The obesity problem is a growing epidemic in America and across the globe. Reports suggest that roughly 35 percent of American men meet the criteria for obesity, but projections show that percentage is leveling off. What may be more concerning is that new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that the percentage of obese women now outranks men, and it has climbed all the way to 40 percent.
This is a serious problem for both sexes, but Dr. Maria Collazo-Clavell said it can be especially problematic for women.
“That’s kind of the tip of the iceberg,” said Dr. Collazo-Clavell, noting that oftentimes women are the primary caregivers for their children and families, meaning their health choices can influence others. Dr. Collazo-Clavell, an endocrinologist at the Mayo Clinic, went on to say she’s started treating some of her patient’s children to help whole families start to get control of their obesity issue.
Factors Influencing Obesity in Women
Doctors say there are many factors that can influence a person’s likelihood of obesity, and some of these factors affect women more than men. They couldn’t pinpoint an exact reason, but they listed some factors at play:
- Gender-Specific Life Milestones – Women experience two unique moments in life where they are at risk of weight gain: childbirth and menopause.
- Meal Planning – Many women do the meal planning for families, meaning they have direct control over their family’s dietary choices. Doctors also noted that this process can become more difficult in the months after childbirth.
- Damaging Effects of Societal Pressure – “In our culture, when a man’s overweight, nobody pays too much attention,” said Dr. Guilford Hartley, medical director of the Hennepin Bariatric Center and Obesity Program. “But we have such an emphasis on being thin for women that we’re culturally forcing women to be more concerned about their weight than men. The social pressure if you’re overweight and a woman is higher.”
- Technology in the Workplace – Computers and other technology have made sedentary jobs even more sedentary. “If you were a clerical person, 20 years ago you’d have to get up and put the piece of paper in the file cabinet. Now you never have to get up off your chair,” Hartley said. “We have engineered … physical activity out of our workplace and out of our home place.”
Obesity is an issue for both sexes, but the best way to combat it is to really be conscious about some of your lifestyle choices. Plan ahead for healthy meals so you don’t need to stop at McDonald’s on the way home, make sure your kids are eating healthy, and strive for regular exercise. If you do these three things, you’ll be able to keep the weight off.
