OVERNUTRITION DISASTER. For the first time in human history, more people are overweight than are hungry. About 1.6 billion people in the world are overweight or obese.
Overnutrition is a condition in which the intake of calories (or energy) exceeds the use of calories. Th e extra energy is
stored by the body as fat, and overweight and obesity are the result. Nutritionists call overnutrition an energy imbalance and consider it a true form of malnutrition.
Overnutrition is not just about weighing too much; it is a real health danger that can cause serious disease and loss of life. In the United States alone, about 111,000 people die every year because of obesity-related illnesses.
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The problem of
overnutrition is epidemic in many parts of the world today, and has proved diffi cult to treat or prevent. In the United States, nearly two of every three people are overweight.This includes about one-third of children and teens. Th e preva lence of overweight in the United States is double what it was in 1960. Many other wealthy and rapidly developing countries are experiencing similar increases in the rates of overweight and obesity.
The WHO considers this trend to be a global public health emergency. It explains that in some developing countries, overnutrition and undernutrition coexist. Also, in some develop ing countries,
overnutrition rates are increasing faster than in wealthy countries. In a 2009 document titled “Obesity and Overweight,” WHO officials wrote, “The health consequences range from increased risk of premature death to serious chronic conditions that reduce the overall quality of life. Of especial concern is the increasing incidence of child obesity.” Some of the diseases that have been linked to chronic overweight and obesity include type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.
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