone.
BMI is calculated by dividing a person’s weight in kilograms by height in meters squared. The mathematical formula is “weight (kg)/height (m²).”
To determine BMI using pounds and inches, multiply weight in pounds by 704.5,* divide the result by height in inches, and then divide that result by height in inches a second time. (You can also use the BMI calculator at www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi or check the chart below.)
* The multiplier 704.5 is used by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Other organizations may use a slightly different multiplier; for example, the American Dietetic Association suggests multiplying by 700. The variation in outcome (a few tenths) is insignificant.
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Body Mass Index Table
To use the table, find the appropriate height in the left-hand column and then move across to a given weight. The number at the top of the column is the BMI at that height and weight. Pounds have been rounded off.
Source: Clinical Guidelines on Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults, NHLBI, September 1998
An expert panel convened by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) in cooperation with the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), both part of NIH, identified overweight as a BMI of 25 to 29.9 kg/m², and obesity as a BMI of 30 kg/m² or greater. However, overweight and obesity are not mutually exclusive, since people who are obese are also overweight.[1] Defining overweight as a BMI of 25 or greater is consistent with the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO)[2] and most other countries.
Calculating BMI is simple, quick, and inexpensive—but it does have limitations. One problem with using BMI as a measurement tool is that very muscular people may fall into the “overweight” category when they are actually healthy and fit. Another problem with using BMI is that people who have lost muscle mass, such as the elderly, may be in the “healthy weight” BMI category (BMI 18.5 to 24.9) when they actually have reduced nutritional reserves. BMI, therefore, is useful as a screening tool for individuals and as a general guideline to monitor trends in the population, but by itself is not diagnostic of an individual patient’s health status. Further assessment of patients should be performed to evaluate their weight status and associated health risks.
For more information on measuring overweight and obesity, see Weight and Waist Measurement: Tools for Adults.
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Why do statistics about overweight and obesity differ?
The definitions or measurement characteristics for overweight and obesity have varied over time, from study to study, and from one part of the world to another. The varied definitions affect prevalence statistics and make it difficult to compare data from different studies. Prevalence refers to the total number of existing cases of a disease or condition in a given population at a given time. Some overweight- and obesity-related prevalence rates are presented as crude or unadjusted estimates, while others are age-adjusted estimates. Unadjusted prevalence estimates are used to present cross-sectional data for population groups at a given point or time period, without accounting for the effect of different age variations among groups. For age-adjusted rates, statistical procedures are used to remove the effect of age differences when comparing two or more populations at one point in time, or one population at two or more points in time. Unadjusted estimates and age-adjusted estimates will yield slightly different values.
Previous studies in the United States have used the 1959 or the 1983 Metropolitan Life Insurance tables of desirable weight-for-height as the reference for overweight.[3] More recently, many Government agencies and scientific health organizations have estimated overweight using data from a series of cross-sectional surveys called the National Health Examination Surveys (NHES) and NHANES. The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted these surveys. Each had three cycles: NHES I, II, and III spanned the period from 1960 to 1970, and NHANES I, II, and III were conducted in the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s. Since 1999, NHANES has become a continuous survey.
Many earlier reports use a statistically derived definition of overweight from NHANES II (1976 to 1980). This definition (based on the gender-specific 85th percentile values of BMI for 20- to 29-year-olds) is a BMI greater than or equal to (>) 27.3 for women and 27.8 for men. NHANES II further defines “severe overweight” (based on 95th percentile values) as a BMI > 31.1 for men and a BMI > 32.2 for women.[4] Some studies round these numbers to a whole number, which affects the statistical prevalence. In 1995, WHO recommended a classification for three “grades” of overweight using BMI cutoff points of 25, 30, and 40.[5] WHO suggested an additional cutoff point of 35 and slightly different terminology in 1998.[2]
The expert panel convened by NHLBI and NIDDK released a report in September 1998 that provided definitions for overweight and obesity similar to those used by WHO. The panel identified overweight as a BMI > 25 to less than (<) 30, and obesity as a BMI > 30. These definitions, widely used by the Federal Government and more frequently by the broader medical and scientific communities, are based on evidence that health risks increase in individuals with a BMI > 25.
BMI cutoff points are a guide for definitions of overweight and obesity and are useful for comparative purposes across populations and over time; however, the health risks associated with overweight and obesity are on a continuum and do not necessarily correspond to rigid cutoff points. For example, an overweight individual with a BMI of 29 does not acquire additional health consequences associated with obesity simply by crossing the BMI threshold of > 30. However, health risks generally increase with increasing BMI.
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Overweight and obesity are found worldwide, and the prevalence of these conditions in the United States ranks high along with other developed nations.
Below are some frequently asked questions and answers about overweight and obesity statistics. Data are based on NHANES 2001 to 2004. Unless otherwise specified, the figures given represent age-adjusted estimates. Age-adjusted estimates are used in order to account for the age variations among the groups being compared. Population numbers are based on estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey.
Q: How many adults age 20 and older are overweight or obese (BMI > 25)?
