The Obesity Crisis

Obesity is a national public health concern and increasing epidemic. This crisis is the research focus and media sensation as Americans’ continue to gain weight. Obesity results from weight gain over several years. Excessive body fat leads to significant health concerns and increases the risk of death (Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 2014). The epidemiological issues of obesity include prevalence, rising incidents, causal factors, and burden of diseases related to obesity. Substantial change is needed to curtail the obesity “disease” and public health professionals should be the initiators to counter this crisis.
In 1997, the obesity crisis was recognized as an epidemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) (Caballero, 2007). In 1962, over 45% of Americans were considered overweight and nearly 13% were obese (CDC, 2014). Obesity rates have quickly trended upward and are currently doubled today. One-third of Americans are obese and an estimated 500,000 die directly from the disease annually (CDC, 2014). All states in America have reached the prevalence of obesity by 20%. Most obese Americans are middle-aged and are highest among non-Hispanic black (47.8%) and
Health issues arise slowly or quickly from obesity. Obesity causes other chronic problems including heart disease, diabetes, chronic kidney failure, digestive issues, and cancer (CDC, 2014). Death directly associated with obesity is on the rise. Because of increased health issues caused by obesity, financial burdens soon follow and have creeped higher in the past several years (CDC, 2014). In 2008, annual obesity health care costs rose to $147 billion (CDC, 2014). The future economic and health burden will only increase because of the rise in childhood and adolescent obesity. With the current prevalence and new incidents of obesity occurring daily, America’s economy and health will continue to plunder and increase this public health