What is Obesity?
Defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control as a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher, obesity is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that affects approximately 34% of U.S. adults ages 20 and over.¹
As anyone impacted either directly or indirectly by obesity can attest, it strikes several devastating blows:
- Life expectancy
Obesity can rob 5-9 years from an individual’s expected life span. - Health
Diseases and conditions resulting from obesity are many and include coronary heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, strokes, certain cancers, gallstones, arthritis, sleep apnea, and, increased risk of physical injury due to excess strain on the joints - Emotional and psychological quality of life
Obesity hampers one’s ability to participate fully in life due to an inability to perform many of the physical and social activities enjoyed by non-obese individuals.
What causes obesity? In a nutshell, the three contributing factors are:
- Genetic makeup
- Eating habits
- Physical activity
Just as many mathematical equations have a “constant,” genetic makeup is the “constant” in the obesity equation. We cannot change a person’s genetic blueprint, but we can change eating and exercise habits. Therefore, in order to break the pattern of obesity, we must focus on the things we can control: eating behavior and physical activity. In short, using the universal symbol for “greater than” (>), we can accurately say:
calories consumed > calories expended = weight gain
calories expended > calories consumed = weight loss
The obesity equation is simple, but solving it in one’s own life can be anything but. Because we recognize this, our program provides both the blueprint and the individual support to enable clients to transform their weight, their health, and their lives.
¹ Source: Centers for Disease Control. Overweight and Obesity: Data and Statistics. Available from http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/index.html. Accessed 8 June 2009.
