Challenges with Obesity

Introduction According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) (n.d.) data from two NHANES surveys show that among adults aged 20� years the prevalence of obesity increased from 15.0% (1976�80 survey) to 32.9% (2003�04 survey). Furthermore, the two surveys showed an increase in overweight among children and teens. For children aged 2�years, the prevalence of overweight increased from 5.0% to 13.9%; for those aged 6� years, prevalence increased from 6.5% to 18.8%; and for those aged 12� years, prevalence increased from 5.0% to 17.4%. Overweight and obesity have been associated with many diseases and health conditions, which include type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, dyslipidemia, gallbladder disease, and hyptension (CDC, n.d.). The purpose of this paper is to bring awareness on the increasing problem of obesity. Areas that will be discussed will include: the Surgeon General抯 Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity, demographic, economical, political, and ethical factors, as well as challenges concerning the fight against obesity.

Obesity Infographic from LA-Bariatrics

English: The graph shows the correlation between b...

Animated map of obesity incidence by state (1985-2...

Surgeon General抯 Call to ActionThe U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has developed the Surgeon General抯 Call To Action To Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity (2001) to address the problem of obesity in the nation. The five principles of the Surgeon General抯 Call To Action are:1.Promote the recognition of overweight and obesity as major public healthproblems.

2.Assist Americans in balancing healthful eating with regular physical activity to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight.

3.Identify effective and culturally appropriate interventions to prevent and treat overweight and obesity.

4.Encourage environment changes that help prevent overweight and obesity.

5. Develop and enhance public-private partnerships to help implement this vision. (p. V)The Surgeon General recognized the negative implications obesity will have on the nation if steps are not taken to decrease the number of those who...