Obesity and society

Obesity is a condition in which a person weighs more than 20 percent over his or her ideal weight or has a body mass index of greater than 30. The body mass index, or BMI (B-M-I), is a ratio of weight to height. In a culture that's obsessed with dieting and thinness, it's ironic that the number of obese individuals has risen. Yet given the trends of modern life, it's really not surprising. Cars and machines have eliminated much of the need for walking and physical labor, while the computer and the television further encourage a sedentary lifestyle. All this is compounded by an increasing reliance on high-calorie fast foods and the growing portion sizes at many restaurants. While society promotes many behaviors that contribute to obesity, it nevertheless tends to shun individuals who become heavy. Obese persons may be the victims of subtle discrimination or obvious ridicule. There are health risks, too, such as an increased chance of developing diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers. In an effort to reverse the trend towards overweight and the problems that accompany it, U.S. public health officials have set a goal to reduce adult obesity by one-third by the year 2010 (two thousand ten).