Obesity Is Not Just An American Health Epidemic Any More
Obesity has reached epidemic proportions globally, with at least 2.6 million people dying each year as a result of being overweight or obese. Once associated with high-income countries, obesity is now also prevalent in low- and middle-income countries.
Governments, international partners, civil society, non governmental organizations and the private sector all have vital roles to play in contributing to obesity prevention.
Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. A crude population measure of obesity is the body mass index (BMI), a person’s weight (in kilograms) divided by the square of his or her height (in metres). A person with a BMI of 30 or more is generally considered obese. A person with a BMI equal to or more than 25 is considered overweight.
Overweight and obesity are major risk factors for a number of chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Once considered a problem only in high income countries, overweight and obesity are now dramatically on the rise in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in urban settings.
Topics: 2010, average, BMI, body mass index, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, chronic diseases, civil society, death, diabetes, dying, facts, fat, governments, health care, Health Care, high income, income, international partners, low income, middle income, monitor, news, Non Governmental Organizations, obese, obesity, over eater, overweight, private sector, urban
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