Obesity
Obesity is the condition in which the weight and accumulated fat of a person has reached a level that significantly affects their health, longevity, circulatory system, respiratory system, skeletal system and sleep in addition to other parts of their life and body.
Many public health officials, doctors and even First Lady Michelle Obama have called attention to obesity in recent years due to the alarming pace at which it seems to be rising. The World Health Organization estimated that as of 2008 approximately 1.5 billion adults (age 20 and above) were overweight and of these more than 200 million men and nearly 300 million women were obese.
The organization went on to project that by 2015 approximately 2.3 billion adults will be overweight and more than 700 million will be obese.
Medical professionals often define obesity as a measurement of the Body Mass Index, which is a ratio of height and weight. Someone with a Body Mass Index, or BMI, of greater than 30 kg/m2 is considered obese. People with a BMI between 25 kg/m2 and 30 kg/m2 are considered overweight or pre-obese.
According to the World Health Organization, the fundamental causes of obesity are lifestyle-related: the intake of excessive calories on one hand and the lack of physical activity to burn those calories on the other.
In addition to lifestyle issues, a few cases of obesity have been known to be caused by genetic predisposition, endocrine problems, pharmaceutical drugs and mental illness.
(Photo: Tobyotter/Flickr)
Articles about Obesity
Thu, May 24 2012 at 2:52 PM EST
Using previous studies as a springboard, researchers speculate that the composition of gut bacteria in children born by c-section raises the risk of obesity.Tue, May 22 2012 at 2:34 PM EST
Arizona's Tohono O'odham Nation is fighting back in the diabetes epidemic. One way members of the tribe are striving for better health is by returning to their traditional diet. Tue, May 22 2012 at 12:38 PM EST
Plenty of experts say yes, yet some traditional societies seem to have none of the chronic health issues that Americans do. Why is that? Our health writer explores the studies and tackles this controversial issue.Tue, May 15 2012 at 8:07 PM EST
While researchers don't think taxing unhealthy foods and drinks will completely alter behavior, they do think it'll encourage healthier choices.Tue, May 15 2012 at 4:39 PM EST
Too much sugar can eat away at your brainpower, according to scientists who studied how a steady diet of high fructose corn syrup sapped rats' memories.Fri, May 11 2012 at 9:23 AM EST
Researchers say that 'social jetlag' is the source of some sleep woes, as our bodies respond to indoor and outdoor light differently, fooling our body clocks.Thu, May 10 2012 at 7:01 PM EST
According to a new study, a person who sleeps less is more likely to eat 350 to 500 more calories a day.Thu, May 10 2012 at 6:42 PM EST
A panel of experts urged U.S. regulators to approve what could be the first new anti-obesity drug on the market in more than a decade.Wed, May 09 2012 at 1:21 PM EST
Some doctors are urging caution since testosterone has been linked by some researchers to prostate cancer and heart disease.Tue, May 08 2012 at 3:15 PM EST
The Institute of Medicine called for urgent action to reverse obesity trends that are costing the U.S. $190.2 billion a year in illness-related costs.- 1. Solar Storm
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