UNDERSTANDING OBESITY

Prevalence of Obesity

Obesity is a very common condition among adults in America, with an estimated 1 in 3 people over the age of 18 being labeled as 'obese.'  Obesity has reached epidemic proportions globally, with at least 2.8 million people dying each year as a result of being overweight or obese.  This is because obesity is the indirect cause of heart disease, diabetes, sleep apnea, arthritis, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, just to name a few.

​

What Causes Obesity?

Medical experts are still working on fully understanding obesity, but the fundamental cause is an energy imbalance between calories consumed and calories expended. Globally, there has been:

• an increased intake of energy-dense foods that are high in fat; and

• a decrease increase in physical inactivity due to the increasingly sedentary nature of many jobs, improved transportation, etc..

In other words, people now have jobs where that sit at a desk most of the day rather than work on their feet, and people can just get into their cars rather than have to walk to the store. 

​

World Health Organization Facts on Obesity

Treatment of Obesity

The best was to lose weight is through healthy eating and exercise.  However, you body may reach a point that you are no longer able to exercise secondary to joint issues/etc. from being overweight.  In addition, repeated dieting does not seem to be working.  If this sounds familiar, then it may be time to consider weight loss surgery.