Obesity - No.1 Kid's Health Problem
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Other key findings in the poll include:
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Most Americans (92 percent) say their school required
participation in physical education (PE) when they were
children; |
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68 percent think PE is now required daily in elementary
school, when actually fewer than one-fourth of the
nation’s elementary schools provide daily physical
education (U.S. Dept. of Education, National Center for
Education Statistics); |
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81 percent say it is important for the U.S. government
to invest in obesity research, and 84 percent say it is
important to invest in public health and prevention
programs to help reduce obesity among Americans; and
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67 percent would be willing to pay $1 per week more in
taxes if they were certain the money would fund research
to improve health. |
“Research is the answer to many of the health issues we
face, including obesity,” said Mary Woolley,
Research!America president. “Americans understand that and
clearly want adequate funding for research that can improve
their health and the health of their families.”
What Should Americans Know About Obesity Research
Research is attempting to determine the root causes of
obesity and define the most effective measures to prevent
and combat it. Pivotal research is being conducted to:
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Define the hormonal control of fat, carbohydrate and
protein metabolism; |
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Identify the hormones involved in appetite regulation;
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Examine and assess the genetics of obesity; and
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Unravel the control of lipids. |
According to The Endocrine Society, most obesity is caused
by an energy imbalance—consuming more energy than the body
expends. However, there are many genetic, hormonal, and
environmental factors that can affect this imbalance. In
general, a patient should see an endocrinologist if:
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Behaviour modifications, such as exercise and diet, are
not effective for weight loss; |
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The patient has an endocrine disorder, such as diabetes,
that can be aggravated by obesity; or
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The patient has an underlying endocrine condition that
increases their risk for obesity, such as Cushing’s
syndrome or hypothyroidism.
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Continued...
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