Adult obesity is associated with a decrease in life expectancy for both men and women, as well as an increase in chronic disease. It is estimated that 163 million adults in the U.S. are overweight or obese – two thirds of men, and more than 60% of women. The damage to health is staggering, but people still struggle every day to drop the pounds. Everyone has different reasons for wanting to lose weight and keep it off, and this episode discusses the challenges and solutions for sustained weight loss.
*Obesity means having too much body fat. It is different from being overweight, which means weighing too much. The weight may come from muscle, bone, fat, and/or body water. Both terms mean that a person’s weight is greater than what’s considered healthy for his or her height.
Obesity happens over time when you eat more calories than you use. The balance between calories-in and calories-out differs for each person. Factors that might affect your weight include your genetic makeup, overeating, eating high-fat foods, and not being physically active.
Obesity increases your risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, arthritis, and some cancers. If you have obesity, losing even 5 to 10 percent of your weight can delay or prevent some of these diseases. For example, that means losing 10 to 20 pounds if you weigh 200 pounds.
*Source: Medline Plus