OBESITY: Help and Prevention By: Michael DiDomenico By: Michael DiDomenico

THE FACTS Obesity is a disease that affects nearly one-third of the adult American population (approximately 60 million). Obesity is a disease that affects nearly one-third of the adult American population (approximately 60 million). Today, 64.5 percent of adult Americans (about 127 million) are categorized as being overweight or obese. Today, 64.5 percent of adult Americans (about 127 million) are categorized as being overweight or obese. Each year, obesity causes at least 300,000 excess deaths in the U.S. Each year, obesity causes at least 300,000 excess deaths in the U.S.

Did You Know? Obesity is the second leading cause of unnecessary deaths. Obesity is the second leading cause of unnecessary deaths. Obesity is a chronic disease. Obesity is a chronic disease. Health insurance providers rarely pay for treatment of obesity. Health insurance providers rarely pay for treatment of obesity. Obesity can increase one's risk of developing conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes (type 2), heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease and cancer of the breast, prostate and colon. OUCH!!!

BMI (Body Mass Index) Body Mass Index (BMI) is a mathematical calculation used to determine whether a patient is overweight. Body Mass Index (BMI) is a mathematical calculation used to determine whether a patient is overweight. Calculating BMI Calculating BMI [Weight (lbs) ÷ height (in)2 ] x =BMI [Weight (lbs) ÷ height (in)2 ] x =BMI Being obese and being overweight are not the same condition. A BMI of 30 or more is considered obese and a BMI between 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight. Being obese and being overweight are not the same condition. A BMI of 30 or more is considered obese and a BMI between 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight.

Childhood Obesity Obesity in children and adolescents is a serious issue, with many health and social consequences that often continue into adulthood. Obesity in children and adolescents is a serious issue, with many health and social consequences that often continue into adulthood. In situations where there are serious health, psychological or social problems, parents should seek out the best possible advice for their child, and show their support in helping them with these problems. In situations where there are serious health, psychological or social problems, parents should seek out the best possible advice for their child, and show their support in helping them with these problems.

THE FACTS Between 1980 and 2000, the proportion of children and adolescents ages 6 through 19 who were overweight tripled. Between 1980 and 2000, the proportion of children and adolescents ages 6 through 19 who were overweight tripled. Obesity now affects 15 percent (almost 9 million) children and adolescents. Obesity now affects 15 percent (almost 9 million) children and adolescents. More than 10 percent of children ages 2 through 5 are overweight, a 7 percent increase since More than 10 percent of children ages 2 through 5 are overweight, a 7 percent increase since 1994.

Food Pyramid

What Counts as a Serving? Food Groups: Bread, Cereal, Rice, and Pasta: 1 slice of bread. 1 ounce of ready to-eat cereal. 1/2 cup of cooked cereal, rice, or pasta. Vegetable: 1 cup of raw leafy vegetables. 1/2 cup of other vegetables, cooked or chopped raw. 3/4 cup of vegetable juice. Fruit: 1 medium apple, banana, orange. 1/2 cup of chopped, cooked, or canned fruit. 3/4 cup of fruit juice.

What Counts as a Serving? Milk, Yogurt, and Cheese: 1 cup of milk or yogurt. 1-1/2 ounces of natural cheese. 2 ounces of process cheese. Meat, Poultry, Fish, Dry Beans, Eggs, and Nuts: 2-3 ounces of cooked lean meat, poultry, or fish. 1/2 cup of cooked dry beans or 1 egg counts as 1 ounce of lean meat. 2 tablespoons of peanut butter or 1/3 cup of nuts count as 1 ounce of meat.

Percentage of Adults Who Reported Eating Fewer Than Five Servings of Fruits and Vegetables a Day, by Sex, 2002

Preventing Weight Gain Strategies to Prevent Weight Gain: Strategies to Prevent Weight Gain: 1. Assess Your Behavior and Environment: 1. Assess Your Behavior and Environment: A) The amount and types of foods you eat. A) The amount and types of foods you eat. B) Physical activity habits B) Physical activity habits 2. Adopting Healthy Habits: A) Healthful eating in accordance with the Dietary Guidelines. (i.e. Food Pyramid Guide) A) Healthful eating in accordance with the Dietary Guidelines. (i.e. Food Pyramid Guide) B) Increased frequent and regular physical activity of at least moderate intensity. B) Increased frequent and regular physical activity of at least moderate intensity.

