Obesity has become one of the leading health concerns in the United States, accounting in part for the majority of deaths as a result of its contribution to heart disease, strokes and diabetes. More than one-third of American adults are obese but overall two-thirds are above a healthy body weight (overweight and obese combined). Obesity is classified as a disease in the USA and one of the main health problems affecting Americans today. What is obesity? The concept of obesity is still largely misunderstood. Many people think that a person who is very ‘fat’ is obese. While this is often the case, obesity can be more clearly defined by measuresments such as the body mass index. Obesity is technically a BMI (body mass index) of 30 or more. However, body mass index (BMI) alone can sometimes be inaccurate in determining obesity. Therefore obesity should be considered from the perspective of many indicators. BMI is one indicator of obesity. Body fat percentage is another and is measured by calipers. Lastly, the waist to hip ratio is also a helpful indicator of obesity. If these three tests indicate obesity then a person in all likelihood is obese and has to take the … Continue reading Obesity Rates, Tests, Health Risks and How to Lose Weight