A: About two-thirds of U.S. adults are overweight or obese.[6]
All adults: 133.6 million (66 percent)
Women: 65 million (61.6 percent)
Men: 68.3 million (70.5 percent)
* The statistics presented here are based on the following definitions unless otherwise specified: healthy weight = BMI > 18.5 to < 25; overweight = BMI > 25 to < 30; obesity = BMI > 30; and extreme obesity = BMI > 40.
Q: How many adults age 20 and older are obese (BMI > 30)?
A: Nearly one-third of U.S. adults are obese.[6]
All adults: 63.6 million (31.4 percent)
Women: 35 million (33.2 percent)
Men: 28.6 million (29.5 percent)
Q: How many adults age 20 and older are at a healthy weight (BMI > 18.5 through 24.9)?
A: Less than one-third of U.S. adults are at a healthy weight.[6]
All adults: 65.4 million (32.3 percent)
Women: 38.1 million (36.1 percent)
Men: 27.4 million (28.3 percent)
Q: How has the prevalence of overweight and obesity in adults changed over the years?
A: The prevalence has steadily increased over the years among both genders, all ages, all racial and ethnic groups, all educational levels, and all smoking levels.[7] From 1960 to 2004, the prevalence of overweight increased from 44.8 to 66 percent in U.S. adults age 20 to 74.[6] The prevalence of obesity during this same time period more than doubled among adults age 20 to 74 from 13.3 to 32.1 percent, with most of this rise occurring since 1980.[6]
Q: What is the prevalence of overweight or obesity in minorities?
A: Among women, the age-adjusted prevalence of overweight or obesity (BMI > 25) in racial and ethnic minorities is higher among non-Hispanic Black and Mexican-American women than among non-Hispanic White women. Among men, there is little difference in prevalence among these three groups [6]. Sufficient data for other racial and ethnic minorities has not yet been collected.
Non-Hispanic Black Women: 79.6 percent
Mexican-American Women: 73 percent
Non-Hispanic White Women: 57.6 percent
Non-Hispanic Black Men: 67 percent
Mexican-American Men: 74.6 percent
Non-Hispanic White Men: 71 percent
(Statistics are for populations age 20 and older.)
Studies using this definition of overweight and obesity provide ethnicity-specific data only for these three racial and ethnic groups. Studies using different BMI cutoff points derived from NHANES II data to define overweight and obesity have reported a high prevalence of overweight and obesity among Hispanics and American Indians. The prevalence of overweight and obesity in Asian Americans is lower than in the population as a whole.[1]
Q: What is the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents?
A: While there is no generally accepted definition for obesity as distinct from overweight in children and adolescents, the prevalence of overweight* is increasing for children and adolescents in the United States. Approximately 17.5 percent of children (age 6 to 11) and 17 percent of adolescents (age 12 to 19) were overweight in 2001 to 2004.[6]
* Overweight is defined by the sex- and age-specific 95th percentile cutoff points of the 2000 CDC growth charts. These revised growth charts incorporate smoothed BMI percentiles and are based on data from NHES II (1963 to 1965) and III (1966 to 1970), and NHANES I (1971 to 1974), II (1976 to 1980), and III (1988 to 1994). The CDC BMI growth charts specifically excluded NHANES III data for children older than 6 years.[8]
Figure 1. Overweight and Obesity, by Age: United States, 1960-2004
Source: CDC/NCHS, Health, United States, 2006
Q: What is the mortality rate associated with obesity?
A: Most studies show an increase in mortality rates associated with obesity. Individuals who are obese have a 10- to 50-percent increased risk of death from all causes, compared with healthy weight individuals (BMI 18.5 to 24.9). Most of the increased risk is due to cardiovascular causes.[1] Obesity is associated with about 112,000 excess deaths per year in the U.S. population relative to healthy weight individuals.[9]
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Economic Costs Related to Overweight and Obesity
As the prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased in the United States, so have related health care costs—both direct and indirect. Direct health care costs refer to preventive, diagnostic, and treatment services such as physician visits, medications, and hospital and nursing home care. Indirect costs are the value of wages lost by people unable to work because of illness or disability, as well as the value of future earnings lost by premature death.
Most of the statistics presented here represent the economic cost of overweight and obesity in the United States in 1995, updated to 2001 dollars.[10] Unless otherwise noted, these statistics are adapted from Wolf and Colditz,[11] who based their data on existing epidemiological studies that defined overweight and obesity as a BMI > 29. Because the prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased since 1995, the costs today are higher than the figures given here.
Q: What is the cost of overweight and obesity?
A: Total Cost: $117 billion
Direct Cost: $61 billion*
Indirect Cost: $56 billion
*A recent study estimated annual medical spending due to overweight and obesity (BMI >25) to be as much as $92.6 billion in 2002 dollars—9.1 percent of U.S. health expenditures.[12]
Q: What is the cost of lost productivity related to overweight and obesity?
A: The cost of lost productivity related to obesity among Americans age 17 to 64 is $3.9 billion. This value considers the following annual numbers (for 1994):
Workdays lost: $39.3 million
Physician office visits: $62.7 million
Restricted-activity days: $239 million
Bed-days: $89.5 million
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Other Statistics Related to Overweight and Obesity
Q: How physically active is the U.S. population?
