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Obesity As An Extreme Excess Of Body Fat

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Put simply, obesity can be defined as an extreme excess of body fat. Simple, health-oriented definitions of obesity should be based on the amount of excess body fat at which health risks to individuals begin to increase. Since no such definitions currently exist, measurements of height and weight help to assess the overall health and nutritional status of adults. Obesity and healthy weight can be defined by the Body Mass Index (BMI), which is calculated as weight and height squared. Obesity is caused by many factors, including the contributions of inherited, metabolic, behavioral, cultural, and socioeconomic effects. Obesity may raise the risk of illness from numerous issues such as heart disease and diabetes. As weight increases, so does the prevalence of health risks. Because of the importance of these issues, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services considers obesity among the 10 leading health indicators in Healthy People 2020, which are the health objectives for the Nation. In recent history, obesity among the black communities has become one of the most prevalent issues that urban America endures. But why is urban America falling victim to such a seemingly curable health epidemic you ask? Over the years, people of color in focus groups have admitted that they did not eat healthy foods or exercise regularly. Many had personal stories of friends and family members who had been diagnosed with diabetes or high blood pressure. This reality was making them more

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