Exercising Physical activity does not have to be hard or boring to be good for you. Anything that gets you moving around—even for only a few minutes a day—is a healthy start to getting more fit. Physical activity does not have to be hard or boring to be good for you. Anything that gets you moving around—even for only a few minutes a day—is a healthy start to getting more fit.

Exercising Easy exercises that everyone can do!: Easy exercises that everyone can do!: Walking Walking Dancing Dancing Swimming or swim aerobics (water workouts) Swimming or swim aerobics (water workouts)

Exercising Light weight lifting Light weight lifting Bicycling Bicycling Sports Sports Stretching Stretching

Preventing Weight Gain Eating Habits - Over-consumption of high- calorie foods. Some eating patterns that have been associated with this behavior are eating when not hungry, eating while watching TV or doing homework. Eating Habits - Over-consumption of high- calorie foods. Some eating patterns that have been associated with this behavior are eating when not hungry, eating while watching TV or doing homework. Environment - Some factors are over-exposure to advertising of foods that promote high- calorie foods and lack of recreational facilities. Environment - Some factors are over-exposure to advertising of foods that promote high- calorie foods and lack of recreational facilities.

Cut Out the Fast Food

Prevention Teaching healthy behaviors at a young age is important since change becomes more difficult with age. Behaviors involving physical activity and nutrition are the cornerstone of preventing obesity in children and adolescents. Families and schools are the two most critical links in providing the foundation for those behaviors. Teaching healthy behaviors at a young age is important since change becomes more difficult with age. Behaviors involving physical activity and nutrition are the cornerstone of preventing obesity in children and adolescents. Families and schools are the two most critical links in providing the foundation for those behaviors.

Causes of Childhood Obesity Physical Activity - Lack of regular exercise. Physical Activity - Lack of regular exercise. Sedentary behavior – Long periods of television viewing, computer usage, video gaming, and similar behavior that takes up time that can be used for physical activity. Sedentary behavior – Long periods of television viewing, computer usage, video gaming, and similar behavior that takes up time that can be used for physical activity. Socioeconomic Status - Low family incomes and non-working parents. This may increase the chances of a child to be less motivated to participate in any type of physical activity. … Socioeconomic Status - Low family incomes and non-working parents. This may increase the chances of a child to be less motivated to participate in any type of physical activity. …

THE FACTS – In School Self-Perception of Weight: Self-Perception of Weight: 1. When asked to describe their weight, 30 percent of students thought of themselves as overweight. 2. More female students (36 percent) than male students (24 percent) considered themselves overweight. 2. More Hispanic students (37 percent) than white and black students (29 and 25 percent, respectively) considered themselves overweight.

Creating an Active Environment in Schools Nationwide in 1999, approximately 56 percent of high school students were enrolled in a physical education (PE) class and only 29 percent attended PE class daily, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Youth Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (YRBSS). Participation in high school sports was 55 percent, with a higher participation rate from male students (62 percent) than females (48 percent). Nationwide in 1999, approximately 56 percent of high school students were enrolled in a physical education (PE) class and only 29 percent attended PE class daily, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Youth Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (YRBSS). Participation in high school sports was 55 percent, with a higher participation rate from male students (62 percent) than females (48 percent).

Affects on Level of Education Obesity has increased across all education levels and is highest among people with less education. Obesity has increased across all education levels and is highest among people with less education.

Get Back on Track… Get MOTIVATED Start slowly Start slowly Set realistic goals Set realistic goals Enjoy your workouts Enjoy your workouts Exercise with a partner Exercise with a partner Try new moves: aerobics, Tai Chi, cross country skiing. Try new moves: aerobics, Tai Chi, cross country skiing. And…Believe in yourself! ! ! And…Believe in yourself! ! !