Table 2: Summary of children’s BMI for age
Summary of Children's BMI-for-Age Boys Girls Total
Number of children assessed: 100 75 175
Underweight (< 5th %ile) 18% 13% 16%
Normal BMI (5th - 85th %ile) 55% 67% 60%
Overweight or obese (≥ 85th %ile)* 27% 20% 24%
Obese (≥ 95th %ile) 14% 5% 10%
*Terminology based on: Barlow SE and the Expert Committee [9]
Graph 1: Prevalence of overweight and obesity
Graph 2: Prevalence of overweight and obesity in boys and girls
Graph 3: Prevalence of underweight in boys and girls
DISCUSSION
Obesity and overweight have become the global health burden of the recent times. World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that, in 2008, more than 1.4 billion people worldwide were overweight; of these over 200
Obese- is becoming an “epidemic!” We have 44.3 million people that are either obese or over weight. In 1986, the numbers were at 1 in 2000, and they became 1 in 400 by the year 2000. Even our high school age students are at an all time high of 16% overweight and 10% obese. As that number keeps increasing, future projections for covering healthcare expenditures must figure in the obese-related
A tool known as BMI (body mass index) is used by medical providers to calculate an individual 's body mass index. It calculated by measuring a child’s weight and height and the found value is then compared to percentiles relative to other children of the same age and sex. For example, if a child aged anywhere from 2-19 is “more than 85% and less than 95%” they are considered overweight. (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009). This tool is not a method used to diagnosis childhood obesity but it 's a valuable way to measure the prevalence of obesity worldwide.
What is not widely known is that the risk of health problems can start with someone who is slightly overweight and that the likelihood of problems with increases as someone becomes more and more overweight. These conditions can eventually cause long-term suffering for individuals and families, not to mention the costs for the health care can be extremely high. The number of things that can impact people’s health caused by obesity can increase including:
Although laws have been implemented to fight this disease, new legislations are still been negotiated with different ways of trying to rectify the issue. Despite these rules and regulations, childhood obesity continues to plague the society. According to Hajian-Tilaki et al. (2011), the current approach in determining the presence of obesity is the body mass index (BMI). The BMI is calculated by using the height and weight to determine if an individual is overweight or obese. In the case of a child, an age and weight specific BMI is used to determine their weight status. This is required because children’s body composition varies as they get older and it also varies between boys and girls. A child with a BMI at or over the 85th percentile and below the 95th percentile for a child of the same age and sex is considered overweight. If the child has a BMI that is over the 95th percentile for a child within the same category is considered obese (Hajian-Tilaki et al., 2011). The authors also stated that males were more at risk than female in developing childhood obesity in the region of Babol. Furthermore, Hajian-Tilaki et al. mentioned a few contributing dynamics that may lead to obesity, such as genetic and metabolic factors, lack of physical activities, unhealthy eating habits, and socioeconomic standards. With all said and done, the goal of eradicating childhood obesity is still been
Affecting over 36% of the population, obesity is a rising epidemic within the United States. An estimated 75% of adults over the age of twenty are classified as overweight or obese (Kolata, 2016). The disease affects women more significantly than men, with a greater prevalence within African American and Hispanic ethnic groups. Extreme obesity (BMI >40), affects six percent, and growing, of the American populace. This rise in obesity correlates not lonely with a lower life expectancy but also a rise in numerous other non-communicable diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, pulmonary ailments, cardiovascular diseases, and mental health issues. Although the obesity epidemic is seen mostly within developed countries, such as the United States, the non-communicable disease is showing advancing prevalence and incidence rates worldwide, including low and middle income countries. The World Health Organization estimates one billion people are classified as overweight or obese (Kapil, 2016). In addition to the plethora of additional health care problems, obese patients are often hard to treat as the health care system does not yet have the equipment to detect, measure, or treat possible underlying problems. The treatment of obesity and related conditions is currently estimated to reach $100 billion within the United States (Kapil, 2016). Accounting for more than 100,000 premature deaths each year, the disease is the second highest noncommunicable and preventable disease
It is no surprise that obesity is becoming an increasingly prominent health concern. In fact, since 1980 global obesity has almost doubled. (1) “The percentage of children aged 6-11 years in the United States who were obese increased from 7% in 1980 to nearly 18% in 2012. Similarly, the percentage of adolescents aged 12-19 years who were obese increased from 5% to nearly 21% over the same period.” (2) “35% of adults aged 20 and over were overweight in 2008, and 11% were obese.” (1) To put these percentages into perspective, in 2008 the world population was at almost 7 billion, more than 1.4 billion adults, 20 and older, were overweight, roughly 500 million were obese. (1) Obesity can no longer simply be a concern; it is a
