Introduction/Background

• Obesity in the United States has been increasingly cited as a health issue.
• Obesity rates in the U.S are among the highest in the world.
• In 2010, the CDC reported higher numbers, counting 35.7% of American adults as obese, and 17% of American children.
• Children and adolescents who are obese are likely to be obese in adulthood and to develop obesity-related health problems.
• Obesity can give the person serious medical problems, such as type II diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and disability.
• Obesity has also been shown to increase the prevalence of complications during pregnancy and childbirth.