Just How FAT Are Americans?
by Brooke Douglas, R.D.
Just How Fat are Americans?
We hear a lot of reports about the growing obesity epidemic, but what does it mean?
America’s Obesity Epidemic
Obesity is defined as a body-mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. Although, this number is not
equally distributed around the U.S. Check to see how your state lines up in the prevalence of
obesity:
15 – 19% Fat Colorado is ‘thinnest’ state and the only state to average less than 20% body fat.
20 – 24% Fat Hawaii, California, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico, Wisconsin, Illinois, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Florida and Virginia.
25 – 29% FatWashington, Oregon, Alaska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Maryland.
> 30% Fat Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi.
The World Obesity Epidemic
I know it may be hard to believe, but the U.S. isn’t the most ‘obese’ country on earth. In fact, we’re also not the most ‘overweight’. After a quarter-century rise, obesity prevalence has not increased since 2004. Still, 72 million adults (34%) are obese. Many health professionals would like this number to be less than 15%, a level not seen since 1980.
Below are the top eight ‘obese’ countries and the top eight ‘overweight’ countries:
% Overweight % Obese
62% Israel 29% Kuwait
63% Bosnia 29% Bahrain
64% Kuwait 34% United States
66% United States 34% United Arab Emirates
67% United Kingdom 36% Saudi Arabia
67% Germany 41% French Polynesia
73% Saudi Arabia 56% Tonga
75% French Polynesia 79% Nauru
What’s Your BMI
Underweight = <18.5
Normal weight = 18.5-24.9
Overweight = 25-29.9
Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater
BMI (kg/m2)
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
35
40
Height (in.)
Weight (lbs.)
58
91
96
100
105
110
115
119
124
129
134
138
143
167
191
59
94
99
104
109
114
119
124
128
133
138
143
148
173
198
60
97
102
107
112
118
123
128
133
138
143
148
153
179
204
61
100
106
111
116
122
127
132
137
143
148
153
158
185
211
62
104
109
115
120
126
131
136
142
147
153
158
164
191
218
63
107
113
118
124
130
135
141
146
152
158
163
169
197
225
64
110
116
122
128
134
140
145
151
157
163
169
174
204
232
65
114
120
126
132
138
144
150
156
162
168
174
180
210
240
66
118
124
130
136
142
148
155
161
167
173
179
186
216
247
67
121
127
134
140
146
153
159
166
172
178
185
191
223
255
68
125
131
138
144
151
158
164
171
177
184
190
197
230
262
69
128
135
142
149
155
162
169
176
182
189
196
203
236
270
70
132
139
146
153
160
167
174
181
188
195
202
207
243
278
71
136
143
150
157
165
172
179
186
193
200
208
215
250
286
72
140
147
154
162
169
177
184
191
199
206
213
221
258
294
73
144
151
159
166
174
182
189
197
204
212
219
227
265
302
74
148
155
163
171
179
186
194
202
210
218
225
233
272
311
75
152
160
168
176
184
192
200
208
216
224
232
240
279
319
76
156
164
172
180
189
197
205
213
221
230
238
246
287
328
Counting Calories -
Not only are we consuming too much fast food, processed white foods and drinking too many liquid calories but we are also way too sedentary. It only takes an extra 100 calories daily to manifest to a ten-pound weight gain in one year. That’s not that much food (maybe a couple of Oreos with some nonfat milk). Instead of, “Where’s the Beef?” How about, ‘Where’s the Fruit and Vegetables?’ It is our own responsibility to ‘provide’ and ‘enforce’ healthy eating principles. Adults need to eat right and expect the same of their children. Keeping a food record for a few days can be a real eye-opener to how many extra calories you (or your child) are consuming each day.
Children should consume around 1,300 calories a day, or about 430 calories per meal (on average). One typical kids meal provides 570 to 740 calories per meal. These extra calories are very cumulative and can really add up and contribute to the obesity epidemic in children and adults.
The USDA recommends the average adult consume only 2,000 calories daily. The average American adult consumes from 1,883 up to 5,649 calories daily, as estimated by the World Health Organization. It is also estimated that over 40% of our calorie intake comes from both fat and excessive sugar intake of any form (corn syrup, molasses, honey, high fructose corn syrup, maltodextrin, etc.). What this means is that we are eating more calories, 24% more to be exact. Although, there is no finger pointing, one single food group is not to blame. It’s the big picture of too many calories (regardless from sugar or fat) and not enough exercise.
What Can We Do About It?
The likelihood of developing Type 2 diabetes and hypertension rises steeply with increasing body fatness. Confined to older adults for most of the 20th century, this disease now affects both moderately overweight and obese children. Approximately 85% of people with diabetes are type 2, and of these, 90% are obese or overweight.
