Applying Epidemiology to Program Design for Obesity and Overweight Chronic Health Issue Obesity and overweight are major serious, chronic diseases of adults and children whose prevalence continues to rise in the United States.

Applying Epidemiology to Program Design for Obesity and Overweight Chronic Health Issue Obesity and overweight are major serious, chronic diseases of adults and children whose prevalence continues to rise in the United States. Obesity is costly, as it has huge financial implications for patients, healthcare organizations and the nation. This chronic disease affects the overall health of individuals, productivity, costs of healthcare, and military readiness (CDC, 2022). In every five children, one is likely to suffer from obesity. The prevalence is higher in adults such that one in every three adults is likely to have obesity (). Obesity is detrimental among children and adolescents as children with obesity are more likely to be obese in adulthood. Obesity costs in the United States healthcare are estimated to be $173 billion annually (CDC, 2022). In children, obesity is a concern as it paves the path to health problems that are associated with obesity such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and hypercholesteremia. Obesity also has physical complications such as joint pains, breathing problems, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Obesity during childhood is also associated with mental health concerns such as self-esteem and depression. Obesity among childhood and adolescents stems from poor eating habits and physical exercise routines (CDC, 2022). It results from the consumption of too much calories from drinks and food and too little physical activity. However, genetic and hormonal factors also contribute to obesity. The risks of being obese or overweight also increase due to socioeconomic factors that limit access to resources such as food stores and supermarkets. Population The target population for this epidemiological project are adolescents aged from 10- 19 who have a BMI measurement that falls above the 85th percentile and has been determined as obese or overweight by a healthcare provider.