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Obesity In America: A Growing Problem (Part 1)
70% of Americans are overweight, and 32% of them are obese. The numbers, and the people, are only expanding.
Lifestyle diseases related to obesity, including: heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes are the top killers, and account for a huge portion of overall disease care costs.
These are preventable diseases.
1. Diseases of heart (heart disease) 631,636
2. Malignant neoplasms (cancer) 559,888
3. Cerebrovascular diseases (stroke) 137,119
4. Chronic lower respiratory diseases 124,583
5. Accidents (unintentional injuries) 129,599
6. Diabetes mellitus (diabetes) 72,449
7. Alzheimer’s disease 72,432
8. Influenza and pneumonia 56,326
9. Kidney disease 45,344
10. Septicemia 34,234
11. Intentional self-harm (suicide) 33,000
12. Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis
13. Essential hypertension and hypertensive renal disease (hypertension)
14. Parkinson’s disease
15. Assault (homicide) 17,034
- USA Obesity Rates Reach Epidemic Proportions
- Eight out of 10 over 25′s Overweight
- In 2008: 19.6% of children ages 6-11 obese
- In 2008: 18.1% of children 12-19 obese.
- 33% of African American and Hispanic children overweight in 2001
- 78% of American’s not meeting basic activity level recommendations
- In 2002, 38% completely Sedentary
- 76% increase in Type II diabetes in adults 30-40 yrs old since 1990
- Surge in Childhood Diseases
- New study suggests one in four overweight children is already showing early signs of type II diabetes (impaired glucose intolerance). Of children diagnosed with Type II diabetes, 85% are obese
- 70% of obese youth already have one risk factor for heart diseases
- As overweight and obese young people get older, they will require earlier medical intervention and management and health care costs will soar.
- As overweight and obese young people get older, the average lifespan of an American will get shorter.
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