Obesity - CDC Facts

In 2009–2010, 35.7% of U.S. adults were obese. In 2009–2010, 16.9% of U.S. children and adolescents were obese. In 2009–2010, over 78 million U.S. adults and about 12.5 million U.S. children and adolescents were obese. Almost 41 million women and more than 37 million men aged 20 and over were obese in 2009–2010 (Figure 3). Among children and adolescents aged 2–19, more than 5 million girls and approximately 7 million boys were obese.

Health and Obesity Obesity increases the risk of a number of health conditions including hypertension, adverse lipid concentrations, and type 2 diabetes . The prevalence of obesity in the United States increased during the last decades of the 20th century . More recently there appears to have been a slowing of the rate of increase or even a leveling off. Given the health risks of obesity and its high prevalence, it is important to continue to track the prevalence of obesity among U.S. adults and children. This report presents the most recent national estimates of obesity in the United States based on measured weight and height.

Causes of obesity Obesity is a complex disease for which no single cause or cure exists. You gain weight when you take in more calories than you burn off. But obesity is influenced by many other factors, including: Your emotions and habits. Overeating is easy in our culture today. Many factors influence eating behavior, including emotions, habits, and the availability of food. Your lifestyle. Modern conveniences-such as elevators, cars, and the remote control for the television-cut activity out of our lives. Your genes . If one of your parents is obese, you are 3 times as likely to be obese as someone with parents of healthy weight.3 Your friends and family. If they eat a lot of high-fat or snack foods, eat at irregular times, and skip meals, you probably will too. And if they are not physically active, you may not be either. WebMD

Causes of obesity Other things influence your weight and whether you are physically active, including: Low self-esteem. Being overweight or obese may lower your self-esteem and lead to eating as a way to comfort yourself. Repeated failure at dieting also can affect your self-esteem and make it even harder to lose weight. Emotional concerns. Emotional stress, anxiety, or illnesses such as depression or chronic pain can lead to overeating. Some people eat to calm themselves, to avoid dealing with unpleasant tasks or situations, or to dampen negative emotions. Trauma. Distressing events-such as childhood sexual, physical, or emotional abuse; loss of a parent during childhood; or marital or family problems-can contribute to overeating. Alcohol. Alcohol (beer and mixed drinks) is very high in calories. Medicines or medical conditions. Some medical conditions and medicines may also cause weight gain. Examples include having Cushing's syndrome or hypothyroidism or taking certain antidepressants or corticosteroids. WebMD

Causes of obesity Inactivity. If you're not very active, you don't burn as many calories. With a sedentary lifestyle, you can easily take in more calories every day than you use through exercise and normal daily activities. Unhealthy diet and eating habits. Having a diet that's high in calories, eating fast food, skipping breakfast, eating most of your calories at night, drinking high-calorie beverages and eating oversized portions all contribute to weight gain. Pregnancy. During pregnancy, a woman's weight necessarily increases. Some women find this weight difficult to lose after the baby is born. This weight gain may contribute to the development of obesity in women. Mayo Clinic

Causes of obesity Lack of sleep. Getting less than seven hours of sleep a night can cause changes in hormones that increase your appetite. You may also crave foods high in calories and carbohydrates, which can contribute to weight gain. Certain medications. Some medications can lead to weight gain if you don't compensate through diet or activity. These medications include some antidepressants, anti-seizure medications, diabetes medications, antipsychotic medications, steroids and beta blockers. Medical problems. Obesity can sometimes be traced to a medical cause, such as Prader-Willi syndrome, Cushing's syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome, and other diseases and conditions. Some medical problems, such as arthritis, can lead to decreased activity, which may result in weight gain. A low metabolism is unlikely to cause obesity, as is having low thyroid function. Mayo Clinic

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