Lets fact it, we Americans are getting fatter. We're putting on the pounds at an alarmingly rapid rate and there is no sign of this trend reversing. And we are sacrificing our health because of our love for super-sized meals, biggie drinks, and two-for-one value meals, leading obesity researchers say.
According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) more than 60 percent of all adults in the U.S. are now overweight. In children aged 6 to 19 about 15 percent of them are also classified as overweight.
More than 400,000 people die prematurely each year due to poor dietary habits and lack of adequate exercise according to the CDC and there is no sign that this trend is decreasing.
In addition, people that are obese are also more likely to develop numerous diseases like stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure and gallbladder disease all of which are preventable.
By being overweight we also place more stress on our joints which then begin to wear away (osteoarthritis). Sleep apnea where one cannot breathe properly in bed can also be attributed to obesity and sleep quality can be affected. Some cancers such as prostate, breast, colon and endometrial are also more common in overweight people.
But there is hope for overweight Americans. They can take small, achievable steps to improve their health and reverse the obesity epidemic. This message is the cornerstone of a national education campaign announced in March 2004 by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Also in March 2004, the Food and Drug Administration's Obesity Working Group released a report called "Calories Count" that highlights actions the FDA is taking to better educate consumers in choosing a healthier diet.
Some of these actions include encouraging restaurants to provide calorie and nutrition information, strengthening food labeling and educating consumers about maintaining a healthy diet and weight.
Enforcement of food labeling was also stepped up to make sure that portion sizes were realistic and additional research was started to produce healthier, lower calorie foods to help reduce obesity in Americans. - 16650
According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) more than 60 percent of all adults in the U.S. are now overweight. In children aged 6 to 19 about 15 percent of them are also classified as overweight.
More than 400,000 people die prematurely each year due to poor dietary habits and lack of adequate exercise according to the CDC and there is no sign that this trend is decreasing.
In addition, people that are obese are also more likely to develop numerous diseases like stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure and gallbladder disease all of which are preventable.
By being overweight we also place more stress on our joints which then begin to wear away (osteoarthritis). Sleep apnea where one cannot breathe properly in bed can also be attributed to obesity and sleep quality can be affected. Some cancers such as prostate, breast, colon and endometrial are also more common in overweight people.
But there is hope for overweight Americans. They can take small, achievable steps to improve their health and reverse the obesity epidemic. This message is the cornerstone of a national education campaign announced in March 2004 by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Also in March 2004, the Food and Drug Administration's Obesity Working Group released a report called "Calories Count" that highlights actions the FDA is taking to better educate consumers in choosing a healthier diet.
Some of these actions include encouraging restaurants to provide calorie and nutrition information, strengthening food labeling and educating consumers about maintaining a healthy diet and weight.
Enforcement of food labeling was also stepped up to make sure that portion sizes were realistic and additional research was started to produce healthier, lower calorie foods to help reduce obesity in Americans. - 16650
