Obesity
Summary The number one public-health issue, obesity, is a very delicate but complex disease. ... Analysis The growing prevalence of obesity in the United States represents a significant health threat to millions of Americans, federal health officials say. Obesity rose six percent nationally between 1998 and 1999, and rose nine percent between the years 2002-2003 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ... Obesity is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of thirty or higher. ... As obesity rates continue to grow at epidemic proportions in this country, the net effect will be dramatic increases in related chronic health conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. But is obesity really an epidemic? ... There are many actions the public and other businesses can take to help the obesity epidemic in this country.