In this article, we are going to discuss the top ten disturbing facts about obesity. Without further ado, let’s see the list.

10. America has the highest percent of obesity worldwide

The highest percentage of obese and overweight people live in the region of America, which is the USA, countries in South America, and associated islands. 26% of adults are obese, and 62% are overweight.

The lowest incidence of obesity and overweight is in South East Asia region, which includes countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and Thailand. 3% are obese, and 14% are overweight.

Obesity is largely attributed to the lifestyle and dietary habits.

9. Obesity costs airlines money

Obesity costs airlines 275 million dollars a year. Obesity has a toll on the economy in many ways. Airlines suffer under the strain from obesity. They have to make seats wider and reduce the total number of people that can fit into the airplanes. Airplanes also use more fuel as they have to carry more weight. All this adds up to over 250 million dollars.

8. Obesity is expensive to treat

Annual medical costs associated with obesity are as high as 147 billion dollars. On average, an obese person pays 40% more on healthcare than a normal weight does in a given year. Obesity adds in expenditures, resulting in lower working hours, workplace productivity, and a higher prevalence of chronic health conditions that must be treated.

Obese individuals are more than twice as likely as healthy weight individuals to be prescribed prescription drugs in order to manage medical conditions associated with obesity such as diabetes, heart issues, vascular issues, etc.

7. Correlation between watching TV and childhood obesity

Studies have shown that watching television is highly associated with childhood obesity. A typical child spends 3 to 5 hours a day in front of TV, using a computer, or even playing video games. The more TV children watch, the more likely they are gaining excess weight. There is also evidence that early TV habits may have long-lasting effects.

6. Obesity can impair fertility

Gaining excess weight can actually make it hard for a woman to become pregnant and for a man to produce and adequate amount of healthy sperm.

Obesity can cause hormonal imbalances and problems with ovulation. Obesity is also associated with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) which is a common cause of infertility.

5. Obesity increases the risk of breast cancer

After menopause, most of the women’s oestrogen is produced in the fat tissue rather than ovaries. Excess fat has also been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer and mortality due to excess oestrogen produced in obese women.

4. Obesity is a major health risk

Obesity can negatively impact individuals’ daily life and become a major health risk. Obesity increases the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, gallbladder disease, breathing problems, and certain types of cancer. It can also bring in an increased risk of chronic back pain, sleep apnea, and osteoarthritis.

The emotional and mental aspects of obese people are also significant and can lead to low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and isolation.

3. Obesity causes more deaths than underweight

65% of the world’s population lives in countries where overweight and obesity kill more people than underweight. Globally, 44% of diabetes, 23% of ischemic heart disease, and 7% to 41% of certain cancers are attributed to be in overweight and obese people. These are alarming numbers!

2. Statistics about obesity

• More than 1.4 billion adults were overweight in 2008, and more than half a billion were obese.
• 2.8 people die each year as a result of being overweight or obese.
• The prevalence of obesity has nearly doubled from 1980 to 2008, being associated with individuals who live in high-income countries. However, over the last 5-6 years, obesity has also become prevalent in middle and low-income countries.

1. Obesity can shorten the lifespan

Obese people usually have a BMI of about 30-35 BMI and a life expectancy cut by 2 to 4 years.

In very obese people who have a BMI of 40-45, the lifespan is reduced by roughly 10 years!

Children of today are more likely to be affected by the statistics and not because a fifth of the 5 years old and a third of 11 years old become overweight and obese. Obesity is so prevalent among these generations of children that they can be the first in the history of the USA to live less healthful and shorter lives than their parents.

Sources:

• http://www.healthdata.org/news-release/nearly-one-third-world%E2%80%99s-population-obese-or-overweight-new-data-show
• http://www.webmd.com/diet/obesity/what-obesity-is
• http://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/prevention-and-healthy-living/obesity-and-cancer/obesity-weight-and-cancer-risk
• http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/11/obesity-not-old-people-is-making-healthcare-expensive/281444/

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