PUBLIC HEALTH 2013

GENERATION TO GENERATION: OBESITY

• Obesity is defined as having too much body fat. Don’t get it confused with being overweight, which means weighing too much!

• Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health

WHAT IS OBESITY?

• The fundamental cause of childhood overweight and obesity is an energy in balance between calories consumed and calories expanded

• A global shift in diet towards increased intake of energy-dense foods that are high in fat and sugars but low in vitamins, minerals, and other healthy micronutrients

• A trend towards decreased physical activity levels due to the increasingly sedentary nature of many forms of recreation time, changing modes of transportation, and increasing urbanization

REASONS FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS TO BECOME

OBESE…

• Unlike most adults, children and adolescents cannot choose the environment in which they liv e or the food they eat

• Overweight and obesity, as well as related no communicable diseases, are largely preventable

• It is recognized that prevention is the most feasible option for curbing the childhood obesity epidemic since current treatment practices are largely aimed at bringing the problem under control rather than effecting a cure

SOCIETAL REASONS FOR CHILDHOOD OBESITY

• Increase consumption of fruit and vegetables, as well as legumes, whole grains and nuts

• Limit energy intake from total fats and shift consumption away from saturated fats to unsaturated fats

• Limit intake of sugars

• Be physically active!!!

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS

STATISTICS

• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of adults and one-sixth of children in America are obese.

• Doubled for adults

• Tripled for children

• In 2004-2005 60% of all Americans had at least one chronic health condition, 26% suffered from two or more chronic health conditions and after age 55, those percentages rose to 78% and 47% respectively. All of these conditions as well as stroke, depression, arthritis, and host of others are complications of obesity.

• In the US today, 7 out of every 10 deaths are attributed to chronic disease. WHO estimates that by the year 2020 the ENTIRE world will be caught up with this number. c1