Overweight And Obesity > 영어토론방

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In the United States, obesity has risen at an epidemic rate during the past 20 years.
One of the national health objectives for the year 2010 is to reduce the prevalence of obesity among adults to less than 15%. Research indicates that the situation is worsening rather than improving.

1. Defining Overweight and Obesity
Obesity is defined as an excessively high amount of body fat or adipose tissue in relation to lean body mass. The amount of body fat (or adiposity ) includes concern for both the distribution of fat throughout the body and the size of the adipose tissue deposits. Body fat distribution can be estimated by skin fold measures, waist-to-hip circumference ratios, or techniques such as ultrasound, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging. Results of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2000 indicate that an estimated 64 percent of U.S. adults are either overweight or obese, defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or more.

※ BMI stands for Body Mass Index. It is a number that shows body weight adjusted for height. BMI can be calculated with simple math using inches and pounds, or meters and kilograms. For adults aged 20 years or older, BMI falls into one of these categories: underweight, normal, overweight, or obese.

2. Factors Contributing to Obesity
Overweight and obesity are a result of energy imbalance over a long period of time. The cause of energy imbalance for each individual may be due to a combination of several factors. Individual behaviors, environmental factors, and genetics all contribute to the complexity of the obesity epidemic.

Energy imbalance - When the number of calories consumed is not equal to the number of calories used. Genetics and the environment may increase the risk of personal weight gain. However, the choices a person makes in eating and physical activity also contributes to overweight and obesity. Behavior can increase a person’s risk for gaining weight. Looking back at the energy balance scale, weight gain is a result of extra calorie consumption, decreasing calories used (physical activity) or both. Personal choices concerning calorie consumption and physical activity can lead to energy imbalance.

Calorie consumption - Our bodies need calories for daily functions such as breathing, digestion, and daily activities. Weight gain occurs when calories consumed exceed this need. Physical activity plays a key role in energy balance because it uses up calories consumed. Regular physical activity is good for overall health. Physical activity decreases the risk for colon cancer, diabetes, and high blood pressure. It also helps to control weight, contributes to healthy bones, muscles, and joints; reduces falls among the elderly; and helps to relieve the pain of arthritis. Physical activity does not have to be strenuous to be beneficial. Moderate physical activity, such as 30 minutes of brisk walking five or more times a week, also has health benefits. Despite all the benefits of being physically active, most Americans are sedentary. Technology has created many time and labor saving products. Some examples include cars, elevators, computers, dishwashers, and televisions. Cars are used to run short distance errands instead of people walking or riding a bicycle.

As a result, these recent lifestyle changes have reduced the overall amount of energy expended in our daily lives. According to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, in 2000 more than 26% of adults reported no leisure time physical activity.

3. Health Consequences
In 2001, the prevalence of obesity (BMI greater than or equal to 30) was 20.9% and the prevalence of diabetes was 7.9%, an increase of 5.6% for obesity and 8.2% for diabetes in one year. Overweight and obesity were found to be significantly associated with Diabetes, High blood pressure, High cholesterol, Asthma, Arthritis, Poor health status. Compared to adults with normal weight, adults with BMI greater than 40 were found more likely to be diagnosed for diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, arthritis, and fair or poor health. Overall, the findings of this study indicate that as BMI increases, risk for some diseases also increases.

4. Economic Consequences
The prevalence of obesity has increased substantially over the last 2 decades. In 1999-2000, an estimated 31% of U.S. adults aged 20 years and older - nearly 59 million people - were obese, defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more. Research studies have shown that obesity increases the risk of developing a number of health conditions including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, transient ischemic attack, colon cancer, post-menopausal breast cancer, endometrial cancer, gall bladder-disease, osteoarthritis, and obstructive sleep apnea. Overweight and obesity and their associated health problems have a significant economic impact on the U.S. health care system. Medical costs associated with overweight and obesity may involve direct and indirect costs. Direct medical costs may include preventive, diagnostic, and treatment services related to obesity. Indirect costs relate to morbidity and mortality costs. Morbidity costs are defined as the value of income lost from decreased productivity, restricted activity, absenteeism, and bed days. Mortality costs are the value of future income lost by premature death.

Question

1. Are you overweight or obesity? Have you ever been?
2. Do you do anything particular to prevent obesity or overweight? What?
3. Obesity and overweight problems are becoming a more and more serious.
    Where can you observe these problems? What's causing it?
4. People are moving less and getting busier in their chairs.
    Can fat taxes or obesity pills resolve the overweight problems?

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