Obesity - The Problem

Obesity affects about one-third of Americans. The epidemic includes the wealthy, middle class and the poor; city dwellers, suburbanites and those in rural areas; and people of all races and ethnicities. The causes include a diet of calorie-dense but nutrient-deficient food found in grocery and convenience stores, public planning strategies that favor motorists over walkers and cyclists, and simply bad habits.

The costs associated with obesity are enormous. Obesity adds $93 billion to the nation's medical bill annually. Each year 112,000 people die from obesity-related causes, and the condition is responsible for an increased risk of chronic diseases like Type 2 diabetes, cancer and heart disease.

Obesity - The Epidemic

To grasp how quickly this disease turned into an epidemic, watch the video below. This trend will continue until together we make a commitment to change our behavioral patterns toward health and wellness.

Obesity - Some Facts About the Disease

What is Obesity?

Obesity is a condition characterized by the excessive accumulation and storage of fat in the body that is increased to a point where it is associated with certain health conditions or increased mortality.

What is BMI?

Body Mass Index or BMI is a generally accepted ratio using a person’s height and weight to determine body weight status to a reasonable degree.  It does not take into account a person’s lean muscle mass, frame size and free fat and/or water weight.  BMI is generally used as a means of correlation between groups related by general mass, and is endorsed and utilized by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in the study of obesity.  BMI is designed to be an objective screening tool and is not appropriate for diagnosing individuals for medical care and may not represent a true medical situation.

Adult BMI ranges for “underweight”, “overweight” and “obese” should not be used in the evaluation of children and teens.  Please use the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) BMI Calculator for Child and Teen for the evaluation of children and adolescents.

The BMI calculator on this site is provided for your information only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice.  Please consult your physician or other qualified healthcare professional before beginning any significant life changes based solely on this information.

•   BMI from 20 to 25 is considered to be a healthy weight range.
•   BMI over 25 to less than 30 is considered overweight.(on average 10-30 lbs over)
•   BMI of 30 or more is considered to be obese.(on average 30 -50 lbs over)
•   BMI of 35 or more is considered to be morbidly obese. (on average 75 – 100 lbs over)
•   BMI of 50 or more is considered to be super morbidly  obese (on average >150 lbs over)

How is BMI Calculated?

BMI Chart