Monday, November 22, 2010
Obesity is a silent killer and has been largely ignored. Excess weight was considered a mark of prosperity in many nations. However, of late, doctors and dieticians are warning people against the harmful effects of being obese and are making them aware of the hazardous impact of obesity.
A few known facts about obesity are given below:
· Fact: Obesity rates are soaring
o Between 1980 and 2000, obesity rates doubled among adults.
o Similarly since 1980, overweight rates have doubled among children and tripled among adolescents – increasing the number of years they are exposed to the health risks of obesity.
· Fact: Obesity is already having an adverse impact on young people
o Type 2 Diabetes – once believed to affect only adults – is now being diagnosed among young people.
o In some communities almost half of the Pediatric Diabetes cases are Type 2, when in the past the total was close to zero.
o Sixty-one percent of overweight 5- to10-year-olds already have at least one risk factor for heart disease, and 26% have two or more risk factors.
· Fact: Unhealthy behaviors, such as physical inactivity and unhealthy diet, cause the obesity epidemic .Despite this knowledge:
o Only about 25% of adults eat the recommended five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
o Less than 25% of adolescents eat the recommended five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
o More than 50% of adults do not get the recommended amount of physical activity to provide health benefits.
o More than a third of young people do not regularly engage in vigorous physical activity.
· Fact: Obesity-related costs place a huge burden on the economy of Europe and America.