It is estimated that 47 million adults
have a cluster of medical conditions referred to as the
Metabolic Syndrome.
- U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, 2003
Metabolic syndrome is brought on by
lifestyle choices and is characterized by:
- Insulin Resistance / High Insulin
Values
- Obesity and Abdominal fat
- Hypertension
- High Blood Triglycerides
- Low HDL-Cholesterol
- Increased Cardiovascular Disease Risk
This means that Americans getting fatter
and this increase in weight is causing Americans to get
sicker. Here are some fun facts:
- 64.5% of Americans are overweight or
obese 1
- The percentage of Americans
classified as obese has doubled in the last 20 years
- 1980 ... 15%
- 2000 ... 31% 2
- Obese and overweight cost $93 billion
in 2003 3
- Obesity adds 20 years of aging 4
- Overweight and obese people are at
increased risk for:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Heart disease and hypertension
- Osteoarthritis
- Sleep apnea
- Respiratory diseases
- Stroke
- Endometrial, breast, prostate and
colon cancers
- Poor female reproductive health
- Depression
Bringing obesity and overweight under
control will go a long way to making Americans healthier and
reducing health care costs.
1 Health and Nutrition
Examination Survey, National Center for Health Statistics,
Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, 1999
2 National Health and Nutrition
Examination Survey, National Center for Health Statistics,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1999
3 Project HOPE The
People-to-People Health Foundation, Inc. 2003
4 Roland Sturm, UCLA/RAND
Managed Care Center for Psychiatric Disorders, The Effects
of Obesity, Smoking and Drinking on Medical Problems and
Costs, Health Affairs, March/April 2002
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