Why is Excess Weight Dangerous?

• Obesity is the second leading PREVENTABLE cause of death in the U.S., after smoking.  More than 300,000 excess deaths are blamed on obesity every year.

• Obesity is associated with over 30 medical conditions including: Diabetes II, Heart Disease, Gallbladder Disease, Stroke, High Blood Pressure, Cancer of the breast, prostrate and colon.

• Obese children are more likely to have asthma, orthopedic problems, sleep apnea, hypertension and psychological issues.

• Overweight adolescents are 70% more likely to be overweight or obese as adults.  That number increases to 80% if the child has one or more overweight or obese parents.

• Women who gain more than 20 pounds from age 18 to midlife double their risk of breast cancer!

Who is affected?

• 31% of Americans (61.3 million) are obese.

• 64% of adult Americans (129.6 million) are overweight or obese.

• Childhood obesity increased from 5% in 1964 to about 13% in 1994.  Today, it is about 20% and rising.

• African Americans, Hispanic Americans, as well as Native Americans are especially prone to obesity and overweight.

• More than 60% of the population fails to carry out the recommended amount of physical activity.

• 25% of the population is NOT active at all.

What are the COSTS?

• Healthcare costs related to obesity amount to more than $100 billion annually in the U.S.

• In 1994; the cost of lost productivity related to obesity amounted to 3.9 billion.  39.3 billion workdays were lost and there were 62.7 million visits to physician's offices related to obesity.

Reasons to get FIT:

• Boosts energy

• Increases strength and flexibility

• Builds strength in the heart and lungs

• Reduces the risk of disease

• Promotes more restful sleep

• Raises metabolic rate

• Improves circulation

• Relieves stress

• Enhances mood, memory and mental clarity

• Lowers blood pressure

• Stabilizes blood sugar

• Strengthens self-esteem and confidence

Can we FIX it?

YES!  It is never to late get up and move and make healthier eating choices.  Excess weight and obesity are strongly linked to poor exercise and eating habits.  Diabetes II is one of the most responsive diseases to small lifestyle changes in diet and activity.

The BOTTOM LINE!

"There's a pandemic of obesity we are experiencing in this country," says Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.  "Eating too much and not exercising enough is creating a health hazard to Americans more imminent than the threat of bioterrorism and comparable in seriousness to the plagues that swept Europe centuries ago."

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