Guest Author - Denise Howard, M.D,, M.P.H.

We have become a fat society. The appropriate term of course is Obese. Each of us can look at a person and be able to say whether or not that person is obese but this is quite subjective. What defines Obesity?

It is defined as an excess of body fat which increases the risk of disease and premature death. It can be measured in terms of body weight however this is affected by other factors such as height, muscle mass and bone density. A more precise way of measuring it is the body mass index (BMI) which is a calculation that takes into account the height and weight. There are even more precise ways of measuring body fat but they tend to be to complex for common use.

One is considered to be overweight if their BMI is greater than 26. Obesity is defined as a BMI greater than 30. This classification is further detailed based on the degree of risk of medical problems. Class I obesity is a BMI of 30-34.9 kg/m2. Class II is a BMI of 35-39.9 kg/m2. Class III or morbid obesity is a BMI of 40 kg/m2. The more severe the obesity the more likely one is to develop medical problems.

The prevalence of obesity has increased significantly over the past 25 years in the United States. Currently more than 33% of women are considered to be Obese. This problem is even greater in minority groups. Greater than 50% of black women and 40% of Mexican Americans are obese. The prevalence for white women is approximately 30%. This condition also plaques older women. In women 60-69 years of age approximately 23% are obese.

The concern with obesity is its relationship with diseases and premature death. It increases the risk of diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. These problems can lead to premature death and morbidity by causing heart failure, heart attacks, stroke, and kidney failure. The list of other medical complications is long. In addition, obesity contributes to reproductive problems such as infertility and pregnancy complications. Finally, the incidence of breast, uterine, colon and other cancers are higher in obese people.

In my opinion we are obese because we are a society of convenience. We would rather ride than walk. We would rather drive through a restaurant for fast food rather than preparing food at home. We also eat for pleasure rather than for nutrition. We are becoming more and more obese because we pass on these unhealthy habits to our children. We must change our attitude towards food and exercise in order to reverse this trend.