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Key Points
- The terms overweight and
obesity refer to a persons overall body weight and where the
extra weight comes from. Overweight is having extra body weight from muscle,
bone, fat, and/or water. Obesity is having a high amount of extra body
fat.
- Millions of Americans and people worldwide are
overweight or obese.
- Being overweight or obese puts you at risk for
many diseases and conditions, including
heart
disease,
high
blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, gallbladder disease, breathing problems,
and certain cancers.
- A persons weight is the result of many
factors, including environment, family history and genetics, metabolism (the
way your body changes food and oxygen into energy), behavior or habits, and
other factors.
- For most people, overweight and obesity are
caused by not having energy balance. The amount of calories you get from food
and drinks is energy IN. The amount of energy your body uses daily is energy
OUT. To maintain a healthy weight, energy IN and energy OUT should balance over
time.
- Overweight and obesity are calculated using the
body mass index (BMI). BMI is an estimate of body fat and a good gauge of your
risk for diseases that occur with more body fat. Adults can calculate their BMI
using the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institutes
online calculator, or your
health care provider can calculate your BMI.
- Childrens BMI is calculated based on growth
charts for their age and sex. This is called BMI-for-age percentile. For more
information, go to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions
BMI-for-age calculator.
- Treatment for overweight and obesity includes
lifestyle changes. These changes mean cutting back on calories, following a
healthy eating plan, being physically active, and making behavioral
changes.
- When lifestyle changes arent enough, other
treatment options for some people are weight loss medicines and surgery.
- To manage weight and prevent unhealthy weight
gain, adults should aim for 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity
physical activity most days of the week. To keep up weight loss, aim for 60 to
90 minutes of daily moderate-intensity physical activity.
- Children and teens should strive for 60 minutes
of physical activity a day.
- Overweight and obesity in children and teens can
be prevented with healthy food choices and more physical activity. Parents and
families should create habits that encourage healthful food choices and
physical activity early in a childs life.
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Prevention Links
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