More than two-thirds of U.S. adults and almost one-third of children and adolescents are overweight or obese. Obesity is a complex metabolic disease with many contributing factors.
More than two-thirds of U.S. adults and almost one-third of children and adolescents are overweight or obese. There are many factors that contribute to obesity. Neighborhood design, access to nutritious, affordable foods and beverages, and access to safe and convenient places for physical activity can all impact weight and health. The racial and ethnic disparities in obesity underscore the need to address social determinants of health such as poverty, education, and housing to improve health equity.
Obesity is a major public health concern in the United States as it is a contributing factor to many diseases including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and some types of cancer.
Contributors to obesity in adults and children may include:
Childhood Obesity
Childhood obesity is a serious problem in the United States putting children and adolescents at risk for poor health throughout their lives. Obesity is defined as a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for children and teens of the same age and sex. Today, more and more children are being diagnosed with diabetes, hypertension and other co-morbid conditions associated with obesity and severe obesity.
Body Mass Index
Obesity is defined as having excess body fat. Body Mass Index (BMI) can be used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems, but it is not diagnostic of the body fatness or health of an individual. BMI is a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of the body height.
To estimate your BMI, see the Adult BMI Calculator or determine BMI by finding your height and weight in this BMI Index Chart.
To estimate a child or teen’s Body Mass Index (BMI), type height and weight into the Child and Teen BMI Calculator
Following a healthy lifestyle may help to prevent obesity, as well as other negative health outcomes. Start building healthy habits now:
Talk with your healthcare provider about your daily habits, medical history and family medical history to determine the best ways for you to improve your health.
Resources:
Asthma cannot be cured. However, by eliminating asthma triggers and taking asthma medication, you may be able to reduce the frequency of your asthma attacks. Treatment varies from person to person, so it is important to work with your doctor to manage your asthma and create an asthma action plan. Learn how to recognize, reduce or eliminate common asthma triggers in your home.
Resources:
While there is no sure way to prevent arthritis, you can reduce your risk and delay the potential onset of certain types of arthritis.
Visit the Arthritis Foundation website for more information. You can also help manage your risk by participating in our free lifestyle programs:
Knowing the cancer history of your family is also important to understanding your potential risk for cancer so you can take charge of your health.
The signs and symptoms of cancer depend on where the cancer is, how big it is, and how much it affects the organs or tissues. If a cancer has spread (metastasized), signs or symptoms may appear in different parts of the body. Just as the signs and symptoms can vary, the treatment options for everyone will vary as well.
The good news is that you can decrease your risk of preventable cancer by making healthy lifestyle choices like:
You can manage your risk by participating in our free lifestyle programs:
Resources:
