Obesity as a Public Health Problem

Obesity is a significant public health problem. It affects a large proportion of the population and adversely affects health and longevity. It either is a cause of, or is correlated with, health problems such as diabetes, coronary heart disease, and hypertension; disturbances of normal body functions including ventilation and excessive wear of joints; and psychological effects such as depression, withdrawal, poor self-concept, and self-pity. Overfat individuals are subjected to negative comments by peers and might not be selected for teams, dates, and projects.

Society is tremendously preoccupied with obesity. Data from a 1985 National Health Interview Survey indicated that 45% of females and 27% of males were trying to lose weight. Weight reduction is a multibillion-dollar industry, and weight-management programs have spread rapidly. Nevertheless, obesity persists.

Related population statistics appear elsewhere in the source (page 416): one-third of American adults are overweight; 58 million Americans are obese; and each year 300,000 die from obesity-related illnesses (see fast-food-statistics).

• Obesity correlates with diabetes, coronary heart disease, and hypertension.
• It disturbs ventilation, causes excessive joint wear, and has psychological effects (depression, withdrawal, poor self-concept, self-pity).
• 1985 National Health Interview Survey: 45% of females and 27% of males were trying to lose weight.
• Weight reduction is a multibillion-dollar industry.

• obesity-thresholds — the body-fat definitions of obesity.
• weight-cycling — repeated dieting and its consequences.
• fast-food-statistics — broader U.S. fat-intake and obesity figures.
• cardiorespiratory-guidelines — exercise as a health intervention.