Welcome to Obesity Guide
Obesity Solutions Article
. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for further reading, click here.
Thinking About Obesity in America
from:Why is obesity in America a particular concern for those in the medical field? Don’t they know that, in the past, some people saw plumpness as attractive? Obesity, in some cultures, was also connected to fertility in females. Even today, many societies around the world see a larger, well-fed person as a symbol of financial success.
While plumpness and being well fed may indeed be an indication of the economic success of American culture, they are increasingly seen as signs of obesity in America. As most people now know, obesity can negatively affect health. The World Health Organization notes that a person is obese if there is accumulation of fatty tissue more than two times the standard. Having these guidelines can help individuals and medical personnel deal with this growing health risk. With this in mind, how do we stack up when it comes to measuring obesity in America?
First, we have to understand what obesity really is. The dictionary definition of obesity states that it is simply “increased body weight due to excessive accumulation of fat.” Humans and other mammals must have a natural energy reserve stored in the fatty tissue. However, this condition can increase to the point where it becomes a health concern. Basically, we need a certain amount of fat as stored energy and for insulating the body. But too much fat can lead to serious health problems.
According to many doctors and medical studies, obesity in America has become an epidemic. Researchers have shown that, by World Health Organization standards, America is home to the most obese people in the world. For instance, the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta report that obesity in America has increased to include 60 percent of the population (in the last 20 years). Another report shows that a minimum of one person in three across the country has far too much fatty tissue in their body. Other studies indicate that more than 60 percent of the American population is obese, compared to 40 percent in 1987.
Studies have also indicated that obesity in America contributes to almost as many deaths each year as tobacco use does. Certain types of diabetes associated with obesity have increased dramatically. This fact has led many in Congress and in state legislatures to try and address the problem through legislation. For example, some states are considering heavy taxes on such items as soft drinks and candy, as well as on activities associated with consumption of sweets and starches – movie tickets, video games etc.
But others in the medical field insist that obesity in America can only be dealt with successfully if individuals and families change their diet and their exercise habits. For these medical experts, reducing the level of obesity in America begins at home.
Obesity Solutions News
Arena obesity pill wins over U.S. advisers
SILVER SPRING, Maryland (Reuters) - An experimental obesity pill from Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc won the support of U.S. advisers on Thursday, as public health advocates push for new solutions to the nation's growing obesity epidemic. A panel of outside experts to the Food and Drug Administration voted 18 to 4 to recommend approval of lorcaserin, bringing the drug a step closer to U.S. approval ...
Read more...WellPoint Announces Strategic Relationship With FitOrbit to Enhance Efforts to Improve the Health and Wellness of ...
Recent studies predict that obesity could affect 42 percent of Americans by 2030 – with 11 percent severely obese. As a company committed to helping people live healthier and addressing critical health issues, such as obesity, affecting our nation, WellPoint, Inc.
Read more...Doctors Should Ask Permission Before Discussing Patients' Weight
EDMONTON, ALBERTA-- - A new obesity management roadmap developed by the Canadian Obesity Network suggests that doctors and other health care providers ask for permission before discussing weight with their ...
Read more...Report: Schools key to fighting America's obesity
Fighting obesity will require changes everywhere Americans live, work, play and learn, says a major new report that outlines dozens of options — from building more walkable neighborhoods to zoning limits on fast-food restaurants to selling healthier snacks in sports arenas.
Read more...Obesity battle requires more movement, healthy foods
Obesity-related health care costs have reached an estimated $190 billion annually. And today's children could be the first generation with shorter life spans than their parents because of the epidemic.
Read more...Polycom® RealPresence® Video Solutions Help Saint Vincent Health System Treat 65 Stroke Victims, Reduce ...
Polycom, Inc. , the global leader in open, standards-based unified communications , today announced that Saint Vincent Health System has built a telehealth network with Polycom® RealPresence® video solutions that makes healthcare more accessible by visually connecting healthcare professionals and patients in virtual environments across 26 facilities in Pennsylvania.
Read more...U.S. Obesity Rate Set to Soar, Costing Billions: CDC
MONDAY, May 7 (HealthDay News) -- Even if the skyrocketing rates of obesity level off, 42 percent of Americans will be obese and 11 percent will be severely obese by the year 2030, a new report predicts.
Read more...