| The biggest problem we face in America today is not | | | | weight gain was larger in the early to mid-20s than it |
| terrorism - it is obesity. This is according to Dr. Julie | | | | was for older age groups. |
| Gerberding, head of the Centers for Disease Control | | | | It may not be wisest to wait until middle age, even |
| and Prevention in America. And it seems much of this | | | | though that may be when obesity becomes a more |
| problem is happening in a slow and creeping way, | | | | significant health threat, to lose weight. Irreversible |
| through gradual young and middle-aged adult weight | | | | health damage from weight being above optimal levels |
| gain, over very long periods of time. | | | | may occur prior to the beginning of a health-related |
| On the average, a typical American adult gains at least | | | | diet and exercise program. But modest weight loss |
| two pounds per year over his or her lifetime. That | | | | can reduce cardiovascular risk factors, and in high-risk |
| probably means that approximately 100 extra calories | | | | individuals, it also prevents the development of |
| are being consumed each day, according to Dr. James | | | | diabetes and hypertension. |
| Hill of the University of Colorado's nutrition center. If you | | | | The American College of Preventative Medicine |
| simply burn off those 100 extra calories, or don't | | | | endorses the guidelines of the National Institutes of |
| consume them to begin with, you will then not gain that | | | | Health when it comes to advising obese and |
| yearly extra weight. | | | | overweight patients on how to go about both losing |
| Dr. Gerberding says that fixing the problem will involve | | | | excess weight and keeping it off. They encourage |
| changing most Americans' daily social norms. This will | | | | moderate physical activity for 30 to 45 minutes for at |
| have to start in our early childhood, she says. People | | | | least 3 to 5 days per week for clinically obese or |
| will have to begin performing more physical activity and | | | | overweight persons, whenever such a program is not |
| eating less every day. And Dr. Hill has examined | | | | contraindicated by any current health problems. They |
| government figures showing that about 40 million | | | | also advise counseling regarding an energy-reduced or |
| adults are currently obese. He has also noted that | | | | low-calorie diet of 800 to 1500 calories per day for an |
| Americans are steadily gaining more weight than usual | | | | obese or overweight adult until optimal weight is |
| in recent years. But what can be done about this | | | | attained. Then it is suggested that the patient should |
| socially and personally significant health problem? | | | | remain on a healthy, normal diet that is not higher in |
| "The future is not hopeful unless we act now," Dr. Hill | | | | calories than the amount burned by ordinary activities |
| says. He estimates that if current trends continue, the | | | | and exercise each day. |
| obesity rate for American adults in 2008 will be 39%, | | | | It is felt by many experts that simply avoiding excess |
| which compares unfavorably with 31% in the year | | | | weight gain during the early adult years may be very |
| 2000. | | | | important. It may ensure the prevention of adverse |
| Middle age shows a great increase in the amount of | | | | health reactions and establish an early foundation for |
| weight gained. There is a doubling of body fat in this | | | | the maintenance of lifelong healthy habits in later |
| time period in both men and women living in the | | | | adulthood. It is also felt that interventions such as |
| developed countries. Such weight gain is strongly | | | | simple changes in diet and the maintenance of a |
| associated with increased morbidity and mortality. But | | | | regular exercise program will help parents establish |
| there is ample evidence to conclude that moderate | | | | lifelong role models for their children. This would greatly |
| physical activity combined with a steady and healthy | | | | help to prevent America's steady increase in obesity |
| diet slows down or stops middle-aged adult weight | | | | over the oncoming decade, and its accompanying |
| gain. | | | | morbidity and mortality over the next several |
| Young adults are also at a high risk for weight gain. In | | | | generations of aging adult Americans. |
| America, for adults ages 25-74, the major weight gain | | | | Information in this article was obtained from the four |
| was shown to be highest between ages 25-34. This | | | | sources listed below: |
| was found by recent US government studies. And in | | | | The "Cutting 100 Calories/day Might Prevent Weight |
| the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young | | | | Gain & Obesity" page at Weight Control and Obesity; |
| Adults Study, even though trends were constant | | | | The "Symposium: Adult Weight Gain: Causes and |
| across ten years of follow-up studies, age-related | | | | Implications" page at Nutrition. |