Healthy People 2020

Healthy People 2020

Introduction

Launched in 2010, the Healthy People 2020 is an ambitious scientifically based agenda, outlining ten year health objectives to improve the health of all Americans. A key element of its mission is to provide an clear roadmap for achieving the Healthy People 2020 objectives. The February 2011 edition of Preventive Medicine comprises a series of articles examining the needs and goals of public health issues like obesity in the United States (Healthy People 2020).

This paper discusses how Healthy People 2020 is dealing with obesity in United States, what the current epidemic situation of the disease is and how Health People 2020's initiatives could help in controlling this public health problem. Healthy people 2020 is a broad set of objectives for improving health care in the community over the next decade. While it is not a specific program, which will immediately respond to the challenges and unexpected increase in the number of people who are disabled, this is something that should be considered by anyone conscious of the health care system.

Obesity as Risk Factor

Not all obese people fall under at-risk groups for obesity. Obesity is generally risky if our weight is beyond a generally healthy limit. The WHO (World Health Organization) obesity defined as a BMI or body mass index (calculated by height and weight of the individual) is less than 30 kg / m² also considered a sign of obesity an increased waist circumference in men greater than or equal to 102 cm and in women greater than or equal to 88 cm (Health and Human Services 2008). Obesity is part of the metabolic syndrome different diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure, different forms of cancer, dermatological and gastrointestinal disorders. Many of the obese people might also be victim of psychological and emotional stress arising out of the associated stigma.

Epidemic Numbers

The obesity epidemic in America continues and shows no signs of abating: over a third of adults and nearly 17% of children were obese in 2009-2010, a repeat of the 2003 figures, reported Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The following table shows the obesity prevalence in the United States. The report from the Centers summarizes the results of national surveys of health in children and adults are held every two years. The consultations include measures of height and weight in person. Reports of 2009-2010 included some 6,000 adults and 4,000 children (CDC 2012). Although some people would see obesity as a normal human problem like flue but the WHO considers that "obesity has reached epidemic proportions worldwide and at least 2.6 million die each year because of obesity or overweight. In United States, self-reported obesity rates have increased after 2003. Men and women obesity rates increase with age, from 20 years to 65 years. In 2005, obesity rates measured in young people aged 12 to 17 was 9.4%, almost twice as high as rate of self-reported obesity.

Causes of Obesity

Obesity is caused by a range of factors ranging from biological and ...