Obesity in Idaho 
Weight management, weight loss, and the increase in overweight and obesity are a primary health concerns for adults, children, and youth in the United States. Chances are, you know someone who is struggling with these issues since 62% of adult Idahoans are either overweight or obese.
 

The Facts:
More than half of Idaho adults are overweight or obese (62.1%).  25.1% of those Idaho adults are obese (2009 Idaho BRFSS).

In addition, more than 77% of Idaho adults did not eat the minimum recommended 5+ servings of fruits and vegetables each day and nearly 20% of adults did not participate in any leisure time activity (2007 Idaho BRFSS). 

A 2008-09 school year BMI assessment of Idaho students in all odd grades 1 through 11 found that overall, 30.5% of the Idaho school children in the sample were classified as overweight or obese. The study found that significantly more boys were obese than girls.

Today's generation of children will likely live shorter lives than their parents.

 
The Health Consequences of Obesity 

Overweight individuals suffer more health problems than those who maintain normal weight. The rise in obesity rates is a cause of great concern because of the many adverse health conditions and chronic diseases it contributes to. These conditions include: 

• Coronary heart disease 
• Type 2 diabetes 
• Cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon) 
• Hypertension (high blood pressure) 
• Stroke  
• Dyslipidemia (e.g., high total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides) 
• Liver and Gallbladder disease 
• Sleep apnea and respiratory problems 
• Osteoarthritis (degeneration of cartilage and its underlying bone within a joint) 
• Gynecological problems (abnormal menses, infertility)

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes are the most prevalent, costly and avoidable of all health problems.

There are many reasons that contribute to the increase in overweight and obesity in the United States which make it a difficult subject to address. Behavior, environment, genetics, and access to healthcare are all factors that play a role in one's weight and general health outcomes. Leading a healthy lifestyle greatly decreases a person's risk of developing chronic disease.

Successful Weight Loss: What Works

Balancing the foods you eat (calories in) with the energy you burn through everyday acivities and exercise (calories out) is referred to as "energy balance." When you take in more calories than you burn, your body stores that extra energy as fat. When you take in fewer calories than you burn, your body burns fat as fuel.

Effective weight loss includes making changes to both diet and physical activity, so that your body burns more calories than it takes in, on a daily basis. Cutting 500 to 1,000 calories per day, through decreasing calories taken in and increasing physical activity, can lead to 1 to 2 pounds of weight loss per week.

Successful Weight Loss Tips:

• Enlist the help and support of a friend or family member. Work on your goals together and hold each other accountable.
• Grab your shoes and take a walk! The most frequently report form of physical activity in the National Weight Control Registry (NWCR) study was walking.
• Eat a balanced breakfast every day.
• Keep track of your weight.
• Spend less time in front of a screen and get some outdoor time.
• Aim for 60 minutes per day of physical activity. 
  This can be broken up: Take a 15-minute walk break twice per day and play with your kids, take a walk, or some other activity for 30 minutes later in the day.
• Keep fruits and vegetables handy.

The health resources on the right will help you identify and explain what a healthy weight is and how to achieve it. ⇒

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Healthy Weight: Caloric Balance. http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/calories/index.html, 2009.