Obesity 101
What is the definition of obesity?
The condition of being grossly fat or overweight.
Having excess fat in the body.
What is the most common symptom of obesity?
Having excess body fat
What are the three Macronutrients?
Carbohydrates, Proteins, Fats
Name three foods where high fructose corn syrup is predominantly found.
Snacks, pastries, baked goods, candy, sugar sweetened beverages, ketchup, frozen foods, salad dressings
What substance that we eat has been found to be as addictive, if not more addictive than cocaine?
Sugar
What does ‘energy imbalance’ mean?
Taking in a greater or fewer amount of calories compared to the amount of energy expended.
Name three side effects of obesity other than developing associated diseases.
Joint / back problems
Difficulty with mobility
Trouble Breathing
Lack of Energy
Social issues
What is the primary function of carbohydrates?
All of your body’s cells require carbohydrates for energy.
What is the main reason that high fructose corn syrup, palm oil, supersizing, value meals, and giant buckets of popcorn exist today.
For the companies to make and save money.
The sharp increase in rates of obesity in the past 30 years cannot be blamed on genetics. Why?
Obesity has always existed. It was a form of survival when food would be scarce.
The increased prevalence of obesity follows with the addition of processed foods and increased sedentary behavior.
Obesity associated with genetics has been on and continues to be on a slow gradual climb with population growth.
What is meant by, ‘A calorie, is a calorie, is a calorie’?
Is it true?
It means that calories, no matter what types of food they are from, count the same.
This is not always true.
2000 calories from cake is not going to be processed in the body the same as 2000 calories of broccoli.
Name three of the most common adverse health outcomes associated with obesity
High Blood Pressure(hypertension)
High LDL, Low HDL, Lipid Problems
Heart Disease
Type 2 Diabetes
Stroke
Sleep Apnea
What are the two types of micronutrients?
Vitamins and Minerals
What were two major shifts seen among American households in the 80’s that contributed to increased calorie intake?
Two working parents lead to an increased number of meals outside the home
Increased snacking
What is the daily recommendation for added sugars for men? Women?
Men: 9 teaspoons
Women: 6 teaspoons
How many calories make up 1 pound?
•3,500 calories make up 1 pound.
How is obesity associated with adverse social health outcomes?
Provide two examples.
Poor self-esteem / Self-worth
Mental illness
Clinical depression, anxiety, dementia
Low quality of life
Why are complex carbohydrates more beneficial to the body than simple carbohydrates?
Complex carbohydrates contain nutrients and fiber that make them breakdown more slowly
providing a greater amount of energy, aids in gut health and elimination of full and makes an individual feel full.
What was the difference in calories per portion from the 70’s to the 90’s from the reading?
It went from 1876 calories a day to 2043 calories between 1977-1995
What are the four recommendations at the end of the ‘Skinny on Obesity’ video?
1) Get rid of Sugar sweetened beverages
2) Find a way to control insulin – do that with fiber
3 grams or greater in your food
3) Wait 20 minutes before seconds
4) Buy your screen time with physical activity
A 44 year old man is 6 feet 2 inches and weighs 245 pounds.
What is his BMI?
•BMI Formula:
•703 X (weight (pounds) / Height2(inches2))
•703 x (245 / (74x74))
•703 x (245 / 5,476)
•703 x 0.0447
•= 31.42
Why do we care about obesity? How is it effecting us?
Provide two examples.
Economic Burden
Healthcare costs
Increased prescriptions
Increased emergency room visits
Missed work days / lower productivity / lower life expectancy
Military Burden
Less protection for the US
What are essential amino acids?
How do you get them?
They are the 9 proteins that are required by the body that the body is unable to make.
By eating protein rich foods
Complete Proteins = Animal proteins
Incomplete Proteins = Vegetable proteins
Why did I have you read Chapters 1-3 of this book?
How is it connected to the conversations that we’ve been having?
These Chapters introduce when our food changed greatly from whole foods that were made at home to processed foods, frozen meals, added snacks, and eating outside of the home.
It provides a foundation for the sudden increase in obesity in the US
Diet foods and drinks are meant to promote healthy weight status
What has been found about sugar substitutes in the research?
Sugar substitutes have been found to be associated with metabolic diseaseand insulin resistance
Contributing to increased weight gain and inability to process these chemicals in the body correctly.