Careers to Combat the Obesity Epidemic How You Can Make a Living Helping Others Achieve a Healthy Weight

From nutritionists to bariatricians, many professionals help others reach a healthy weight. Learn more about these careers and the growing obesity crisis.

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How You Can Make a Living Helping Others Achieve a Healthy Weight

Weight loss and management plague more and more people each year (over one-third of American adults are obese according to the CDC.) In addition, it can be difficult to find the necessary help to turn things around and make lasting lifestyle changes. Read on for a comprehensive look into the obesity epidemic, learn about tips and resources for staying healthy, and explore career opportunities where you can help others achieve their personal weight goals.

Meet the Expert

Portrait of Martina Cartwright

Martina Cartwright

Martina Cartwright is a registered dietitian (R.D.) with a Ph.D. in Nutritional Science and Biomolecular Chemistry. She has more than 17 years experience in medical education, research, and clinical practice. Dr. Cartwright is a well-known nutrition author and keynote speaker with 20 years' experience in obesity treatment and counseling. She is also an adjunct faculty member at the University of Arizona and works as a biomedical consultant in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The Current State of Obesity

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, annual medical costs for obesity total $147 million. This increasingly common medical condition affects nearly one-third of the current American population, with a higher incidence seen amongst low-income populations. As waistlines continue to expand, the risk of illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer continues to rise. Childhood obesity is a growing concern – children who are overweight early in life are not only much more likely to grow into obese adults but are also at high-risk for diseases previously only seen in aging populations.

While obesity is a global problem, the largest populations of obese individuals tend to be in developed countries where physical activity and access to affordable healthier food choices are low. In the following sections, readers will learn more about obesity, how it is defined; the underlying factors and causes; and the populations it is most likely to affect.

Obesity Fast Facts

Obesity now affects

1 on 6

children and adolescents in the United States.

Children born to obese mothers are twice as likely to be obese and to develop

type 2 diabetes

later in life.

Adults with a BMI of

25 to 29.9

are considered overweight, while adults with a BMI of 30 or more are considered obese.

The CDC estimates approximately

112,000

deaths are associated with obesity every year.

Understanding Obesity

The Harvard School of Public Health defines obesity as a way of describing when an individual has too much body fat. To be defined as obese, a person must have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater, while those considered overweight have a BMI of 25-29.9. Higher BMIs can be categorized into classes, with individuals with a BMI of 40 or more a class III. According to a 2014 study published by The Lancet, America topped the list of countries with the highest percentages of obesity in the world, with China, India, Russia, and Brazil filling out the top five.

  • Healty Weight

    (BMI 18.5 to 24.9)

  • Overweight

    (BMI 25 to 29.9)

  • Obese Class I

    (BMI 30 to 34.9)

  • Obese Class II

    (BMI 35 to 39.9)

  • Obese Class III

    (BMI 40 or more)

Obesity Breakdown

Overall, nearly 35 percent of all American adults are considered obese, though certain races have higher percentages: 47.8 percent of Black adults and 42.5 percent of Latino adults are obese. Socioeconomic status has been shown to play a large role in the likelihood of becoming obese. Researchers have highlighted numerous reasons for this disparity, including the higher cost of healthy foods, lack of access to fresh fruits and vegetables, and living in areas that are unsafe for undertaking physical activity.

Causes of Obesity

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are numerous causes for obesity. The most common factors are discussed below.

Cause Explanation
Behavior Regularly consuming high calorie foods and large portions and not getting the recommended weekly amount of physical activity, can soon add up to extra pounds.
Community Environment Reports have shown that individual's communities, homes, schools, and workplaces can all have positive or negative effects on their health. As an example, communities without proper sidewalks or trails preclude individuals from walking or biking like those in cities with proper provisions.
Genetics While genetic changes in populations don't occur quickly enough to be blamed for the epidemic, genes can play a role in how a person's body responds to activity and calorically dense foods. For instance, some people may be more likely to have higher levels of hunger due to genes.
Disease A number of illnesses may cause weight gain, including Cushing's disease and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Drugs Certain medications can also cause individuals to gain weight. Common drugs linked to weight gain include antidepressants and steroids.

Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity is climbing at an alarming rate – over the past three decades, the numbers have tripled. As of 2012, one in three American children is overweight or obese. In addition to the immediate health concerns presented, obesity experts have the concern that the next generation could be the first in modern history to live fewer years than their parents' generation. The first step to reversing the childhood obesity epidemic is education.

What Is Childhood Obesity?

Also known as pediatric obesity, childhood obesity occurs in both children and adolescents whose weight exceeds the healthy range for his or her height and age.

Childhood obesity is particularly dangerous because it is associated with many serious medical conditions that once only plagued adults, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and other illnesses. It can also lead to depression and a lack of self-esteem.

Childhood obesity is also measured by Body Mass Index (BMI), although the calculations are slightly different than the adult equation. Rather than simply entering height and weight, as is the protocol with adults, children and teens use an age and gender-specific calculation, sometimes called BMI-for-age. Because children's bodies change so rapidly during these years, measurements need to be judged against the percentile ranges for their age and gender group.

