These Obesity Facts Might Surprise You

People generally give little thought to obesity and do not think that it applies to them. Sure, you might have put on a few extra pounds over the years, but your certainly not obese - or are you? After reading the following obesity facts, you may be surprised at just who is considered obese and how much it affects our entire society.

As a percentage of our population, there are twice as many people who are obese now, than there were in 1980. Today, almost one third of adults are obese! So, it is likely that you know someone who is afflicted with obesity or that you personally suffer from obesity. For the first time in 2 centuries, experts say our life expectancy will fall - all due to obesity.

This means that today's younger generation needs to worry about getting sick and dying sooner if this trend towards obesity continues. In addition to that, these extra health problems create a financial burden that society has to pay.

Obesity doesn't just apply to those who are too large to leave their houses. If you are 20% over the "common" weight for your height and age, then you are obese. So, if the insurance chart says that you should weigh 135 pounds, you are obese if you weigh 162 pounds instead.

Of course, there are more scientific measurements to determine if you are obese. The BMI is an accurate way of checking your body fat and is better than measuring weight as it takes into account the extra weight of muscle. You will be considered obese if you have a BMI over 30.

Perhaps the most shocking obesity facts are those concerning kids. Kids spend a lot of time in front of the TV and eat several non-nutritious fattening snacks, no wonder the obesity rates among children and teens is rapidly on the rise. Formerly adult health problems are now affecting those under 18 years of age with greater frequency. This makes it more likely to develop serious health problems such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus type 2, cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis, fatty liver disease, depression, and sleep apnea. Not to mention that overweight children have a huge chance of becoming overweight adults.

Obese adults are more prone to unhealthy problems like stroke, sleep apnea, gall bladder disease, heart disease and cancer. The quality of your life and state of your finances can be negatively impacted with rising obesity-related health care costs.

With all of the negative obesity facts available, why don't the rates decrease or at least hold still? In today's hectic society, people often think that they do not have enough time to exercise and eat well. How many times this week did you eat a burger from a fast food establishment because you were short on time? With less work-related exercise and under-consumption of fruits and vegetable among U.S. adults, it is not illogical that so many of us are grossly overweight.

You can battle obesity by concentrating on getting enough exercise and maintaining a healthy diet. There’s no time like the present to start. You’ve got nothing to lose - except those pounds.