Obesity in America

Is America the Most Obese Country in the World?  

It’s no surprise obesity has been on a steady rise in America with 2 out of 3 adults (69%) being overweight and 1 out of 3 (roughly 41.9%) being obese.  Why does America continue to see rising obesity rates and what can be done about it?

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website, obesity in America is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon.  With staggering statistics suggesting sharp inclines in obesity rates amongst adults across ALL races and socioeconomic statuses, many health experts are left scratching their heads as to why America’s waistbands continue to expand.  From America’s insatiable love for fast food and supersized portions to added sugar, red meat, and grain consumption to increased sedentary lifestyles, we explore the truth behind our obesity epidemic.  

Obesity in America:  Fast Facts You Need to Know

• Obesity prevalence increased from 30.5% to 41.9% between 2000 and 2020, while severe obesity increased from 4.7% to 9.2%.

• Estimated annual medical cost of treating obesity in the United States was nearly $173 billion in 2019.  Obese adults spent nearly $1,861 more in medical costs than their non-obese counterparts.  

• Black adults have seen the largest increase in rate of obesity (49.9%), followed by Hispanic adults (45.6%).  Roughly 4.4% of white adults are obese, whereas 16.1% of non-Hispanic Asian adults suffer from obesity.  

• Obesity prevalence was 39.8% amongst adults aged 20-39 years, 44.3% adults between 40-59, and 41.5% amongst adults aged 60 and older.  

Contrary to popular belief, America does NOT lead the charge in being the most obese country in the world.  However, the United States IS the most obese country amongst OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries with a startling 36.2% obesity rate.  According to the WHO (World Health Organization), more than 1.9 billion adults worldwide are overweight to some degree, including 650 million who suffer from obesity, which tripled worldwide between 1975 and 2016!

What is To Blame for America’s Rising Obesity Rates?

Reasons for America’s obesity epidemic continue to elude even the most illustrious health experts, as there are no concrete conclusions to suggest otherwise.  Innumerable scientific studies have been conducted, only to be devoid of conclusive findings, though there are numerous, plausible theories suggesting too much food and too little physical activity are the two biggest culprits in the battle of the bulge.  After all, “calories in should equal calories out” has been the longstanding, yet simple, formula to losing/maintaining a healthy weight.  Another cause is believed to be the consumption of bigger portion sizes, especially those offered at famous chain and convenient fast-food establishments.  Bigger isn’t always better, as it turns out.    

The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports the average American consumed nearly 20% more calories in 2000 than in 1983, thanks, in part, to an increase in red meat, added fats, and grain consumption.  Unsurprisingly, fast food seems to make up about 11% of the average American diet thanks to our overworked and under-slept culture. Processed, packaged foods and sugary sodas/beverages are also adding to America’s growing waistlines.  

Let’s not overlook one of the most glaring contributors to America’s rise in obesity – mixed messaging and confusion that surrounds America’s complicated relationship with food.  Is there a blatant lack of education around diet and nutrition?  Statistics suggest as much.  Americans continue to struggle with discerning between “diet” and “nutrition.”  Fast-food meals have always been traditionally cheap, filling, and undeniably delicious/borderline addictive, yet, ironically, Americans spend $20 billion annually on pills, fad diets, and weight loss surgeries, such as lap band and gastric bypass, to undo the damage of these deleterious diets.  It’s a vicious irony.  Some health experts and nutritionists blame our workaholic culture and lack of work-life balance, as more and more Americans are spending more time at the office and less time at home.  This also contributes to another epidemic – the sleep deprivation epidemic that continues to plague million of Americans.  Sleep deprivation has been linked to obesity, stroke, heart disease, and even early death.  Swapping hydrogenated oils and added sugars for animal-derived fats during the low-fat food craze of the 1990s didn’t help matters, either.  By the time Americans realized “low fat” and “filling” was just too good to be true, we were already on the downward spiral.  

Finally, let’s talk about increased sedentary lifestyles and America’s lack of physical activity.  It has been nearly half a century since most of America toiled in the fields or on factory floors, as a large part of Americans are now sitting at their jobs for 8-plus hours a day.  One study suggests only 20% of today’s jobs require at least “moderate” physical exertion, as opposed to 50% of all jobs in 1960.  Further research suggests Americans burn 120-140 fewer calories a day than they did 50 or even 40 years ago.  Add this to the increase in daily calorie consumption overall and you’ve got a recipe for diet disaster.  With the advent of the internet and sitting in cars for longer periods of time commuting to and from work, Americans are simply moving less than they ever did in history, thanks to the industrialization of a first world country.  Cars and computers have unequivocally replaced bikes and ball playing, seemingly making life easier and more convenient – but at a steep price.  

Getting America Back on Track 

While we can point the proverbial finger to genetics, age, red meat, dairy, wheat/grain, fats, sugar, sodas, fast food, or lack of exercise, it’s time for Americans to take accountability for their own health. Getting educated about food, nutrition, and exercise, while implementing healthy lifestyle choices is a surefire way to lose weight and keep it off for good.  The CDC remains resolute that weight gain and loss goes back to the old, tried-and-true formula of “total calories consumed versus total calories expended.”  In other words, eating less and moving more are keys to maintaining a healthy, stable weight that will energize our days and support restorative slumber.  

Of course, there are medical interventions for those Americans who continue to struggle with obesity even after conventional methods have proved ineffective. If you’re struggling with obesity, and no longer want to be seen as a statistic, call Dr. Michael Feiz and Associates today! We offer a variety of weight loss programs to help you get your life back. We specialize in medical weight loss procedures for patients seeking to lose as little as 20 pounds, and we have helped many of our patients lose 100+ pounds. We can’t wait to meet you!