Obesity is the condition which is characterized by having more body fat than normal. Obesity has become a major issue for many people in recent times.
A rampant problem in the world today, it seems like everyone has their own special tips and tricks for losing weight. According to average daily human calorie needs, men need 2500 calories per day and women need about 1800 to 2000 calories per day. However, on average, we tend to consume more than 2500 calories per day and excess energy is not used by the body and is instead stored in the form of fat. Obesity can be linked to many diseases in the long run, including high cholesterol levels, heart diseases, type II diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, severe back problems, and poor mobility. In women, obesity can cause reproductive problems like infertility and irregularity in their menstrual cycle. [1] [2]
How Many People are Obese?
A study was conducted on obesity by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), and the CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), the United States from the year 1985 to 2010. The study has revealed that about one-third of the adult population in the United States is obese and about 12.5 million children aged between 2 – 19 years are obese. This is a matter of concern because the numbers continue to grow. Adults suffer from obesity due to a lack of physical activity and diet. [3]
Obesity is one of the primary causes of heart related disorders. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Obesity in Children
Childhood obesity is actually a sweeping phenomenon that is endangering the lives and the future of millions of children around the world. Research suggests that kids familiar with unhealthy food logos are more likely to be overweight. Fortunately, due to the rising numbers of obese children, there has been a major increase in awareness and health solutions for childhood obesity. These range from dietary management, healthy exercise habits, emotional support, and recreational lifestyle changes. A research study suggests that stress, diet, hormones, and child obesity are interrelated and good stress coping skills, a healthy environment and a healthy diet may help in preventing the risk of obesity in children. [4] [5] [6] [7]
