Obesity, or Having a Body Mass Index

Obesity, or having a body mass index (BMI) above the normal range has been linked to serious illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, some cancers, and type II diabetes, which are among the leading causes of death nation-wide (Nutrition, physical activity, and obesity, 2011, DHHS). "Doctors call people obese if their weight in kilograms is more than 30 times bigger than their height in meters squared" (Herper 2006). Obesity can be socially as well as physically limiting, and prevent individuals from engaging in heath-promoting physical activities because of joint pain (obese individuals are more likely to develop arthritis) and other mobility issues. It can also be socially limiting, because of its impact on the sufferer's self-esteem.

Q 2. "Approximately 1 in 3 adults (34.0%) and 1 in 6 children and adolescents (16.2%) are obese" (Nutrition, physical activity, and obesity, 2011, DHHS). At least 100,000 additional deaths occur every year as a direct cause of obesity (Herper 2006). At least $93 billion, or 9%, of U.S. medical expenses are directly linked to obesity, and obesity results in a loss of income for the sufferer and workplace productivity given that "obese people miss more work, costing employers something on the order of $4 billion" (Herper 2006).

Q3. Environmental: Where you live and work can increase your chances of becoming obese. A lack of accessible places to exercise and a lack of access to healthy food can increase a person's risk of obesity. So can more subtle influences, like the proximity of fast food restaurants. Living in different areas of the country can make someone more or less likely to be predisposed to develop obesity, as can having a sedentary occupation and a long commute. Rural areas tend to have higher obesity rates than cities such as New York. It is relatively easy to walk everywhere in cities, which increases the ability of individuals to burn calories during the day (Mississippi is fattest state, 2011, Calorie Lab).

Social: Poverty is strongly correlated with being obese. Poorer people are more likely to 'fill up' on starchy, sugary, and cheaper carbohydrates. Poorer people have less access to safe places to exercise, and less available time and money to engage in active leisure activities. "People in families with incomes 600% of the Federal poverty level (FPL) and over had the highest rate of physical activity (29.7%, age adjusted). People in families with incomes under the FPL and those with incomes 100% to 199% of the FPL had the lowest rate (9.9%, age adjusted)" (Nutrition, physical activity, and obesity, 2011, DHHS).

Biological: Genetically and hormonally, some individuals may have a higher inclination to overeat and a lower inclination to exercise. "A commonly quoted genetic explanation for the rapid rise in obesity is the mismatch between today's environment and 'energy-thrifty genes' that multiplied in the past under different environmental conditions when food sources were rather unpredictable" (Genomics: Resources, 2011, CDC).