What Is Obesity?

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Obesity

According to the 2003-2004 National Center for Health Statistics survey, almost one-third of American adults are considered obese. If the patterns of the past 20 years continue, that percentage will continue to grow. Obesity is a difficult condition to deal with, but it can be curbed or even prevented with lifestyle changes, especially where diet and physical activity are concerned. The Internet has many resources to help you research, understand, and eventually prevent or control obesity. For a Spanish-language version of the Guide, click here.

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What Is Obesity?

Any amount of extra fat that your body has to carry can be harmful to your health, but your health is at much greater risk if you reach the point of obesity. Educating yourself about what obesity is is the first step toward preventing or controlling it in your own (or your child's) life. For a Spanish-language version of the Guide, click here.

Dulcinea's Insight

On many Web sites, advertisements are tailored to the audience based on the content being viewed. When viewing content about obesity on sites other than the ones listed below, you may see advertisements for weight-loss solutions, quick fixes, diet pills, or other products designed to control obesity. Be very cautious of any drug, product, or other online weight-loss system and make sure that you check with a physician about potential dangers before you buy any product or system.

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For general overviews of obesity ...

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is part of the U.S. Department of Health and furnishes this introduction to obesity. Click on a topic of interest on the left of this introduction page to get more information about issues such as health consequences, childhood overweight issues, and more. You'll also find a link to help you understand and figure out your own body mass index (BMI).

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Mayo Clinic has an overview of obesity that includes what causes it, how to know if you are obese (complete with a table of healthy weight ranges for different heights), complications of obesity, treatment, and prevention.

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For information specific to obesity in children ...

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a Childhood Overweight section that defines the problem, identifies contributing factors and possible consequences, and gives tips for parents of overweight children.

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KidsHealth includes an Overweight and Obesity section that provides answers to questions such as "Is your child overweight?" and "What causes overweight?" Here you'll also find ways to prevent or overcome obesity. Click on one of the tabs to the right of the article and you'll find links to additional resources as well as links to related KidsHealth articles. On the left hand side of the page are links like "Emotions and Behavior," "Nutrition & Fitness," and "Recipes."

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American Heart Association provides statistics about childhood overweight in its "Overweight in Children" section. Wondering if your child might be overweight? Use the BMI calculator on the right side of the page. Visit the "Healthy Lifestyle" link for advice on how to manage your weight through diet and fitness.

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