Despite the ongoing influx of diet and exercise programs into mainstream culture, Americans are still putting on the pounds -- in fact, more of them than initially thought.
According to recent analysis of a major survey conducted in 1999-2000, the prevalence of obesity and being overweight in the United States has not only increased, but significantly so. Nearly one-third of adults, close to 59 million people, are considered obese. Moreover, close to two-thirds of adults are either obese or overweight; that is nearly two out of every three Americans.
The prevalence of obesity rose from 22.9 percent in the last survey (conducted 1988-1994), to 30.5 percent in 1999-2000. The number of those considered overweight, including the obese, also rose during this period, from 55.9 percent to 64.5 percent. Extreme obesity increased as well, with 4.7 percent now being considered obese, compared with 2.9 percent in the last survey.
Over 4,000 men and women between the ages of 20 and 74 years were surveyed. Body mass index (BMI), which is calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters, was used to define overweight and obesity. A BMI of 25 or higher indicated overweight, 30 or higher obesity, and 40 or higher extreme obesity. Using this formula, a person who is 5 feet, 8 inches tall would be considered overweight at 165 pounds and obese at 200 pounds.
The rise in overweight and obesity was not unexpected. Reports from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and the Harris Poll, released prior to the current survey, had suggested that weight increases would indeed continue. However, the reports were based on self-reported data, which means that participants estimated their own weights. The results came out much lower than the current survey’s results, which are based on measured heights and weights and the BMI formula mentioned above, because participants frequently underestimated their own weights. In fact, self-reported weights have been as much as 50 percent lower than actual measured weights.
The findings were broken down by age, sex, and racial/ethnic group. According to the survey, obesity and overweight increases were most apparent among non-Hispanic black women aged 40 years or older, with more than 80 percent of the group now categorized as overweight. Increases were noted for men and women in all age groups, as well as non-Hispanic whites, non-Hispanic blacks and Mexican Americans.
Among children and adolescents aged 6 to 19 years, 15 percent were measured as overweight, a four percent increase from the last survey. Furthermore, 10 percent of children between the ages of 2 and 5 are now overweight, up three percent from the last survey. Overweight in this group is defined as a BMI at or above the 95th percentile of sex-specific BMI growth charts.
Potential explanations for the increasing trend toward obesity are varied. The report discusses the tendency of affluent, well-fed countries to have populations whose body weights increase over time. Dining out frequently where portion sizes are large and an increase in technology, which can contribute to sedentary lifestyles, may also be to blame.
The rise in overweight and obesity in the U.S. appears to be population-wide rather than confined to a certain area or ethnic group. Implications of prevalent obesity and overweight are therefore of nationwide concern. Health risks include diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, heart disease, certain cancers, stroke and arthritis. Among children, there is also an increased risk of becoming overweight or obese in adulthood. Despite a national health objective to decrease the prevalence of obesity in adults to less than 15 percent of the population by 2010, little has been found to effectively reverse the increasing trend.
Journal of the American Medical Association October 9, 2002; 288: 1723-1727 (Full Text Article)
The future health of our country undoubtedly depends upon healthier eating. Most people who are obese are not happy about it and would like to return to a healthy weight. They know about the potential health implications but often receive incorrect information from medical "experts."
The good news is that overweight and obesity are nearly 100 percent preventable by following my eating plan, exercising, and addressing emotional stresses. Quite simply, you need to replace grain carbohydrates with vegetable greens.
Eating too many carbohydrates causes insulin levels to rise, sending your body a hormonal message essentially telling it to store fat while holding on to the fat that is already there. So not only will excess carbohydrates make you fat, they will make you stay fat. Limiting sugar is crucial in moderating this insulin response.
Many people struggle with this grain/sugar restriction. We have been using Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) to successfully treat emotional stresses, including food cravings such as those related to sugar and grains, for some time.
Although often overlooked, emotional health is essential to your physical well-being. No matter how devoted you are to a healthy lifestyle, it is nearly impossible to reach your goals if emotional barriers stand in your way. EFT uses a combination of kinetic energy input and positive affirmations to release you of your emotional "blocks."
You can download our recently updated EFT manual free of charge. If you seek more in-depth knowledge of the EFT technique, my EFT series is available on DVD or VHS. The series will teach you how to relieve most emotional traumas, abolish phobias, overcome food cravings and eliminate or greatly reduce physical pain. You can also make an appointment with an expert to help you with the EFT process.