Super Size Me

摘要

Fifty years ago, obesity was first introduced into the international classification of diseases. Today, it's a worldwide epidemic, prevalent in developed nations and appearing in developing countries. The International Obesity Task Force estimates that 300 million adults in the world are obese. We face increasing risk of people dying from having eaten too much, rather than too little. There is general agreement on some aspects, such as the definition of obesity, the indicator used to measure prevalence among adults, the direct role involved in the development of several chronic diseases and the economic burden of obesity-related medical costs. Several points of uncertainty and debate emerge regarding obesity, such as the definition and acceptable marker for children, causes, risk factors, ownership of responsibility and solutions. Obesity is a condition of excess body fat that results from a sustained energy imbalance in which intake exceeds expenditure. Prevalence of obesity is surveyed in an adult population by a mathematical formula called the Body Mass Index (BMI), an indicator recommended by the World Health Organization. Although the BMI estimates the total body mass for an adult, research has shown that body fat and body mass tend to be closely related, rendering the BMI a reliable marker. A BMI equal to or greater than 25 and less than 30, indicates a state of overweight; a BMI equal to or greater than 30 indicates a state of obesity.