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