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Obesity
The American Obesity Association defines Obesity as a disease that
affects nearly one-third of the adult American population
(approximately 60 million). The number of overweight and obese
Americans has continued to increase since 1960, a trend that is
not slowing down. Today, 64.5 percent of adult Americans (about
127 million) are categorized as being overweight or obese. Each
year, obesity causes at least 300,000 excess deaths in the U.S.,
and healthcare costs of American adults with obesity amount to
approximately $100 billion.
Obesity is the second leading cause of unnecessary deaths.
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Despite its toll taken in death and disability, obesity does not
receive the attention it deserves from government, the health
care profession or the insurance industry.
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Research is severely limited by a shortage of funds.
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Inadequate insurance coverage limits access to treatment.
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Discrimination and mistreatment of persons with obesity is
widespread and often considered socially acceptable.
Did You Know?
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Obesity is a chronic disease with a strong familial component.
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Obesity increases one's risk of developing conditions such as
high blood pressure, diabetes (type 2), heart disease, stroke,
gallbladder disease and cancer of the breast, prostate and
colon.
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Health insurance providers rarely pay for treatment of obesity
despite its serious effects on health.
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The tendency toward obesity is fostered by our environment: lack
of physical activity combined with high-calorie, low-cost foods.
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If maintained, even weight losses as small as 10 percent of body
weight can improve one's health.
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The National Institutes of Health annually spends less than 1.0
percent of its budget on obesity research.
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Persons with obesity are victims of employment and other
discrimination, and are penalized for their condition despite
many federal and state laws and policies.
Weight loss is never easy but sometimes there are conditions in
addition to excess calories that make it hard. Hanau
Holistic has individually tailored programs that may uncover such
a condition and change the chances of diet success.
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