 “Obesity is perhaps the biggest threat to the health, welfare, and future of our country.”  Dr. William Dietz, CDC  Obesity is a personal and public policy problem  It affects everyone!  Obesity is a risk factor for almost every chronic disease.

(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14% CDC, 2011

(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14% CDC, 2011

(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% CDC, 2011

(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% ≥20% CDC, 2011

(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% ≥20% CDC, 2011

(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% ≥25% CDC, 2011

(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29% ≥30% CDC,2011

 Portion Sizes  Physical Inactivity  Genetics  Media  Technology

 Energy imbalance  Is it enough to say “Eat less, exercise more?”  Humans are programmed to eat and store excess.  How is that working against us now?  Portion Sizes  Increased dramatically over the last 20 years  School Lunches  Government subsidies

(Brownell, 2006)

 Less than 5% of adults (20+ y/o) meet guidelines for physical activity.  Schools cutting PE  Sedentary workplaces  Communities conducive to activity or exercise?

 “Toxic advertising”  Health claims on unhealthy foods  TV time for children & adults increased  Other media  More than 75% of Americans drive to work.  Jobs requiring physical exertion decreased  Everyday conveniences

 Hyperlipidemia  Elevated lipids in the blood  Hypercholesterolemia  High cholesterol (LDLs usually)  Not always due to dietary intake

 Blood supply is somehow cut off to the brain causing brain cells to die.  “Approx. 2 million brain cells die per minute during a stroke aging the brain about 3.5 years each hour.” (Insel & Roth, 2009)  Important to receive prompt treatment upon onset of symptoms.

Source:

 Ischemic: blockage in the blood vessel  80% of strokes are ischemic  Two types of ischemic strokes. Thrombotic – blood clot forms in the brain Embolic – wandering clot travels to the brain  Hemorrhagic – rupture of vessel

 ~700,000 Americans suffer a stroke every year. 1/3 will die.  Strokes may cause permanent damage  Paralysis, speech impairment, memory loss, behavior changes.

Oregon,gov, 2010

 Sudden numbness/weakness of face, arm, leg – especially on one side.  Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.  Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.  Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance/coordination  Sudden severe headache with no known cause.

 “Give me a smile.”  “Hold out your arms”  “Say this for me.”  Get help immediately

 TIA – “ministroke”  Temporary stroke like symptoms  Brief, usually only last a few minutes  No permanent damage occurs  Can be a precursor to a stroke.

 Hypertension: arteries are narrowed, causes heart to pump harder which creates more force against the artery walls.

 “Silent” – usually no symptoms but damage is still occurring.  Can cause damage to almost every organ in the body. Damage is irreversible.  High blood pressure: 140/90 Can have “prehypertension”

 Primary (essential):  90% of all cases  Cause is unknown – probably genetics and environment.  Secondary  10% of cases  Cause is due to medications or other diseases.  Approx. 1/3 of Americans have hypertension.  Risk increases with age.

 If left untreated, carries high mortality risk.  Risk factors:  Family history, race, stress, obesity, tobacco use, aging, high sodium intake  Complications:  Stroke, heart attack, heart failure, hypertensive retinopathy, renal failure

 What does sodium do for you?  Helps maintain fluid balance  Helps transmit nerve impulses  Influences contraction and relaxation of muscles

 Too much sodium  Causes high blood pressure  May lead to fluid retention

 The human body requires about 500 mg of sodium per day, while the average American usually ingests between 2,300-6,900 mg each day.  It is recommended to stay in a range of 1,500 to 2,400 mg / day.

 On food labels:  Monosodium glutamate (MSG)  Baking soda  Baking powder  Disodium phosphate  Sodium alginate  Sodium nitrate or nitrite

 Prevent, prevent, prevent  But how????  Individual education / motivation  Government policy  Built environments