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Obesity Is An Obesity Epidemic Exists

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To understand whether or not an obesity epidemic exists, one has to define obesity and determine what suggests an epidemic. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH) (2015), obesity means having too much body fat which can occur when one has more caloric intake than one uses, which is different for each person. In comparison, overweight means weighing too much and may result from bone, fat, muscle and body water (NIH, 2015). In both obesity and overweight, an individual’s weight is considered greater than what may be considered healthy in relation to their height (NIH, 2015). Contributing factors that may affect weight are eating high fat goods, overeating, genetics, or not being physically active (Akabas, Lederman, & Moore, 2012; NIH, 2015). To determine what is considered a healthy weight, a body mass index (BMI) is used to measure an individual’s height and weight and estimates body fat as a determinant of potential risks for diseases (Akabas, Lederman, & Moore, 2012; Morrill & Chinn, 2004). BMI less than 18.5 is recognized as underweight, 18.5 to 24.9 is within normal weight and is categorized as a healthy weight, 25 to 29.9 is overweight, 30 to 34.9 is mild obesity, 35 to 39.9 is moderate obesity, and 40 and over is severe obesity (Akabas, Lederman, & Moore, 2012; Jones, 2006; NIH, 2015; Reville, 2006). Currently, one in three adults in the United States are obese, increasing potential for health risks such as heart disease, diabetes high blood pressure

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