A: Only 26 percent of U.S. adults engage in vigorous leisure-time physical activity three or more times per week (defined as periods of vigorous physical activity lasting 10 minutes or more). About 59 percent of adults do no vigorous physical activity at all in their leisure time.[13]
About 25 percent of young people (age 12 to 21) participate in light-to-moderate activity (e.g., walking, bicycling) nearly every day. About 50 percent regularly engage in vigorous physical activity. Approximately 25 percent report no vigorous physical activity, and 14 percent report no recent vigorous or light-to-moderate physical activity.[14]
Q: What is the cost of physical inactivity?
A: The direct cost of physical inactivity may be as high as $24.3 billion.[15]
Q: What are the benefits of physical activity?
A: In addition to helping control weight, physical activity decreases the risk of dying from coronary heart disease and reduces the risk of developing diabetes, hypertension, and colon cancer.[14]
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References [1] Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults—The Evidence Report. National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. September 1998. Available at www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/ob_gdlns.htm.
[2] World Health Organization. Obesity: Preventing and managing the global epidemic. Report of a World Health Organization Consultation on Obesity, Geneva, 3–5 June, 1997. World Health Organization. Geneva, 1998.
[3] Flegal KM, Carroll MD, Kuczmarski RJ, Johnson CL. Overweight and obesity in the United States: Prevalence and trends, 1960–1994. International Journal of Obesity. 1998; 22:39–47.
[4] Kuczmarski RJ, Flegal KM. Criteria for definition of overweight in transition: Background and recommendations for the United States. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2000; 72:1074–1081.
[5] Physical status: The use and interpretation of anthropometry. Report of a World Health Organization Expert Committee. World Health Organization: Geneva, 1995 (World Health Organization Technical Report Series; 854).
[6] National Center for Health Statistics. Chartbook on Trends in the Health of Americans. Health, United States, 2006. Hyattsville, MD: Public Health Service. 2006.
[7] Mokdad AH, Ford ES, Bowman BA, Dietz WH, Vinicor F, Bales VS, Marks JS. Prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and obesity-related health risk factors, 2001. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2003; 289(1):76–79.
[8] Kuczmarski RJ, Ogden CL, Guo SS, et al. 2000 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention growth charts for the United States: Methods and development. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 11(246). 2002.
[9] Flegal KM, Graubard BI, Williamson, DF, Gail MH. Excess deaths associated with underweight, overweight, and obesity. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2005; 293(15):1861–7.
[10] Wolf AM, Manson JE, Colditz GA. The Economic Impact of Overweight, Obesity and Weight Loss. In: Eckel R, ed. Obesity: Mechanisms and Clinical Management. Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins; 2002.
[11] Wolf AM, Colditz GA. Current estimates of the economic cost of obesity in the United States. Obesity Research. March 1998; 6(2):97–106.
[12] Finkelstein EA, Fiebelkorn IC, Wang G. National medical spending attributable to overweight and obesity: How much, and who’s paying? Health Affairs Web Exclusive. 2003; W3:219-226.
[13] Lethbridge-Çejku M, Vickerie J. Summary health statistics for U.S. adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2003. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 10(225). 2005.
[14] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Physical Activity and Health: A Report of the Surgeon General. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 1996.
[15] Colditz GA. Economic costs of obesity and inactivity. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 1999; S663–S667.
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Weight-control Information Network 1 WIN Way
Bethesda, MD 20892–3665
Phone: (202) 828–1025
Toll-free number: 1–877–946–4627
Fax: (202) 828–1028
Email: WIN@info.niddk.nih.gov
Internet: www.win.niddk.nih.gov
The Weight-control Information Network (WIN) is a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is the Federal Government’s lead agency responsible for biomedical research on nutrition and obesity. Authorized by Congress (Public Law 103–43), WIN provides the general public, health professionals, the media, and Congress with up-to-date, science-based information on weight control, obesity, physical activity, and related nutritional issues.
Publications produced by WIN are reviewed by both NIDDK scientists and outside experts. This fact sheet was also reviewed by David F. Williamson, Ph.D., CAPT U.S. Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Division of Diabetes Translation; Katherine Flegal, Ph.D., Senior Research Scientist, National Center for Health Statistics, CDC; and Rachel Ballard-Barbash, M.D., M.P.H., Associate Director, Applied Research Program, National Cancer Institute, NIH.
This publication is not copyrighted. WIN encourages users of this fact sheet to duplicate and distribute as many copies as desired. This fact sheet is also available at www.win.niddk.nih.gov.
Updated May 2007
Contact Us
Toll free: 1-877-946-4627 Fax: (202) 828-1028 E-mail: win@info.niddk.nih.gov
Weight-control Information Network, 1 WIN Way, Bethesda, MD 20892-3665
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Note From FoodSpook: This post is a little dated (2007), but it is still very relevant. Obesity is now responsible for more 400,000 deaths per year in the United States.
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