Body Fat
Obesity
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), worldwide obesity has more than doubled since 1980. In 2008, more than 1.4 billion adults, 20 and older, were overweight. Of these over 200 million men and nearly 300 million women were obese. 65% of the world's population live in countries where overweight and obesity kills more people than underweight. More than 40 million children under the age of five were overweight in 2010. Obesity is a leading preventable cause of death worldwide.
Importance of Measuring Body Fat
Measuring body fat allows for diagnosing the risk of developing chronic conditions and formulating appropriate interventions. Body Mass Index (BMI) is currently the most commonly used measurement of obesity. However, BMI does not differentiate between fat mass and muscle mass. Simple, reliable, cost effective and accurate methods do not exist to measure body fat content.
Body fat content, not weight, is the criteria to health.
Percentage of Obese Adults (BMI ≥30%)
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