The epidemic of obesity is no longer restricted to affluent western nations. Indeed, data from every region of the world clearly indicates that we are in the midst of a global obesity epidemic. The World Health Organization has estimated that over one billion adults worldwide are overweight, of which at least 300 million are obese. Current prevalence statistics are alarming and appear to be worsening in virtually every nation.
In the US, age-adjusted obesity prevalence among adults increased from 14.5% in 1971-74 to 22.9% in 1988-94 to 30.5% in 1999-2000. This trend stems from an increase in body mass index (BMI) in all age-gender-race groups. Similar trends are evident in other industrialized countries, where prevalence estimates currently range between 14 and 20%. For example, in the majority of European countries, obesity prevalence has increased by 10-40% in the past 10 years.
A rapid increase in obesity is also evident in developing nations, although data from these countries is more limited. In urban China, for example, childhood obesity prevalence increased from 1.5% in 1989 to 12.6% in 1997. Similarly, the prevalence of overweight increased from 14.6 to 28.9% during the same period. The rate of increase of BMI among Chinese children has been calculated as 0.2 kg/m 2 per year in urban areas and 0.1 kg/m 2 per year in rural areas.
Contrary to the perception that obesity is a disease of affluence, obesity is now strongly associated with poverty around the globe. And for the first time in history, several developing nations have a similarly high prevalence of both underweight or under-nourished people and overweight or obese people.
CONTENTS
Abstract
Acknowledgements
Table of Contents
Background & Significance
- Obesity – prevalence
Obesity – etiology
Obesity – mortality, morbidity, costs
Obesity – clinical treatment & maintenance of weight loss
Diet & disease
Shifting patients to a plant-based diet
Motivation for dietary adherence in vegetarians
Dietary adherence – theory
Dietary behavior change
Preliminary studies
Summary of background & significance
Purpose
- Specific Aims
Hypothesis
Methods
Results
Discussion
Appendixes
- Recruitment Pamphlet
Consent Form
Block Food Categories
VHEP Behavioral Survey
Relational Database Layout
VHEP Curriculum Overview
References
