20 Facts on Obesity

1. In the United States approximately 93 Americans are obese and 25 million children are overweight or obese. In more simple terms, 1 out of ever 3 adult Americans is obese!



2. 40% of children in African American and Hispanic communities are overweight or obese.



3. 92% of elementary schools in the United States do not have physical education classes and 75% of high school students do not take daily physical education classes.



4. Portion sizes have increased drastically. They are now anywhere from 2 to 5 times larger than they were in the past! In 1955, McDonald’s hamburgers were 1.6 ounces and now their largest patty is 8 ounces.



5. Americans consume roughly 45-60 pounds of high fructose corn syrup per year. High fructose corn syrup is mainly found in processed foods and soda, but is often added to ketchup, bread, and frozen foods. It is a proven cause of obesity.



6. Obesity is the number one cause of Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is one of the most easily preventable health conditions that people suffer from.



7. People with less than a high school diploma tend to have the highest rates of obesity.



8. One pound of fat is 3500 calories. Every 3500 calories that you consume and do not use for energy equals one pound of weight gained.



9. Obesity increases your risk for several medical conditions including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, cancer, and many more.



10. Obesity can cause sleep deprivation and not getting enough sleep can cause obesity. It can be a vicious cycle.



11. Each year in the United States approximately $100 billion dollars is spent on treatment for obesity related health conditions and weight loss surgeries.



12. Losing just 10 percent of excess body weight can decrease the risk of obesity related diseases and improve your health.



13. Nearly 112,000 deaths per year in the United States are related to obesity.



14. More than 40 percent of children watch 2 hours or more of television each day.



15. The average family eats fast food twice per week.



16. Americans spend half of their food budget on restaurant food.



17. Most high school students in the United States only consume fruits and vegetables one time per day. The recommended serving amount is 2 fruits and 3 vegetables per day.



18. The average American consumes 10 servings of grains per day which is 3 higher than the recommended amount! The USDA recommends that half your grains be whole grains, but the average American only gets 1 serving of whole grains per day.



19. In 2001, Americans consumed 30 lbs of cheese per person!



20. Food not cooked at home tends to be higher in calories and fat.

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