Healthcare Technology Featured Article

August 11, 2014

The Alarming Rise of American Obesity Rates


Obesity is a major health hazard facing the world today, and it is most profound in the U.S. as American obesity rates in adults and children have almost doubled since the 1970s.  According to a recent statistics, 68.5 percent of Americans are overweight or obese with a BMI of more than 25 percent, while 34.9 percent are obese, with a BMI of more than 30 percent. Furthermore, 6.4 percent of the total population is extremely obese, with a BMI of more than 40 percent. These are alarming numbers that go to show how obesity is slowly becoming a national epidemic, and unfortunately, one that is hard to contain.

One of the biggest reasons for this growing rate of obesity is inactivity. Studies by Stanford University show that food consumption rates have not soared despite the growing size of the American diet, so its effect on obesity is less when compared to inactivity. Over the last few decades, Americans have become less active because of desk jobs, availability of quick meals and other luxuries that do not require much physical effort. As a result, weight has piled up, and to cut back on this weight, it is estimated that Americans spend an average of $14 billion on weight-loss supplements every year. Despite this heavy spending, there has not been much improvement on the obesity rates. Hence, it is clear that Americans have to increase their physical activity to reduce their obesity rates and to improve their overall health.

One innovative way to increase activity has been the creation of the first treadmill desk called TrekDesk. This product is a combination desk that can be used as a work desk and a treadmill, thereby allowing employees to have physical activity while they work. To fund this idea, the creators of TrekDesk have launched a crowd funding campaign in KickStarter.

It will be interesting to see how well this product is accepted in offices, and whether it will have an impact at all on American obesity rates. 




Edited by Adam Brandt
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