ObesityA leading preventable cause of death worldwide,

with increasing rates in adults and children.Authorities view it as one of the most serious

public health problems of the 21st century.

Definition

Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have a negative effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems.

CausesO Oversize food portionsO An inactive lifestyleO Genes and family historyO Health conditionO MedicinesO Emotional factorsO SmokingO Age

Main foods causing obesity

They generally have a high fat content in order to deceive our palate with their taste and hide the quality of the food:O SnacksO Crisps and chipsO HamburgersIn general, low quality food.

Health

risks

DiabetesCancer

Heart Disease

Sleep Apnea

GERD

High blood

pressureRespirato

ry problems

Gallbladder disease

High total cholestero

l

High levels of

triglycerides

Osteoarthritis

Stroke

Facts and figuresO At least 65% of the American population is

overweight and 35% is obese.O 910,000 Americans die each year of problems

related to overweight.O 45 million is the number of obese children in the

world between 5 and 17 years of age. That means one out of three children is overweight or obese.

O If we don't solve this problem, one third of all children born in 2000 or later will suffer from diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, and asthma.

Michelle Obama’s food awareness campaigns

O "The physical and emotional health of an entire generation and the economic health and security of our nation is at stake."

First Lady Michelle Obama at the “Let’s Move!” launch on February 9, 2010

O “My goal is to address and overcome the challenge of childhood obesity, so that children born today reach adulthood with a healthy body.”

The mission of her life is to stop the «obesity epidemic» among young Americans, which is a major cause of death. That is why she is working to promote healthy eating habits among American families, based on fresh foods and encouraging physical activity, especially among the very young.

A political gardenO Michelle Obama has become the worldwide

ambassador of healthy living.O The vegetable garden at the White House is just

one of her important initiatives that are changing the daily lives of many Americans.

O She planted it when she first arrived at the White House in 2009. Since then she has been growing strictly organic tomatoes, cabbage, potatoes, and onions, without using any chemicals or herbicides.

Barack Obama’s initiative

In addiction to Michelle’s campaigns, President Obama established the Task Force on Childhood Obesity, a sort of federal agency to launch intervention programs across the country.