The last decade has welcomed, with open arms, a new epidemic: obesity. Currently in the United States, more than a third of adults, 35.7%, and approximately 17% of children and adolescents are obese. Obesity is not only a problem in the United States but also throughout the world: its prevalence has doubled in high-income and economically advanced countries and is also growing in underdeveloped areas. Its incidence rate is continuously increasing with each successive generation and in every age group, including the elderly (Byles, 2009; Dorner and Rieder, 2011). An individual is often labeled “obese” when their weight is greater than what is considered healthy for their height. An individual's body mass index (BMI) is a reliable indicator of body fat and is calculated using height and weight. Typically, an adult with a BMI of 30 or more is classified as obese, while a BMI of less than 18.5 is underweight, a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is normal weight, and a BMI of 25 and 29.9 is overweight (Dorner and Rieder, 2011). Furthermore, the Council of the Obesity Society has officially declared obesity as a disease. It has been found to represent a risk factor for the development of a number of other diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and especially cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure, ischemic heart disease, abnormal left ventricular geometry, endothelial dysfunction, systolic and diastolic dysfunction and fibrillation atrial (Dorner and Rieder, 2011). Furthermore, obesity is associated with increased mortality rates, reduced longevity, and premature death (Childers and Allison, 2010). Various concerns regarding obesity and the aging population also involve infections, functional limitations, lack of independence, decreased...... middle of paper ......the elderly should do to maintain an aging process healthy is eating well and staying active. Works Cited Byles, J. (2009) Obesity: the new global threat to healthy aging and longevity. Review of health sociology. 18.4: 412-22.Childers, DK, Allison, DB (2010) The “obesity paradox”: a parsimonious explanation of the relationships between obesity, mortality rates and aging? International Journal of Obesity. 34: 1231-238. Dorner, T. E., Rieder, A. (2011) Obesity paradox in elderly patients with cardiovascular disease. International Journal of Cardiology. 155: 56-65.Loudon, R. (09 March 2012) Chapter 8. BIO 412. Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building, Philadelphia.Tchkonia, T., Morbeck, D.E., Zglinicki, T. v., Deursen, J. v. , Lustgarten, J., Scrable, H., Khosla, S., Jensen, M.D., Kirkland, J.L. (2010) Adipose tissue, aging and cellular senescence. Aging cell. 9: 667-84.