Obesity in America
Posts tagged Body Fat
Why Childhood Obesity is Increasing and What We Can Do About It
Sep 3rd
There is considerable hype in the press about the incidence of childhood obesity. As usual, stories abound with calls for government intervention and large scale social changes. But apart from the over the top hype, there are some basic facts that remain.
With the increase in the availability and lower cost of food, at the same time, convenience foods, fast food establishments and snacks in our stores everywhere have made it all the more likely that many will consume too many calories.
With the popularity of the computer and internet, children spend a greater percentage of time being sedentary than in the past. TV and talking on the phone, of course, have been popular for decades. But with the addition of the internet, hours of physical activity per week has declined for many children, and adults I might add.
The result is that children today are on average heavier than they were. They also tend to consume more foods high in complex sugars and fat, and less fiber, fruits and vegetables. The effect for some children is obesity.
Obesity is measured somewhat differently for children than for adults, as a result of their rapidly changing bodies and metabolic rates. Children often experience growth spurts that would skew any measurement that the Body Mass Index as used by adults. Instead of using the BMI alone as a starting point, BMI is combined with age and gender to create a more accurate picture.
Where an adult would be considered obese with a BMI of 30 or greater, the Center for Disease Control charts would designate a child as obese at the 95th percentile. The two are roughly equivalent, but it is necessary to look at the charts for a more careful breakdown.
Percentage of body fat is another important measurement and here again the numbers differ by sex. An obese boy would be identified as one whose body fat was 25% or more of total body weight. For girls the number is 32% of body fat as a percentage of total weight.
One major reason for the difference is simply that females naturally have a higher percentage of body fat. For adult males the number is roughly 15% for a healthy, fit individual. But for women the number is around 27%.
The way to reduce body fat and excess weight for obese children, and adults, involves a partnership of proper diet and regular exercise. This will usually involve some lifestyle changes. These are often easier to implement for younger children, and have the added advantage of establishing good habits that typically carry on into adulthood.
Start on the road to good health at a young age and it will be easier to maintain in later years. Our children look to us for guidance. From experience children from a very young age love nothing more than to participate in family activities and will follow your example, good or bad. Introduce a healthy diet and lifestyle sooner rather than later. Remember it is never too late to make changes and the great thing about children is that they are very adaptable.
So What is Obesity?
Sep 1st
People often weigh themselves and think they are overweight without knowing what constitutes an acceptable weight range. They may even go so far as to claim that they are obese when it is not the case. Knowing what obesity is will prevent these false statements from being made and allow an individual to recognize when this condition actually exists.
A person is obese when he or she has an excess proportion of body fat. The weight of the person must be 20 percent or higher above the normal body weight for his or her age and height. Body mass index, also called BMI, is the most common measurement used to diagnose this condition. An individual with a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight. Someone who has a BMI over 30 is considered obese by most medical professionals.
An individual who is morbidly obese is 50 to 100 percent over the normal weight for someone of the same age and height. A person weighing more than 100 pounds over normal weight, whose BMI is 40 or greater, or experiences limited functioning or health issues related to weight is also considered morbidly obese. This is a serious medical condition that should be immediately addressed through consultation with a healthcare provider.
An individual becomes obese by consuming more calories than are burned. This often results from excessive eating and lack of exercise but there are also other contributing factors. These include gender, age, environmental factors, genetics, illness, psychological factors, and physical activity. Females tend to be more overweight than males and this tendency increases in postmenopausal women. Thinness and excessive weight tends to run in families but through diet and exercise, an individual can avoid putting on the pounds.
Lifestyle factors such as eating habits and level of physical activity play a role in whether a person becomes obese. When an obese person engages in physical activity, the appetite tends to decrease and fat metabolism within the body increases. A large portion of the worldwide increase in obesity within the last two decades has been attributed to a decrease in the amount of daily physical activity.
Obesity is a situation of excess body fat as measured by weight and BMI. A BMI measurement of greater than 30 classifies an individual as obese. Factors that contribute to this condition include diet, exercise, environment, genetics, gender, and age. Someone who is obese should consult with a physician to develop a diet and exercise plan to shed the pounds.
