Global need for weight loss
- 40% of adults in the U.S. have obesity and another 32% are overweight (Eurekalert, 2020)
- Globally, more than 1.9 billion adults are overweight, out of which 650 million adults are obese (WHO, 2020)
- 28.5% of elderly adults aged 65 and older were obese in 2019 (United Health Foundation, 2019)
- The cost of obesity is estimated to reach 5%-to-14% of health expenditures for 2020-2050 (Frontiers in Nutrion, 2020)
- The annual medical cost of obesity is estimated to be $149.5 billion (PubMed, 2016)
- Out of all the OECD countries, Japan has the lowest rate of obesity (3.7%) which is considerably lower than the average of 19.5% (OECD, 2019)
- Colorado has the lowest rate of obesity (22.6%) among U.S. states, and West Virginia has the highest rate (38.1%) (United Health Foundation, 2018)
Methods for weight loss
- The most common weigh loss method is exercising (62.9%), along with eating less food (62.9%), and followed by consuming more fruits, vegetables, and salads (50.4%) (CDC, 2018)
- The average woman needs about 1,500 calories a day to lose weight, while the average man needs 2,000 calories (Healthline)
- Drinking more water, especially before meals, increases the metabolic rate by 30%, which is helpful with weight loss (PubMed, 2003)
- Cutting carbs is an effective weight–loss method, as it reduces appetite (Wiley, 2008)
- High-protein diet reduces appetite and food cravings, increases the metabolic rate, and prevents weight regain (PubMed, 2005)
- Sugary soft drinks, fruit juices, chocolate milk and other beverages with added sugar should be avoided as they are linked to an increased risk in obesity (PubMed, 2011)