Daniel D Reidpath1, Mohd Masood, Pascale Allotey. 1. Department of Global Public Health, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 46150, Bandar Sunway, Selangor DE, Malaysia, daniel.reidpath@monash.edu.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Four metrics to characterise population overweight are described. METHODS: Behavioural Risk Factors Surveillance System data were used to estimate the weight the US population needed to lose to achieve a BMI < 25. The metrics for population level overweight were total weight, total volume, total energy, and energy value. RESULTS: About 144 million people in the US need to lose 2.4 million metric tonnes. The volume of fat is 2.6 billion litres-1,038 Olympic size swimming pools. The energy in the fat would power 90,000 households for a year and is worth around 162 million dollars. CONCLUSIONS: Four confronting ways of talking about a national overweight and obesity are described. The value of the metrics remains to be tested.
OBJECTIVES: Four metrics to characterise population overweight are described. METHODS: Behavioural Risk Factors Surveillance System data were used to estimate the weight the US population needed to lose to achieve a BMI < 25. The metrics for population level overweight were total weight, total volume, total energy, and energy value. RESULTS: About 144 million people in the US need to lose 2.4 million metric tonnes. The volume of fat is 2.6 billion litres-1,038 Olympic size swimming pools. The energy in the fat would power 90,000 households for a year and is worth around 162 million dollars. CONCLUSIONS: Four confronting ways of talking about a national overweight and obesity are described. The value of the metrics remains to be tested.
Authors: Katherine M Flegal; John A Shepherd; Anne C Looker; Barry I Graubard; Lori G Borrud; Cynthia L Ogden; Tamara B Harris; James E Everhart; Nathaniel Schenker Journal: Am J Clin Nutr Date: 2008-12-30 Impact factor: 7.045