Lets fact it, we Americans are getting fatter. We're putting on the pounds at an alarmingly rapid rate and there is no sign of this trend reversing. And we are sacrificing our health because of our love for super-sized meals, biggie drinks, and two-for-one value meals, leading obesity researchers say.
The fact is more than 60 percent of U.S. adults are overweight, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And about 15 percent of children and adolescents ages 6 to 19 are overweight and this percentage is increasing each year.
The CDC also says that poor diet and physical inactivity account for more than 400,000 premature deaths each year in the United States, second only to deaths related to smoking.
In addition, people that are obese are also more likely to develop numerous diseases like stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure and gallbladder disease all of which are preventable.
Excess weight can also cause interrupted breathing during sleep (sleep apnea) and wearing away of the joints (osteoarthritis). Carrying extra weight means carrying an extra risk for certain types of cancer, including endometrial, breast, prostate, and colon cancer.
All is not lost though for those us that are overweight. By taking simple, easily achievable steps to improve our health America can reverse what can easily be called an obesity epidemic. That was the message from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in a national education campaign begun in March 2004.
Along with this announcement the FDA's Obesity Working Group issued its Calories Count report which highlights actions that they are taking to help consumers make better choices about their diet.
Of note were actions being taken in educating consumers about maintaining a healthy diet and weight, encouraging restaurants to provide calorie and nutrition information and strengthening food labeling.
Also included are increased enforcement to ensure food labels accurately portray serving size and strengthened scientific research aimed at reducing obesity and developing foods that are healthier and lower in calories. - 15343
The fact is more than 60 percent of U.S. adults are overweight, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And about 15 percent of children and adolescents ages 6 to 19 are overweight and this percentage is increasing each year.
The CDC also says that poor diet and physical inactivity account for more than 400,000 premature deaths each year in the United States, second only to deaths related to smoking.
In addition, people that are obese are also more likely to develop numerous diseases like stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure and gallbladder disease all of which are preventable.
Excess weight can also cause interrupted breathing during sleep (sleep apnea) and wearing away of the joints (osteoarthritis). Carrying extra weight means carrying an extra risk for certain types of cancer, including endometrial, breast, prostate, and colon cancer.
All is not lost though for those us that are overweight. By taking simple, easily achievable steps to improve our health America can reverse what can easily be called an obesity epidemic. That was the message from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in a national education campaign begun in March 2004.
Along with this announcement the FDA's Obesity Working Group issued its Calories Count report which highlights actions that they are taking to help consumers make better choices about their diet.
Of note were actions being taken in educating consumers about maintaining a healthy diet and weight, encouraging restaurants to provide calorie and nutrition information and strengthening food labeling.
Also included are increased enforcement to ensure food labels accurately portray serving size and strengthened scientific research aimed at reducing obesity and developing foods that are healthier and lower in calories. - 15343
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