Obesity and Overweight Sourcebook, Second Edition

Obesity and overweight are serious health conditions caused by an increase in the size and amount of fat cells. They are becoming increasingly common among U.S. families, impacting the nation's overall health, economy, and productivity. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), the age-adjusted prevalence of obesity among U.S. adults was about 42.4 percent in 2017-2018. Obesity can lead to several other health issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, sleep disorders, and even cancer. However, proper lifestyle and diet plans can control obesity and overweight to a great extent. The Obesity and Overweight Sourcebook, Second Edition provides comprehensive information on obesity, its causes, health risks, social and psychological impacts, prevention, and treatment. It begins with an overview of the medical model of obesity, discussing its evolutionary origin and the social and moral construct of the obesity epidemic. The book addresses various causes of obesity, including genetics, hormone dysfunction, dietary factors, lifestyle, socioeconomic, and environmental factors. It also highlights the prevalence and economic burden of obesity in the United States. Part 1: The Phenomena of Obesity and Overweight explains the medical model of obesity, its evolutionary origin, and the social and moral construct of the obesity epidemic. It discusses obesity's impact on life expectancy and the obesity paradox. Part 2: Possible Causes of Obesity provides information about various causes of obesity such as genetics, hormone dysfunction, dietary factors, lifestyle, socioeconomic, and environmental factors. Part 3: Obesity and Overweight in the United States: Prevalence and Screening offers statistical information on obesity and overweight in the United States, highlighting the economic burden. It also discusses obesity among minority populations and people with disabilities, along with assessment techniques for body composition and obesity. Part 4: Diseases and Metabolic Disorders Associated with Obesity provides information about various diseases associated with obesity such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, stroke, asthma, cancer, etc. It also discusses the impact of obesity on women's reproductive health. Part 5: Social and Psychological Impact of Obesity explains how obesity affects emotional well-being, movement, balance control, suicidal ideation, and sexuality. Part 6: Prevention and Treatment of Obesity discusses public-health strategies, dietary therapy, behavior therapy, pharmacotherapy, weight-loss surgery, and various facts and myths about weight loss. Part 7: Additional Help and Information includes a glossary of terms related to obesity and overweight and a directory of resources for further help and support.