Facts on Obesity
"Obesity itself has become a life-long disease, not a cosmetic issue, nor a moral judgment - and it is becoming a dangerous epidemic."
Robert H. Eckel, M.D., vice chairman of the American Heart Association's Nutrition Committee

Definition
Obesity is now recognized by leading government health authorities, such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and National Institutes of Health (NIH), as a disease. This chronic disease is caused by any one or a combination of environmental (social and cultural), genetic, physiologic, metabolic, behavioral and psychological factors.1,2
  • The most common measurement for obesity is Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is calculated by dividing body weight (lb.) by height in inches squared (in2) and multiplying that amount by 704.5. The metric calculation for BMI is kg/m2. Weight-loss surgery is recommended as a treatment option for persons with obesity that have: 1) a BMI e>40 or 2) a BMI of 35 to 39.9 with serious medical conditions.3

  • BMI 25 to 29.9 kg/m2 - Overweight
  • BMI 30 to 34.9 kg/m2 - Obese
  • BMI 35 to 39.9 kg/m2 - Severely Obese
  • BMI 40 kg/m2 and up - Morbidly Obese
Prevalence
  • Obesity is a growing national epidemic. From 1976 to 2004, the percent of adults (age 20 to 74 years) in the United States who were obese (BMI e>30) more than doubled from 15 to 32.9 percent.
    • For 2003-2004, 66.3 percent of adults e>20 years were overweight or obese (BMI e>25)5
    • For 2003-2004, 4.8 percent of adults e>20 years were morbidly obese (BMI e>40)5
Impact
  • According to the Surgeon General's "Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity" report, the estimated cost of obesity in the United States was $117 billion in 2000. This estimate includes the direct costs associated with obesity and its related co-morbidities, such as preventative, diagnostic and treatment services, as well as indirect costs including the value of income lost from decreased productivity or lost days of work.6
  • Obesity is considered the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States.7
  • Obesity appears to have a stronger association than smoking or problem drinking with chronic medical conditions, reduced health-related quality of life and increased health care and medication spending.8
  • People who are significantly overweight or obese often face serious health consequences including increased risk for premature death, risk for other serious health issues, such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and sleep apnea.9,10
  • According to a study published in Personnel Psychology, obese people are subject to job discrimination and frequently stereotyped as emotionally impaired, socially handicapped or possessing negative personality traits.11
  1. American Obesity Association. Obesity Surgery. Available at http://www.obesity.org/treatment/obesity.shtml. Accessed 1/18/07.
  2. CDC. Diseases and Conditions. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/node.do/id/0900f3ec8000e035. Accessed 3/9/07.
  3. American Obesity Association. AOA Fact Sheets. Available at www.obesity.org/education/advisor.shtml. Acessed 1/18/07
  4. CDC - National Center for Health Statistics. Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity Among Adults: United States, 2003-2004. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/hestats/overweight/overwght_adult_03.htm. Accessed 3/8/07
  5. Ogden CL, Carroll MD, Curtin LR, McDowell MA, Tabak CJ, Flegal KM. Prevalence of overweight and obesity in the United States, 1999-2004. JAMA 295:1549-1555. 2006.
  6. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Surgeon General’s Call To Action To Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity in 2001. http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/pdf/CalltoAction.pdf. Accessed 2/23/07
  7. American Obesity Association. AOA Fact Sheets. Available at http://www.obesity.org/subs/fastfacts/obesity_US.shtml. Accessed 1/18/07
  8. Sturm R. The effects of obesity, smoking and problem drinking on chronic medical problems and health care costs. Health Affairs. 2002:21(2):245-253
  9. American Obesity Association. AOA Fact Sheets. Health effects of obesity. Available at http://www.obesity.org/subs/fastfacts/Health_Effects.shtml. Accessed 1/18/07.
  10. Ahroni JH, Montgomery KF, Watkins BM. Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding: Weight Loss, Co-morbidities, Medication Usage and Quality of Life at One Year," Obesity Surgery 2005; 15:641-647.
  11. Roehling M. Weight-based discrimination in employment: psychological and legal aspects. Personnel Psychology 1999:52(4):: 969-1016.





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