Some top five conditions are killing Americans prematurely despite the scope of treating them in advance. Topping the chart is obesity as a leading condition and taking away more preventable life-years.
Obesity steals 47 percent more life-years than tobacco when compared to other conditions, according to a new study.
Lead author Glen Taksler, who is an internal medicine researcher at the Cleveland Clinic, said modifiable behavioral risk factors are mounting a huge mortality burden in the United States.
Healthy Eating, Weigh Loss Management
The findings of the study underscore the importance of managing weight, handling diabetes and pursuing healthy eating for ushering in a healthy American population.
Noting that obesity has been stealing more years than diabetes, tobacco, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, the study said many curable health problems are bothering the lives of Americans.
In the matter of slashing the life span of Americans, both tobacco and high blood pressure are equally strong.
Top Five Life-Eaters
While parading the top five causes that are treatable yet working as life stealers, the research pointed to diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol as the culprits.
The study also urges support mechanisms for spreading awareness on treatment methods and approaches with preventive accorded more priority by physicians.
Proximate Cause And Root Cause of Deaths
"The reality is, while we may know the proximate cause of a patient's death -- for example, breast cancer or heart attack -- we don't always know the contributing factor(s), such as tobacco use, obesity, alcohol, and family history," Taksler said.
The findings will be presented at the annual meeting of the Society of General Internal Medicine, in Washington, D.C.
Meanwhile, studies on data collected from of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the United States has 35 percent of men and 40 percent of women as obese with 2014 as the reference year.
Among children, the obesity rate is 17 percent and teens have 6 percent who are morbidly obese. The findings are a stark reminder of "the unrelenting challenge of obesity."
Based on the data from 2,638 men and 2,817 women, the CDC researchers concluded that overall 38 percent of American adults were obese as of 2014, against 34 percent in 2006. The obesity rate increased among women during the period but not among men.
In terms of age groups, the odds rise with age, as 41percent of adults in 40s and 50s were obese unlike 34 percent of adults in 20s and 30s. Obese adults aged 60 and above were 39 percent.
Obesity Treatment And Weight Reduction
As for treating obesity, managing a decent weight is the number one goal. That is achieved with the support of dietitians and obesity specialists by modifying food and activity patterns.
In the early phase of obesity cure, a modest weight loss is targeted which may be cutting 5 percent of the total weight. All weight-loss programs call for changes in eating habits and stepped up physical activity. In the process, reducing calories and practicing healthier eating habits are important.
Planning a comprehensive weight-loss program for a span of six months will boost the success of the weight-loss program.
