Obesity

This book serves as an accessible resource for teens who want to learn more about obesity. The information and guidance it offers make it a valuable tool for young adult readers with questions or concerns about their weight. Obesity—represented by a BMI over 30—may be easy to define, but its causes and consequences and how individuals and agencies should address it are not as clear. Is obesity simply the result of eating more calories than one burns, or are other factors involved? Can an individual be obese and healthy? How does obesity affect psychological and social health? Are public health campaigns targeted at reducing obesity helping or hurting? Obesity: Your Questions Answered, a part of Greenwood’s Q&A Health Guides series, answers these and other questions related to this high-interest topic. Each book in this series follows a reader-friendly question-and-answer format that anticipates readers’ needs and concerns. Prevalent myths and misconceptions are identified and dispelled, and a collection of case studies illustrates key concepts and issues through relatable stories and insightful recommendations. The book also includes a section on health literacy, equipping teens and young adults with practical tools and strategies for finding, evaluating, and using credible sources of health information both on and off the internet—important skills that contribute to a lifetime of healthy decision-making.