Obesity: An American Epidemic

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Recommended: Causes of obesity and its effects

The last decade has welcomed, with open arms, a new epidemic: obesity. Currently in the United States, more than one-third of adults, 35.7%, and approximately 17% of children and adolescents are obese. Obesity is not only a problem in the US but also worldwide with its prevalence doubling in high income and economically advanced countries and is also growing in under-developed areas. Its incidence rate is continually increasing with each successive generation and in each age group, including the elderly (Byles, 2009; Dorner and Rieder, 2011).

An individual is often labeled “obese” when his or her weight is greater than what is considered to be healthy for his or her given height. The individual’s body mass index (BMI) is a reliable indicator of body fat and is calculated using his or her height and weight. Usually, an adult with a BMI of 30 or higher is classified as obese, whereas a BMI less than 18.5 is underweight, a BMI of 18.5-24.9 is normal weight, and a BMI of 25-29.9 is overweight (Dorner and Rieder, 2011).

Furthermore, the Council of the Obesity Society has officially declared obesity as a disease. It has been found to be a risk factor for the development of a number of other diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and especially cardiovascular diseases like heart failure, ischemic heart diseases, abnormal left ventricular geometry, endothelial dysfunction, systolic and diastolic dysfunction, and atrial fibrillation (Dorner and Rieder, 2011). Moreover, obesity is associated with increased mortality rate, reduced longevity, and premature death (Childers and Allison, 2010). Various concerns involving obesity and the aging population also involve infections, functional limitations, lack of independence, decrea...

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...e elderly should do to maintain a healthy aging process is to eat right and to stay active.

Works Cited

Byles, J. (2009) Obesity: The New Global Threat to Healthy Ageing and Longevity. Health Sociology Review. 18.4: 412-22.

Childers, D. K., Allison, D. B. (2010) The ‘Obesity Paradox’: A Parsimonious Explanation For Relations Among Obesity, Mortality Rate and Aging? International Journal of Obesity. 34: 1231-238.

Dorner, T. E., Rieder, A. (2011) Obesity Paradox in Elderly Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases. International Journal of Cardiology. 155: 56-65.

Loudon, R. (09 Mar. 2012) Chapter 8. BIO 412. Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building, Philadelphia.

Tchkonia, T., Morbeck, D.E., Zglinicki, T. v., Deursen, J. v., Lustgarten, J., Scrable, H., Khosla, S., Jensen, M. D., Kirkland, J. L. (2010) Fat Tissue, Aging, and Cellular Senescence. Aging Cell. 9: 667-84.

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