Obesity and Your Health

What is obesity?
People who are obese have an excess amount of body fat. In contrast, people who are overweight have an excess amount of body weight that includes muscle, bone, fat and water. Some people, such as body-builders or other athletes with a lot of muscle can be overweight without being obese. Men with more than 25 percent body fat and women with more than 30 percent body fat are considered obese. More than 60 percent of Americans aged 20 and older are overweight, and 25 percent are also obese.

How is obesity measured?
Different methods have been used to measure if someone is overweight and obese. Today, body mass index (BMI) has become the standard. BMI uses a formula based on your height and weight. Most doctors agree that people with a BMI of 30 or more can improve their health through weight loss.

Can obesity cause health problems?
Yes. According to the National Institutes of Health, 280,000 adult deaths each year in the U.S. are related to obesity. People who are overweight or obese have an increased health risk for chronic diseases like Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease, stroke and heart disease.

Does obesity increase your risk for diabetes?
Yes. Obesity has been directly linked to the growing number of cases of Type 2 diabetes in the U.S. Type 2 is the most common type of diabetes, accounting for more than 90 percent of all cases. As diabetes is the number one cause of chronic kidney disease, obesity is also an important factor in chronic kidney disease.

Type 2 diabetes has been increasing in all groups, but especially among African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans and American Indians. This is due in large part to the growing number of obese people in these communities.

Type 2 diabetes used to occur mostly in individuals over 45. Now, the disease is becoming more common in younger people. This is a very serious problem because it could cause complications such as heart disease and chronic kidney disease to happen at an earlier age. The increasing number of Type 2 diabetes cases in younger people is also linked to increasing obesity in people under 45.

Does obesity increase your risk for high blood pressure?
Yes. Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing high blood pressure. Nearly 50 million Americans have high blood pressure, and many are not aware of it. Losing excess weight helps to lower your risk of developing high blood pressure. In addition, losing excess weight can help to reduce your blood pressure if it is already high. High blood pressure is the second leading cause of chronic kidney disease.

Does obesity increase your risk for chronic kidney disease?
Yes. Because diabetes and high blood pressure are the leading causes of chronic kidney disease, your chance of developing kidney disease is greater if you are overweight or obese.

Does it matter where my excess weight is located?
Yes. Doctors are concerned not only with how much fat a person has, but also where the fat is located on the body. Women typically collect fat around their hips, giving them a pear shape. Men usually build up fat around their bellies giving them more of an apple shape. If you carry fat mainly around your waist, you are more likely to develop obesity-related health problems. Women whose waists measure more than 35 inches or men whose waists measure more than 40 inches have a higher health risk because of their fat distribution.

Does obesity run in families?
Obesity tends to run in families, suggesting that genetics may play a role. However, lifestyle behaviors-such as diet and level of physical activity-also strongly influence obesity.

Can losing excess weight improve my health?
Yes. A weight loss of five to 10 percent can help to improve health by lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Weight control is considered the single most important factor in the prevention of high blood pressure. In addition, recent research has shown that a weight loss of five to seven percent can prevent Type 2 diabetes in people at high risk for the disease.

Are there any tips to help me lose weight?
You can lower your risk for chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and chronic kidney disease by losing excess weight. Some tips to help change your eating and exercise habits include:

• Learn how to make healthier food choices. Speak to a dietitian if you need help.
• Learn to recognize and control things that make you want to eat even when you are not hungry, such as inviting smells.
• Be more physically active. Most people need to exercise about 45 minutes on most days of the week. Activities like brisk walking can help you get in shape. You should always set a checklist with your doctor before starting an exercise program.
• Keep daily logs of what you eat, and your physical activity.

Is there anything else I should know?
Chronic kidney disease is often "silent" in its early stages, meaning that you may not see or feel any symptoms. It is important for people who have an increased risk of developing kidney disease to have a test for protein in their urine and a blood test to estimate their level of kidney function (glomerular filtration rate or GFR). Kidney disease can often be successfully treated when detected early. Speak to your doctor about getting tested if you:

• have diabetes
• have high blood pressure
• have a family history of chronic kidney disease
• are older
• are an African American, Hispanic American, Asian or Pacific Islander or American Indian.

More than 20 million Americans-one in nine adults-has chronic kidney disease, and most don't even know it. More than 20 million others are at increased risk. the National Kidney Foundation, a major voluntary health organization, seeks to prevent kidney and urinary tract diseases, improve the health and well-being of individuals and families affected by these diseases, and increase the availability of all organs for transplantation. Through its 51 affiliates nationwide, the foundation conducts programs in research, professional education, patient and community services, public education and organ donation. The work of the National Kidney Foundation is funded by public donations.

The National Kidney Foundation provides a free community-based health program called the Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP). This includes tests for the early detection of chronic kidney disease.