The Obsesity Crisis

I know that by now you have heard that in the past 30 years, obesity has increased tremendously amongst adults and children.  Though the numbers have doubled for adults in America, so has the dramatic increase for children.  Moreover, the increase in obesity has also expanded globally.  According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1.6 billion people (ages 15 and up) and 20 million children under age 5 are overweight and 400 million adults are obese, globally¹!  The Body Mass Index (BMI) is used to classify overweight and obesity, which is based on one’s height and weight.  When the BMI is between 25 – 29 then it is categorized as overweight, and when the BMI is over 30, then it is labeled as obese (click to see the chart). Please note that the BMI is NOT used to diagnose people, but it is simply a marker that many organizations use.

 

It is important for us to be happy with ourselves, but it is equally important for us to be healthy and to strive to take care of our bodies. Being overweight or obese could cause other health implications such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. So, please, consult with your primary care physician before making abrupt changes that could impact your health.  If you have any questions or would like to see more data, please contact info@rhondascooking.com.   

 

¹ “Obesity and Overweight.”  September 2006.  World Health Organization.  July 2, 2008 <http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs311/en/index.html >.