According to the most recently conducted National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 16.9 percent of all American children are classified as obese. As with adult populations, certain ethnic groups tend to have a higher incidence of obesity with 20.2 percent of Black children and 22.4 percent of Latino children classified as obese. The State of Obesity cites that people of color often reside in economically challenged areas where there is less access to affordable healthy foods and safe places to exercise

Some parents struggle to identify their children as obese, especially when compared to peers rather than to medical standards of healthy weight. Parents of children struggling with weight gain can try a few different strategies to encourage healthy habits at an early age. The following table breaks down these strategies by age group:

Age Strategy
Newborn – Age 1 Studies have shown that breastfeeding may contribute to better weight management, as children who have been breastfed tend to be more aware of internal hunger signals and are better able to control portions. Additionally, flavors travel through breast milk; some research has shown that nursing mom's who eat fruits and veggies are more likely to have children that like them.
Ages 1 – 5 Food habits are formed in early childhood through introduction of a variety of textures, colors and flavors. This is the perfect age to instill good habits, both when choosing food and in being physically active. This is also a good time to begin limiting screen time.
Ages 6 – 12 Building upon the lessons taught earlier, parents can encourage physical activity through participation in individual or team sports, while family time can also involve fun physical activities such as bike rides or walking the family dog. Kids at this age can learn to make basic healthy foods and snacks on their own.
Ages 13 – 18 As adolescents gain more independence and try to emulate their peers, they may find themselves going through the fast-food drive-thru a bit too frequently. Encourage teens to pack their own lunches and learn how to make healthier versions of their favorite fast foods. Students at this age can also build upon their existing level of physical activity and use social media to motivate themselves to be more active. Studies have shown that individuals are influenced by others' exercise habits and perceived social support regarding exercise. Today, exercise apps allow users to track and showcase their own activity/accomplishments as well as compare their stats for friendly competitions with friends.

Adult Obesity

According to a 2015 Gallup poll, 27.7 percent of American adults are now considered obese, up from 27.1 percent in 2013 and 25.5 percent in 2008. Unlike Centers for Disease Control estimates of obesity, the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index used respondents' self-reported height and weight to calculate body mass index (BMI). To be classified as obese, an adult's BMI must be 30 or above. Since the 2008 study, American seniors have seen the highest rise in obesity with a four percent increase.

Measuring Adult Obesity

Harvard's School of Public Health notes a variety of ways to measure adult obesity. The most common include:

   
Body Mass Index (BMI) These calculations are based on height and weight and can be determined using BMI tables and online tools.
Waist Circumference This is often used to assess abdominal obesity and is based on the circumference of the abdomen at the natural waistline.
Waist-to-Hip Ratio Also used to calculate abdominal obesity, this measurement is calculated by measuring the waist and largest part of the hips, then dividing waist by hip measurements.
Skinfold Thickness Calipers are used to pinch a portion of skin and the layer of fat underneath at specific points on the body. A percentage of body fat can be calculated from these measurements.
Underwater weighing Involves weighing individuals underwater to assess body volume, density, and fat percentage.

Factors Affecting Adult Obesity

While obesity rates have not changed significantly since 2008, African Americans have the highest levels of obesity among major demographic groups, at 35.5 percent in 2014. The Latino population also has higher levels of obesity: with one study indicating a 77 percent obesity rate in Latino adults.

Obesity rates are also greater than 30 percent for middle-aged Americans earning less than $36,000 annually. Amongst the young and those earning at least $90,000 per year, the numbers drop to 17.7 and 23.1 percent, respectively.

Other factors leading to higher levels of obesity include access to healthcare, the ability and access to make healthy eating choices, access to safe areas to be physically active, and income.

Adult Obesity

Health Consequences of Obesity

In addition to diminished well-being, obesity has many other health consequences. The World Health Organization has identified numerous areas for concern, including:

Effects of Obesity Explanation
High Blood Pressure The Framingham Heart Study found that excess body weight accounted for approximately one in four cases of high blood pressure in adults participating in the study. High blood pressure can lead to numerous other health problems such as coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, and kidney failure.
Heart Disease As BMIs rise, so does the risk for heart disease. As plaque builds up inside arteries, it becomes more and more difficult for blood to make its way through the heart, leading to either angina or a heart attack.
Sleep Apnea Those with sleep apnea experience pauses in their breathing or shallow inhalations while sleeping. This typically occurs in individuals with abdominal obesity or extra fat around their neck. As fat takes up more space around the neck, the airway is narrowed, making it difficult to breathe properly.
Musculoskeletal Disorders Extra weight means joints and bones are under increased stress and pressure Joint pain and osteoarthritis commonly occur in the knees, hips, or lower back when connective tissue between joints wears thin.
Cancer Overweight or obese individuals have higher risks for certain types of cancer, including colon, breast, endometrial, and gallbladder cancer
Gallstones These stony masses form in the gallbladder and cause stomach or back pain. Obese individuals are at higher risk to develop gallstones.

