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According to the American Obesity Association, 64.5% of adult
Americans (about 127 million) are categorized as being overweight
or obese. To be overweight or obese means a person has excessive
amounts of fat in relation to lean body mass. Body Mass Index
(BMI) is a calculation used to determine if a person is overweight
(25-29.9 BMI) or obese (30 BMI or more).
Obesity causes at least 300,000 excess deaths in the U.S. each
year, and healthcare costs of American adults with obesity amount
to nearly $100 billion. A report from the AARP, Beyond 50.02:
A Report to the Nation on Trends in Health Security, found that
a much larger portion of the 50 years and older population is
obese than in previous years. The study looked at several health
factors, including smoking (which has decreased by 29%), cancer
screenings, and blood pressure checks. According to the study,
although older people are taking more preventive measures, the
effects of obesity could cancel out these gains.
A study published in the CDC's May 17, 2002, Morbidity and Mortality
Weekly Report, recommended that health care providers spend more
time promoting exercise and physical activity for older people
to reduce their risk for diseases such as diabetes, a disease
often linked to obesity. Research shows that physical activity
counseling leads to increases in physical activity among sedentary
adults. Five out of 10 Americans age 65-74 are sedentary, and
this statistic increases to six out of 10 for those age 75 and
older. According to the study, barriers to discussing physical
activity with patients may include lack of time, reimbursement,
resources, and protocols. Ways to increase physical activity counseling
for older people include training, developing materials, and coordinating
activities between health care programs and community programs
such as senior centers.
For more information on overweight and obesity, visit the resource
links below.
General Resource Links:
- American
Obesity Association – Organization focused on changing
public policy and perceptions about obesity.(Off Site)
- NHLBI
Obesity Education Initiative – NIH - The National
Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute initiative to help reduce the
prevalence of overweight and physical inactivity to reduce the
risk of coronary heart disease.(Off Site)
- Obesity
– NIH - List of resources from three NIH institutes.(Off
Site)
- Weight-Control
Information Network – NIDDK – NIH – Provide
health professionals and consumers with science-based information
on obesity, weight control, and nutrition.(Off Site)
- Nutition.gov
– Links to government nutrition sites, food facts and
safety, research, and more.(Off Site)
- Overweight
and Obesity – CDC – Includes definitions, factors,
consequences, recommendations, resources and more.(Off Site)
- Report
on Weight-Loss Advertising: An Analysis of Current Trends
– FTC – The report examines 300 promotions that
appeared in all major forms of media between February and May
2001 and concludes that false or misleading claims are widespread
in ads for weight-loss productse.(PDF - Off Site)
- The
Surgeon General's Call To Action To Prevent and Decrease Overweight
and Obesit – Office of the Surgeon General –
Addresses fifteen activities as national priorities to prevent
and decrease overweight and obesitye.(Off Site)
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Disclaimer:
References from this web page or from any of the information services
sponsored by AoA to any non-governmental entity, product, service
or information does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation
by the Administration on Aging or any of its employees. AoA is
not responsible for the contents of any "off-site" web
pages referenced from this server. Although our page includes
links to sites including or referencing good collections of information,
AoA does not endorse ANY specific products or services provided
by public or private organizations. By using this site, the user
takes full responsibility for any use of these links.
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