OBESITY IN AMERICA
Phil TeachenTechnology and Assessment in
Health & Exercise Science
Obesity in America
8th Grade Health Class
The Facts Number one health risk facing America (2004)
The cause of 400,000 deaths per year $122.9 billion annual cost to the national
economy Lower self esteem, depression, diminish
quality of life, social discomfort 2 out of every 3 adults are either
overweight or obese 1 out of every 3 children
What defines obesity?
Childhood Obesity Prevention Affects nearly 40% in
some states Estimated that 1/3 of
children born in 2000 will develop obesity-related diabetes
Life style Changes School practices Urban planning Nutrition knowledge Regular doctor physicals
Reason Behind Childhood Obesity Epidemic Physical education budgets have
dropped Advancements in entertainment and
gaming Transportation Poor Diets (empty calories, high
fructose, processed foods, and sodas)
Diabetes Cardiovascular
disease Heart Disease Stroke Certain types of
cancer High blood pressure High cholesterol
Metabolic syndrome Sleep apnea Asthma Arthritis Gallbladder disease Liver disease Urinary incontinence Depression
Obesity related Diseases
Ongoing Problem Obesity rates at all time high Rates consistently rising through the
years 32.2% for men and 35.5% for women
(2008)
Rates have increased in all population groups
Military Obesity 16% of active duty (2004)
Largest cause for discharge of uniformed personnel
Bariatric surgery reaching 15 million (2002)
MEDICAL COSTS $344 billion estimated medical cost in 2018 Health care spending per adult rose 80%
from 1987 Cost for obesity related diseases averaged
$2030 for obese adults and $1090 for normal weight adults
$344 Billion
Controversial artificial colors Heavily processed foods Natural/artificial flavors added High fructose corn syrup High sodium content Fast and fried foods
Possible Causes
AMERICAN SOCIETY People simply don’t know what they are
putting in their bodies Fast pace life leads to fast unhealthy
meals Unhealthy fast food, pizza, and Chinese
restaurants located all over Food companies misleading consumers
with advertising
Located all over the states People have the option to work
towards a healthy lifestyle Estimated that 36% of gym
profits are from members who show less than 25 times a year
New Years gym joiners on average quit within 4-6 weeks
Fitness Centers
Prevention Being aware of what you are consuming Plan out you’re meals Pack a lunch instead of eating out Get a physical from your family doctor Walk up the stairs instead of taking the
elevator Don’t over eat
Prevention cont. Avoid soda Check food labels (the less ingredients
the better) Get at least 30 min of physical activity a
day Aim for a lifestyle change not a
temporary diet
Conclusion America needs to understand this
epidemic that is going on People need to start taking action and
leading a healthy lifestyle Parents have control over what their
children are putting in their bodies We are only hurting ourselves by not
taking action
Works Cited Eliana Perrin, . "Obesity in America." Obesity related diseases.
Obesity in America, 2011. Web. 8 Feb 2012. <http://www.obesityinamerica.org/>.
. "U.S. Obesity Trends." http://www.cdc.gov. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011. Web. 8 Feb 2012. <http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/trends.html>.
Hellmich, N.. "Rising obesity will cost u.s. health care $344 billion a year." . USA Today, 2009. Web. 8 Feb 2012. <http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/weightloss/2009-11-17-future-obesity-costs_N.htm>.
. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Feb 2012. <http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/118xx/doc11810/09-08-Obesity_brief.pdf>.
. Truth about gyms. N.p., 2008. Web. 8 Feb 2012. <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/132675.php>.