Obesity Statistics - 60s vs. 50s Generation
A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine (2002) has indicated that Americans born during the first half of the 1960s are prone to obesity at a much earlier stage of life than Americans who were born in the later half of the 1950s.
The research was conducted upon approximately 9,000 people who are currently in their late 30s and early 40s. The study proved that the group belonging to the 60s decade was considerably more obese in comparison to those belonging to the 50s.
The outcome of the study also confirms the increasing trends of obesity in the United States. This has raised a major concern regarding health-related problems even though obesity in itself is mainly concerned primarily with an individual's appearance. A large number of diseases are known to be associated with obesity such as hypertension, diabetes, osteoarthritis, heart disease, cancer and depression.
Possible causes
Factors like unnecessary nutritional consumption and the emergence of sedentary lifestyles are the primary contributory causes for the extensive increase in obesity during the second half of the previous century.
In spite of the presence of immense nutritional information in educational as well as medical institutions, and on the internet, obesity remains a serious issue. The consumption fast-foods have significantly increased since the 1950s which has led to a quadruple increase in calorie intake.
Correlation between obesity and medical complications
The increase in the obesity pattern among people belonging to the 60s when compared to those born in the 50s has lead to the rise in related complications as well.
The rise in central obesity which is characterized by high waist-hip ratio has lead to a simultaneous increase in the propensity towards metabolic syndrome, the clustering of various diseases that cause a predisposition for cardiovascular diseases. These include diabetes mellitus type 2, high levels of cholesterol in the blood stream, high blood pressure and abnormal levels of triglyceride. The body's response reaction to insulin and a rise in the occurrence of thrombosis have also been observed.
Cardiovascular conditions include heart failure due to congestion, enlargement of the heart, and are associated with dizziness and pulmonary embolism.
Specific endocrinal conditions have also risen in keeping with the increasing trends. These include polycystic ovarian syndrome, infertility as well as irregular menstrual symptoms.
The risk of gastrointestinal diseases such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), fatty liver disease, cholelithiasis (gallstones), hernia, and colorectal cancer has also increased. The rise in repiratory disorders such as dyspnea, asthma, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypoventilation syndrome also correlate to the rise in obesity. Psychological conditions such as depression, low self-esteem, and social stimatization also result frrom the increasing trends in obesity among people in their 40s. The increase in obesity trends is not merely confined to health conditions but is also attributed to increasing mortality rates. Relatively less serious disorders such as inadequate sleep and stress are also said to occur due to obesity.
