How bad is the adult obesity problem?
Over the past 25 years, obesity prevalence among adults has increased astronomically. In 1990, 10 US states had less than 10% obesity prevalence among their adult population. In 2010, no US states had less than a 20% obesity prevalence! Currently, the most obese state in the country is Arkansas, with an adult obesity rate of nearly 36%.
Illinois currently has about 3.8 million adults who are obese, about 29.3% of the state population. This prevalence rate puts our state near the middle of the list, as the 26th least obese US state/territory.
Adults who are obese have an increased risk for many different physical problems and ailments, including but not limited to:
- High Blood Pressure
- Diabetes
- Heart Disease
- Stroke
- Osteoarthritis
- Certain Types of Cancer (specifically endometrial, breast, colon, kidney, gallbladder, and liver)
- Mental Illness
- Body Pain
- All Causes of Death
What is obesity?
According to the CDC, obesity is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30. BMI is a measure of the ratio between a person’s height and weight, and is not designed to diagnose “fatness” or overall health.
As an example, a 5’9” adult who weighs 203 lbs. has a body mass index of 30 and is considered obese. If that same 5’9” adult lowered their weight to 165 lbs., they would have a BMI of approximately 24, and have a “healthy weight.” Ensuring that you are following good weight management practices is key to lowering you BMI.
Weight Management Tips
As each individual is different, their specific weight management needs are unique. Only a medical professional who specializes in the science of weight management can give you definitive weight management advice that is tailored to your specific needs. However, many experts agree that there are four key areas that need to be addressed in every weight management plan: sleep, stress, exercise, and diet.
Much has been written about diet and exercise, and your local weight management specialist can give you much more information about these two important parts in the fight against adult obesity. For now, we’re going to focus on the two aspects of weight management that are discussed far less than the others.
For more info, please visit us at: http://www.corewellnessmedical.com/
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