What You Need To Know About Obesity by Andrea Rollin The statistics are staggering. Believe it or not, obesity affects more than one-quarter of all adults and about one-in-five children in the United States! Today, 61 percent of all adult Americans (97 million) are categorized as being overweight or obese. Even more astonishing is the fact that each year, obesity causes at least 300,000 excess deaths and costs our country more than $100 billion. It’s actually the second leading cause of unnecessary deaths in America. These shocking statistics, reported by the American Obesity Association, tell us that obesity has indeed reached epidemic levels. Obesity Is A Disease One agency that does take obesity seriously is the Internal Revenue Service. It now recognizes obesity as a disease, and states that the costs of doctor-ordered diet and weight loss programs are now deductible. The IRS’s decision may just establish a precedent for insurance companies -- and government programs like Medicare -- to offer coverage for the treatment of obesity. For the past two years, dieters have only been able to deduct the cost of diet programs if they were recommended by a doctor to treat a specific ailment. Now, the IRS is declaring obesity an actual ailment, so these programs would qualify as a diet or weight loss expense deduction. Obese Or Overweight? Yes, there is a difference between being obese and being overweight. The best way to determine which one you are is by calculating your Body Mass Index, or BMI. Divide your body weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared (weight [kg]/height [m]2) or by using the conversion with pounds and inches squared (weight [lbs]/height [in]2 x 704.5). A BMI of 30 or more means you’re obese; a BMI of 25 to 29.9 says you’re overweight. (Results may be misleading, though, if you’re muscular, pregnant or lactating.) Variables that have an impact on your health risk as it relates to your BMI: your waist size, whether you smoke, the kinds of foods you eat regularly and whether or not you exercise regularly. Also affecting your BMI are the medical conditions associated with obesity (diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and coronary heart disease). Are You At Risk? Chances are you’re more likely to suffer from obesity if you’re in a lower economic group, but statistics show that a growing number of young adults with some college education are also developing the disease. In fact, obesity has actually increased in every state, in both men and women, across every age and ethnic group. If you’re an African-American woman, studies show that you’re more likely to be overweight than your Caucasian counterpart. If you’re an African-American man, though, you’re actually less inclined to be obese than your Caucasian counterpart. Those of Hispanic origin tend to weigh more than Caucasians, and if you live in the South Atlantic region, you’re more prone to obesity than if you live in the Mid-Atlantic states. Age Matters Men’s BMI levels tend to increase until age 50, then level off, reports the World Health Organization. As women grow older, they don’t fare as well -- their BMI’s climb until the age of 70, then plateau. If you’re a woman experiencing menstruation for the first time (especially at an early age), recently had a baby, or are going through menopause, these are high-risk times for you. Forewarned is forearmed! Children are just as much at risk for obesity as adults, according to a recent UK study. They are more prone to be overweight if they: are born into a family with a low income and have little mental stimulation; get little exercise; watch a lot of television; are entering puberty and reduced physical activity. How To Fight Obesity You can battle obesity and come out a winner... or (weight) loser! Here’s what the experts recommend: 1. Cut down drastically on night eating. Eating between 25 to 50 percent of daily calories between dinner and the next morning is closely related to obesity. 2. Stop binge-eating, especially carbohydrates. If you’re a binge-eater who typically consumes 5,000 to 15,000 calories in one sitting, you’re destined for obesity. 3. Avoid working late shifts. Working between 4 p.m. and 8 a.m. will most likely cause you to eat more and take longer naps than day workers. Weight gain is inevitable. 4. Stop taking prescription drugs that contribute to weight gain. Some of the more common ones are corticosteroids, female hormone treatments like oral contraceptives and antidepressants like lithium. Unfortunately, using insulin and insulin-stimulating drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes (diabetes caused by obesity) leads to weight gain more times than not. Check with your doctor before giving up these medications. 5. Eat healthy! Lots of fresh fruits and vegetables are your best defense against obesity. 6. Exercise! Exercise! Exercise! Cardiovascular activity three times a week (or more) will keep your body -- and your mind -- in shape!