Obesity
About Obesity*
- Obesity is a complex chronic disease. Too much body fat can cause inflammation and other long-lasting changes in the body.
- Obesity can increase the risk of many serious health problems for adults and children.
- Obesity impacts health care costs for patients and the health care system.
Why it Matters
In the United States, 1 in 5 children and 2 in 5 adults have obesity. Children with obesity are more likely to have numerous health conditions. These include high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. Children with obesity are also more likely to have obesity as adults. Adults with obesity have a higher risk of developing many diseases. These include heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer. Obesity costs the US healthcare system almost $173 billion a year.
Risk Factors for Obesity
Certain health behaviors can contribute to excess weight gain and are risk factors for obesity:
- Lack of physical activity. Fewer than 1 in 4 youth get enough aerobic physical activity; Just 1 in 4 adults fully meet physical activity guidelines
- Unhealthy eating patterns such as:
- Too many highly processed foods or added sugars, including too many sugar-sweetened vegetables.
- Too little fiber and fruits and vegetables. Fewer than 1 in 10 children and adults eat the recommended daily amount of vegetables.
- Not enough sleep or poor quality sleep.
- Too much TV, computer, video games, and other screen time.
Stress, health conditions and medications, genetic disorder and social and environmental factors can also cause or contribute to obesity.
Treatments for Obesity include:
- Nutrition Therapy
- Increased Physical Activity
- Behaviorial Modification
- Medical intervention including anti-obesity medication and bariatric procedures
- Medical devices including gastric balloons, gastric bands
*Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Resources:
NIH National Heart Lung and Blood Insititute Overweight and Obesity Treatment