Body Fat & Eating Disorders

Body Fat and Eating Disorders

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May 19, 2013

Dan Neisner, DrPH

Body Fat and Eating Disorders

The United States of America along with other nations around the globe are facing an epidemic like never before. Today this epidemic is obesity and it has been on the rise since the 1960’s and continues progress each day. Although obesity, on the surface, does not sound as urgent as other epidemics we have faced in the past, many nutritionists and health professionals would assure you that it is indeed quite urgent. There are many health problems associated with obesity as well as eating disorders and raising awareness concerning these facts has never been more important than it is today. It is said that 64% of Americans are packing on extra weight and approximately half of those are categorized as obese. Grosvenor & Smolin (2005) stated, “If the extra weight is due to extra fat, then it increases your risk of a host of chronic health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, stroke, gallbladder disease, arthritis, sleep disorders, respiratory problems, and cancers of the breast, uterus, prostate, and colon” (Chapter 7).

The health risks associated with being overweight as previously stated are numerous. To assess the degree of body fat, or “composition”, various techniques have been implemented. These methods include bioelectric impedance, skinfold thickness, underwater weighing, air displacement (bod pod), dilution, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, computerized tomography, and MRI’s. One of the easiest and most common ways to assess whether or not one is overweight is a measurement termed BMI or body mass index. This correlates the relation of body weight to height and can serve as an indicator to take action. Many are unaware that they may fall into the obese category and are quite surprised to discover that they are in fact obese. An additional fact that many individuals are unaware of is that where...