Diabetes

Insulin is a hormone that allows glucose to enter cells where it is used as energy. Diabetes occurs when the body either cannot produce insulin or the body is resistant, or non-responsive, to the insulin produced by the pancreas. Lack of insulin response results in increased blood sugar or glucose, the hallmark of diabetes. Type I diabetes requires insulin and typically develops in early childhood. Type II diabetes is often called non-insulin dependent diabetes and is frequently associated with obesity and sedentary lifestyle.

According to Stanford Medicine, obesity is one of the most common risk factors for developing pre-diabetes, a condition of high blood sugar that is not high enough to be classified as diabetic. Pre-diabetics who remain sedentary and overweight may develop Type 2 diabetes. Approximately 80 percent of those who develop Type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese. Other contributing factors to diabetes that are also commonly associated with excess weight include:

Other factors that may be associated with the development of obesity related diabetes are family history, race, and a history of gestational diabetes.

Diabetes Symptoms

All symptoms result from elevated levels of blood sugar and may include constant thirst, frequent urination, blurred vision, exhaustion, dry skin, unintentional weight loss, infections and wounds that take longer to heal than usual.

Diagnosis

Diabetes is diagnosed based on the clinical signs listed above and blood sugar or glucose test results; there are two types of blood glucose tests. If asked to fast for 8 hours prior to the blood draw, the fasting plasma glucose level will be tested. If the result is higher than 126 mg/dl, this may indicate diabetes. Similarly, if the casual plasma glucose (non-fasting) level is above 200 mg/dl, diabetes may be suspected. These tests may be drawn multiple times over a series of days to ensure an accurate reading and to confirm diagnosis of diabetes.

Treatment

While Type 2 diabetes is typically viewed as incurable, there are a variety of treatments available, including changes in lifestyle and medication.

   
Nutrition While everyone with diabetes should consult with a medical professional to develop a personalized meal plan, common rules tend to include eating high fiber foods, limiting added fats, sugar, and salt, and limiting carbohydrates to 40 to 50 percent of overall calories.
Exercise Physicians and diabetes consultants can help develop a plan for incorporating more exercise, even if this means starting with a few minutes of walking each day.
Medications Several options exist for controlling diabetes. Oral medications are widely used for individuals with Type 2 diabetes, while those with Type 1 use insulin injections or a pump.

10 Tips for Prevention & Treatment

There are many different prevention techniques for avoiding obesity. According to experts at the Mayo Clinic, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Harvard's School of Public Health, some of the top recommendations include:

Prevention

While prevention is always the best strategy, there are also steps to treat obesity and lose weight healthfully. Some of the most effective include:

Treatment

Taking Action:
Public Health Degrees, Specialties, and Careers

Students interested in assisting obese populations often pursue a degree in public health. These versatile programs, offered at the bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels, provide students an opportunity to train for public health careers specializing in obesity and weight management. Some of the most common areas of study include:

Obesity Epidemiology & Prevention

This track prepares students to recognize risk factors associated with overweight or obesity; examining environmental, behavioral, social and psychological factors contributing to the condition. In some cases, students in this specialty may focus on specific populations or regions of the world.


Obesity Epidemiologist

Charged with identifying how obesity affects the public, those in this role often have advanced degrees and work to develop preventative measures, such as programs or initiatives focused on healthy living.

Research Scientist:
Obesity Prevention

Most positions in this field given the intricate research needs require at least a master's level degree. The position involves designing and developing research plans and methodologies to address specific needs within the obesity research spectrum.


Health Communication

Within this specialty, students learn how to effectively communicate and influence public health education initiatives, on a local and/or global level. The end goal is always kept at the forefront, with students being asked to think about the outcomes in how public healthcare is delivered. It will also help students understand how to best communicate health information to a variety of different audiences.

Outcomes Research

With a focus on the end goal, these professionals measure existing programs against statistical data to understand how effective they are. They may also conduct independent research to back up their findings.

Obesity Communications Specialist

Often works closely with the public and media outlets to provide relevant and recent information about the latest obesity statistics and healthy lifestyle initiatives. These professionals also sometimes work within advocacy or education initiatives to ensure all populations understand how to properly care for themselves.

Obesity & Chronic Disease

Throughout this specialty, students will learn about obesity through a spectrum of perspectives, incorporating epidemiological, sociological, economic, and policy-related theories. Students will also undertake both basic and applied research, understanding how obesity contributes to other diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. At risk populations are given special consideration.

Obesity Prevention Coordinator

This position frequently supports increased awareness of healthy eating and physical activities among populations most at risk for obesity, including low-income areas or neighborhoods with limited access to healthy foods or safe areas to exercise. Activities may include educating, working one-on-one with individuals, or leading workshops.

Bariatrician

Working directly with bariatric surgeons, individuals in this role assist in surgical weight loss procedures by performing pre-op medical screenings, post-op follow-up services, and other non-surgical tasks.

Diet & Nutrition

This area of study prepares students to educate communities about dietary choices. The most innovative programs will draw from the latest research on the obesity epidemic and equip students with the skills to communicate the connections between food and health.

Nutritionist or Registered Dietitian

With an in-depth understanding of the dietary needs of varied demographics, nutritionists and registered dietitians may work one-on-one to create individualized healthy meal plans or work in the public to advocate and educate about balanced diets.

Become Team
Become Team
Contributing Writer

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