Why Are Obesity Levels Rising in the U.S.?
A recent study reports that three-quarters of American adults are classified as overweight or obese, compared to 66-percent in the early 2000s.
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A new study published in The Lancet indicates that approximately three-quarters of U.S. adults are now classified as overweight or obese. This is a dramatic rise from a survey published two decades ago, in which two-thirds of U.S. adults were reported to be overweight or obese. This means that health and medical costs in the U.S. will also rise, as risk of obesity-related chronic diseases, such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes, goes up.
In the study, researchers analyzed self-reported and measured anthropometric measurements (like height and weight) from 134 sources, which included all major surveillance data. For adults over the age of 18 years, overweight was defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 25kg/m2 to less than 30kg/m2 while obesity was defined as having a body mass index of than 30kg/m2 or higher. For anyone under the age of 18 years, the definitions are based on that of the International Obesity Task Force. Although the authors of the study acknowledged that BMI is not a perfect measurement, from a scientific perspective, research shows that BMI is correlated as a practical tool for studying overweight and obesity at a population level.
Researchers forecast that by 2050, nearly 260 million people, about 80-percent of the population, will meet these criteria. In addition, more concerning data show that people are becoming this way at a younger age than in the past. In addition to cutting short life expectancy, this increases the risk of life-long term health conditions beginning at a younger age.
If more people than ever are overweight or obese — does this mean that our current dietary recommendations, which come from documents like the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, aren’t working?
“The Dietary Guidelines for Americans were established to provide guidance for how people can eat to support their health. Unfortunately, many Americans are not following these guidelines,” explains Lauren Manaker MS, RDN, LD, nutrition expert and author of Fueling Male Fertility. “The Healthy Eating Index (HEI) is a comprehensive tool used to measure diet quality and assess how well a person’s food choices align with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.”
The scores of the HEI can range from 0 to 100, with a higher total score representing a diet that is more consistent with nutritional guidelines and a lower score indicating room for improvement in food choices. Subgroups including ages 5 to 8 years, 9 to 13 years, 14 to 18 years, 19 to 30 years and 31 to 59 years all have a HEI in the 50s range, while older adults age 60 and above have a slightly higher HEI of 63. “Many Americans are not eating the recommended servings of produce, whole grains, and fish, and they are eating more added sugar and salt than what is recommended, per information shared within the dietary guidelines,” says Manaker who recommends finding ways to more closely follow these guidelines to potentially help people manage their weight in a healthy and sustainable way.
Managing a healthy weight is no easy feat. Although the simplistic view is managing calories in verses calories out, weight management is a lot more complicated. The contribution of genetics, physiological and environmental interactions all play a role, as does access to fruits and vegetables and other healthy foods. Food insecurity, access to transportation and the rise in food costs also are part of the equation.
Understanding how to eat a well-balanced healthy diet can help. Registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) are the authority of healthy eating education and you can always seek their assistance in various ways (private settings, hospital clinics and more). If weight loss is really a challenge, they can also advise if the next steps are needed to go along with healthy eating practices like weight loss medications, surgeries or anything else the RDN feels would support weight loss efforts. Typically, a multi-disciplinary approach is used to help with a support team of health professionals.
In addition, “With the shift of people working from home more and the rise of technology, unfortunately many people are living sedentary lives,” says Manaker. “To combat the sedentary lifestyle that accompanies working from home, it’s crucial to integrate regular movement into your daily routine. Incorporate short walks during breaks, explore online exercise classes, and make a point to move your body every day.”
Keeping a healthy weight is not easy and a multitude of factors contribute to our nation’s obesity epidemic. However, from an individual level, a good first step is understanding and actually following the dietary recommendations that are in place.
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