Obesity: The Epidemic

In 2004, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ranked obesity as the number one health threat facing America. Obesity currently results in an estimated 400,000 deaths annually¹ and costs nearly $122.9billion². Recent government programs aimed at combating the obesity epidemic, such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s “Calories Count” and the Department of Health and Human Services’s “Small Steps” programs, have further magnified media and public attention on obesity as well as weight loss. Obesity not only impacts lifestyle but can also lead to lower self-esteem, and cause depression and discomfort in social situations³, is significantly reducing the quality of life among adults in our nation. Obesity also increases a person’s risk for developing several serious obesity-related health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, thyroid disease, PCOS, and diabetes. In addition, childhood (pediatric) obesity affects more than 15 percent of the population under 18 years old classified as overweight⁴.

To define obesity, it is first important to differentiate between overweight and obese*.

• According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), overweight refers to increased body weight that is at least 10 percent over a recommended weight⁵ relative to the individual. These recommended weight standards are generated based on a sampling of the U.S. population or by body mass index (BMI), a calculation that assesses weight relative to height**. So, in common terms, overweight refers to an individual with a body mass index or BMI > 25. Overweight may not only be the result of increases in body fat, but lean muscle as well⁶.
  
• Obesity has generally been defined as an excessive amount of body fat in relation to lean body mass⁷. In more scientific terms, obesity refers to a body weight that is at least 30 percent over the ideal weight for a specified height⁸. More commonly, obese refers to any individual with a body mass index or BMI > 30.

* Note: The terms “overweight” and “obese” are used as nouns to reflect usage standards set by numerous U.S. health and regulatory agencies and the medical community.
** Please see “What is Body Mass Index (BMI)?” on the BMI Calculator for reference related information.