Adult overweight and obesity have become a worldwide issue that has very dangerous consequences on health. World Health Organization defines obesity as the “epidemic of the 21st Century”. WHO reports show that 1.9 billion people with 18 years age and older are overweight, and 600 million of them are obese. In the United States, obesity is a serious problem today that results from overconsumption of high-fat food and sugary food with lack of exercise. The Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention reports show that the obesity rates are above 20 percent in all states. Overweight and obesity have become a major public health issue because of their high rates of mortality and morbidity. People who are considered overweight or obese are at increased
The Unites States leads the world in the number of obese citizens. Although, obesity does not kill a person; however, it leads to many health diseases such as heart problems, liver malfunction, high blood pressure and diabetes. Beside the major health problem caused by obesity, it prevents a person from a normal life condition. Researches has proven that a person whose obese have less chance to get in college; for those who get in college have less chance to get a job. It is also expected that if Americans do not change their daily diet, by the year of 2030, most of Americans would be obese. As it concerns 70% of Americans, we need to evaluate causes and effects of obesity in order to establish an efficient health program that help solving a major problem in the Unites States.
The enormity of this economic burden and the impacts that excessive weight take on human health and the well-being are increasing. The awareness of individuals, communities, states and nations are slowly acknowledging the problem, yet necessary interventions are limited at all levels and the essential tools and knowledge to combat the rising tide of obesity are not uniform.
There is no denying that obesity is becoming more global & problematic. More than half of people today, struggle with obesity, but also the credited disease, obesity causes. Coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and gallstones are examples of these diseases ("Obesity Disease and Condition"). Despite of researchers and their efforts to overcome this serious problem, obesity is still a threatening
“Obesity is a disease that affects more than one-third of the U.S adult population (approximately 78.6 million Americans). The number of Americans with obesity had steadily increase since 1960, a trend that has slowed down in recent years but show no sign of reversing”.
Current statistics say that more than 1 billion adults worldwide are overweight, 300 million being clinically obese and at risk for serious diseases (Senauer & Gemma, 2006). The US topped the world list of developed countries with 30%, according to 2005 OECD ranking. Mexico, UK, Slovakia, Greece, Australia and New Zealand followed with more than 20%. At the bottom were South Korea and Japan with a shared rate of 3.2%. Current US statistics show that 66.5% of Americans have more than 25 BMI, indicating obesity (Senauer & Gemma) There was a dramatic increase in incidence in the past two decades and which have remained high since then (CDC, 2010). As of 2010, all the Sates had a prevalence of more than 20%, 36 of which had 25% or more. Of this number 12 had a prevalence of 30% or more (CDC).
Obesity is an important public health problem in the united states and the rest of the developed world. The prevalence is also increasing quickly in many developing nations worldwide. This growing incidence represents a pandemic that needs urgent attention if the potential morbidity, and economic tolls that will be left in its wake are to be avoided
Obesity is one of the biggest problem that affecting many countries (developed and developing countries). Based on World Health Organization (WHO) report in 2008 more than 1 billion people in the world were affected by overweight. And in 2015 the figure was increased to 2.3 billion. Obesity can cause several numbers of diseases such as diabetes mellitus, cancer, heart problem, and affect the quality of life. Obesity could also cause an economic problem for instance in European countries the health care costs of obesity estimate at 1.7% to 3% of the total health expense. And in America the figure is higher. It is around 5% to 10% of the total health expense. While, in Australia the numbers are significantly increase from time to time.
In the last 35 years, obesity has nearly doubled worldwide. According to the world health organisation (WHO), over 1.4 billion adults were overweight in 2008. More than 200 million men out of these were obese and just less than 300 million women were obese. Of the world’s population, countries holding 65% of the population have more deaths due to obesity than underweight. As a result of obesity, every year 2.8 million adults die from destructive consequential burdens like diabetes that has 44% of the deaths of the 2.8 million adults, 23% of deaths out of the 2.8 million were due to ischaemic heart disease, and 7% to 41% of deaths caused by particular cancer burdens. In 2011, over 40 million children less than 5 years old were classed as overweight. (World Health Organisation. 2015. Obesity and overweight. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs311/en/. [Accessed 04 June 15].)