Weight Loss

Cardiovascular disease kills over 16 million people worldwide every year and is the direct cause of over 30% of all deaths. In the United States, both heart disease and strokes account for over 40% of all adult deaths (Source: Natural News 2006). In 2006, there were over 450,000 coronary bypass surgeries performed in the United States and there were over two thousand heart transplant surgeries the following year. (Source: The Texas Heart Institute Heart Information Center). The risk for developing heart disease of any kind can depend on a number of factors, including:

The number of children and teens that are overweight or obese has more than tripled between the years of 1980 and 2004 (Source: Papalia, Olds and Feldman, 2008). While obesity is not restricted by gender, ethnicity or socio-economic status, there is a slightly increased risk for those who are of poorer families. Girls are more likely to be overweight than boys, and Hispanic and African American teens are slightly more likely to be obese than other races.