Effective weight management for adults and children at risk of becoming overweight and developing obesity involves a range of long-term strategies. These strategies may include: Nutrition and Lifestyle Changes, Food-Nutrient Timing and Portions Sizes, Diagnosis Specific Nutrition Education, Physical Activity Education/Monitoring, Laboratory Assessment/Target Ranges, Nutrient Supplementation, Stimulus Control/Behavior Barriers, Personal Goal Setting, and Self Monitoring via Food Analysis.
Ask your physician if he thinks you are an appropriate patient to benefit from Medical Nutrition Therapy?
Just How FAT Are Americans?
Just How FAT Are Americans?
by Brooke Douglas, R.D.
Just How Fat are Americans?
We hear a lot of reports about the growing obesity epidemic, but what does it mean?
America’s Obesity Epidemic
Obesity is defined as a body-mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. Although, this number is not
equally distributed around the U.S. Check to see how your state lines up in the prevalence of
obesity:
15 – 19% Fat Colorado is ‘thinnest’ state and the only state to average less than 20% body fat.
20 – 24% Fat Hawaii, California, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico, Wisconsin, Illinois, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Florida and Virginia.
25 – 29% Fat Washington, Oregon, Alaska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Maryland.
> 30% Fat Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi.
The World Obesity Epidemic
I know it may be hard to believe, but the U.S. isn’t the most ‘obese’ country on earth. In fact, we’re also not the most ‘overweight’. After a quarter-century rise, obesity prevalence has not increased since 2004. Still, 72 million adults (34%) are obese. Many health professionals would like this number to be less than 15%, a level not seen since 1980.
Below are the top eight ‘obese’ countries and the top eight ‘overweight’ countries:
% Overweight % Obese
62% Israel 29% Kuwait
63% Bosnia 29% Bahrain
64% Kuwait 34% United States
66% United States 34% United Arab Emirates
67% United Kingdom 36% Saudi Arabia
67% Germany 41% French Polynesia
73% Saudi Arabia 56% Tonga
75% French Polynesia 79% Nauru
What’s Your BMI
Underweight = <18.5
Normal weight = 18.5-24.9
Overweight = 25-29.9
Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater
(kg/m2)
(in.)
Counting Calories -
Not only are we consuming too much fast food, processed white foods and drinking too many liquid calories but we are also way too sedentary. It only takes an extra 100 calories daily to manifest to a ten-pound weight gain in one year. That’s not that much food (maybe a couple of Oreos with some nonfat milk). Instead of, “Where’s the Beef?” How about, ‘Where’s the Fruit and Vegetables?’ It is our own responsibility to ‘provide’ and ‘enforce’ healthy eating principles. Adults need to eat right and expect the same of their children. Keeping a food record for a few days can be a real eye-opener to how many extra calories you (or your child) are consuming each day.
Children should consume around 1,300 calories a day, or about 430 calories per meal (on average). One typical kids meal provides 570 to 740 calories per meal. These extra calories are very cumulative and can really add up and contribute to the obesity epidemic in children and adults.
The USDA recommends the average adult consume only 2,000 calories daily. The average American adult consumes from 1,883 up to 5,649 calories daily, as estimated by the World Health Organization. It is also estimated that over 40% of our calorie intake comes from both fat and excessive sugar intake of any form (corn syrup, molasses, honey, high fructose corn syrup, maltodextrin, etc.). What this means is that we are eating more calories, 24% more to be exact. Although, there is no finger pointing, one single food group is not to blame. It’s the big picture of too many calories (regardless from sugar or fat) and not enough exercise.
What Can We Do About It?
The likelihood of developing Type 2 diabetes and hypertension rises steeply with increasing body fatness. Confined to older adults for most of the 20th century, this disease now affects both moderately overweight and obese children. Approximately 85% of people with diabetes are type 2, and of these, 90% are obese or overweight.
Effective weight management for adults and children at risk of becoming overweight and developing obesity involves a range of long-term strategies. These strategies may include: Nutrition and Lifestyle Changes, Food-Nutrient Timing and Portions Sizes, Diagnosis Specific Nutrition Education, Physical Activity Education/Monitoring, Laboratory Assessment/Target Ranges, Nutrient Supplementation, Stimulus Control/Behavior Barriers, Personal Goal Setting, and Self Monitoring via Food Analysis.
Ask your physician if he thinks you are an appropriate patient to benefit from Medical Nutrition Therapy?
Brooke Douglas, R.D.
www. NutritionAuthority.com.
You may also enjoy:
Leading Preventable Cause of Death in America
Healthy Snacks for the 9-5′er