Welcome to Obesity Guide
Obesity Studies 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 Studies News
Obesity among homeless almost as high as in general population, study finds - Plain Dealer
 Plain Dealer | Obesity among homeless almost as high as in general population, study finds Plain Dealer Surprisingly, according to a new study done by researchers at Harvard and Oxford universities, obesity may be the new picture of malnutrition, even among the poorest of us. The researchers found that obesity is just as common among the homeless as ... Study finds the homeless also carry extra pounds around |
Overweight, Obese Teens Show Early Heart Risks - WebMD
 CBS News | Overweight, Obese Teens Show Early Heart Risks WebMD By Kathleen Doheny May 21, 2012 -- Two new studies show the early health risks the ever-enlarging number of obese US teens face, from diabetes to heart damage. According to new research from the CDC, many overweight and obese teens who appear otherwise ... Diabetes on the Rise Among Teenagers Why Youth Pre-Diabetes May Be Rapidly Rising Even If Obesity Isn't Teen Diabetes: Cases Double, Other Heart Risks Still High |
Want to lower breast cancer risk? Lose a little weight - Los Angeles Times
 ABC News | Want to lower breast cancer risk? Lose a little weight Los Angeles Times While many studies have linked obesity to breast cancer, this is the first to show that losing weight will drive down that risk. Obesity is just one of many risk factors for breast cancer that a woman can do something about. Small weight loss effectively reduces sex hormones linked with breast cancer Moderate Weight Loss Can Decrease Breast Cancer Risk Weight loss and exercise reduce the risk for breast cancer by altering ... |
Obese Teens Can Have Heart Damage Without Showing Signs - U.S. News & World Report
 Zee News | Obese Teens Can Have Heart Damage Without Showing Signs U.S. News & World Report MONDAY, May 21 (HealthDay News) -- Heart damage can be present in obese teens who don't have any symptoms of heart disease, a small, preliminary study found. Obesity is a risk factor for heart disease, and previous research has shown that obese adults ... Obese adolescents have heart damage Obese Youths Found to Have Heart Damage Hearts Already Hurt in Obese Teens |
Researchers unravel the relation between DNA methylomes and obesity - Medical Xpress
Researchers unravel the relation between DNA methylomes and obesity Medical Xpress said Professor Mingzhou Li from Sichuan Agricultural University, "In order to advance obesity research, it is necessary to understand the epigenetic factors, especially DNA methylation, which plays a important role in obesity development. |
WWII Chemical Exposure Spurs Obesity, Autism, Researcher Says - San Francisco Chronicle
 AFP | WWII Chemical Exposure Spurs Obesity, Autism, Researcher Says San Francisco Chronicle His research showed that descendants of rats exposed to a crop fungicide were less sociable, more obese and more anxious than offspring of the unexposed. The results, published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, ... Chemical exposure influences rat behavior for generations |
Battle of the bulge: Does treating obesity as a disease help? - Montreal Gazette
 Nanaimo Daily News | Battle of the bulge: Does treating obesity as a disease help? Montreal Gazette Havrankova says the evidence of obesity's health-damaging effects is "irrefutable" and the costs to society and individuals "astronomical." Yet, "there is very little evidence that the treatment of obesity works," Havrankova said. Of the studies done, ... HEALTHY WEIGHT FOR LIFE 1: Lower education leads to more fat, earlier death |