Obestity is a big deal

Scott farmer

Obesity Is A Big Deal

"One can always distinguish between juveniles and adults in mammalian species: The juveniles  are always looking for something to do and the adults are always looking for someplace to sit  down…"

Per-Olof Astrand, Exercise Physiologist

During a time of super-sized meals, high-speed Internet, and increasing sport spectatorship, we  find ourselves far less active and heavier than our ancestors.

We also find ourselves more stressed about finances and frustrated about escalating health  insurance premiums, greater deductibles, larger co-pays and higher taxes. Our defined benefits  have become defined contributions. We demand answers and look for reasons.

Our desire for enlightenment, ironically, is probably as close as the nearest mirror or scale. Our  lifestyles have created a chain reaction that is hitting us all hard in our hearts as well as our  pocket book, with the catalyst being obesity: 1 out 2 Americans will develop heart disease, 17%  of heart disease cost is directly related to obesity and $99.2 billion is spent annually on  individuals with a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 28.

Between 1985 and 1999 the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) measured the change in obesity  prevalence in the U.S. (Obesity being measured by a BMI greater than 25.) In 1985, 28 states  reported no prevalence of obesity while 14 reported less than 10%. By 1999, 21 states reported  obesity in more than 25% while another 21 states reported obesity levels between 15-20%. This  dramatic increase has produced a tremendous health burden, killing on average 300,000 people a  year. Not only has obesity been linked to increased human fatality, obesity and the lifestyle that  is its genesis may be the impetus for most debilitating diseases.

Sedentary lifestyle and poor dietary habits are the first steps in this cycle of destruction. Obesity,  which results from these two common lifestyle practices, produces conditions that are commonly  linked to many diseases. Heart disease, stroke and cancer top this disease list. According to the  CDC, high blood pressure is 75% directly linked to obesity while insulin resistant diabetes is  more than 50% attributed to obesity. High cholesterol is also highly associated with obesity.

Dr. Tom Kottke, cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic, states, "When we work to prevent  cardiovascular disease, we also reduce the risk of cancer, diabetes, chronic obstructive lung  disease, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and related diseases—the "lifestyle syndrome". According  to the CDC this would result in billions of dollars saved annually. Simply moving the U.S.  population from a low fitness level to a moderate fitness level would save almost $76 billion  annually.

Even though humans today eat more calories on average than their grandparents, 80% of all  obesity can be associated with low caloric expenditure &n

Health and Fitness

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