For Allison Peacock, trying to maintain a healthy weight was like riding a roller coaster.
“I would lose 60 pounds,” Peacock, 34, of Syracuse said. “Then I would gain 65.”
Peacock, an emergency room social worker at Upstate University Hospital, is one of the thousands of Americans who are considered obese. That’s 33 percent of the population, according to a report from Trust for America’s Health, a non-profit organization.
For adults, obesity is defined using a measurement called “body mass index” or BMI. The Centers for Disease Control uses a person’s height and weight to determine the body mass index. For example, an adult who is 5’9”, weighing 203 pounds or more, with a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese, according the Centers for Disease Control.
Obesity has become a national epidemic and major health concern. It has drawn the high-profile attention, for example, of First Lady Michelle Obama.
Some statistics on obesity:
- Nationally, obesity afflicts nearly 10.2 million Americans.
- New York was ranked the 36th most obese state in the nation, with nearly a quarter of New Yorkers defined as obese, according to the Trust for America’s Health.
- In Onondaga County, more than 28 percent of residents are considered obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Obesity is a major health threat, say experts, also because it contributes to other ailments. It is often associated with the risk of developing type-2 diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control. It is also implicated in heart disease, hypertension and osteoarthritis, reports the Centers for Disease Control.
Many factors can lead to obesity, explained Darlene Endy, a registered dietician in Manlius. “Inactivity and overeating are two of the most common things that can lead to obesity,” Endy said. Consuming highly processed foods is another major factor. “Many people are overeating processed foods instead of eating whole grains,” she said.
A busy lifestyle also contributes to poor eating habits, Endy said. More people cope with their busy lives by eating out instead of cooking at home, she said. Then, said Endy, “People end up eating more, faster.”
Lifestyle changes can decrease a person’s risk of becoming obese, Endy said. For a healthier lifestyle:
- Make time to exercise everyday. Walking can help maintain a healthy weight. Walk for as long as possible when starting out, Endy recommended. “You should try to walk for one hour everyday,” she said.
- Understand your body. Checking in on your body is critical to eating right, Endy explained. “You should eat when you are hungry,” she said. “But know to stop when your body is full.”
- Eat more fruits and vegetables. If half of every meal consists of fruits and vegetables, weight control is more manageable, Endy said. “Your body needs more of these foods.”
To cope with the national epidemic of obesity, experts also suggest promoting physical activity in schools, providing healthier meal options and perhaps even undergoing surgical procedures.
On promoting physical activity in schools, exercise is at the head of the class. “We lack exercise,” Albert Lang, communications manager for Trust for a Healthier America, a non-profit organization, said. “We have become a driving nation, with less walking, biking and exercising,” he said.
On providing healthier meal options, the Partnership for a Healthier America recently paired with the Hyatt Hotel chain to put healthier meal options on its hotel menus across the country, Elly Spinweber, deputy director of communications for Partnership for a Healthier America, a non-profit organization said. “We have replaced soft drinks with the option of milk and made fruits and vegetables the default side option on kids’ meals,” she said.
On undergoing surgical procedures, experts consider these to be the last options. At Upstate Medical University, three types of surgical procedures are available: gastric bypass surgery, gastric sleeve surgery and gastric banding. While results vary, individuals can expect to see an average of 50 to 60 percent loss of extra weight over a three to five year span, according to Upstate Medical University.
For Allison Peacock, the roller coaster of weight gain and loss eventually led her to undergo gastric banding. The surgery placed a band around Peacock’s stomach, allowing her to better control the amount of food she can consume. “I felt the procedure was a tool I could use toward achieving a healthy weight,” Peacock said.
The procedure has helped Peacock control her weight and helped her maintain good health. “I didn’t have diabetes or high blood pressure to start,” Peacock said. “But without the surgery, I think I would have it by now.” Obesity runs in her family, Peacock said. “I knew I needed to do something and take care of myself,” she said.
Peacock has lost over 50 pounds since undergoing surgery nearly a year and a half ago. But she is still working on reaching her goal weight, she said. “Every day is a struggle,” Peacock said. “I haven’t lost the amount I want to lose yet, but I haven’t gained any weight either.”
(Emily Maher is a senior majoring in broadcast journalism and political science.)
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