Obesity has become an epidemic in the United States. Do you know what it takes to get on the right track to losing weight? Take this quiz to test your knowledge on how to prevent becoming overweight or obese. Hint: some questions may have more than one correct answer!

1. How many calories must be burned before a pound of fat is lost?

a.) 500
b.) 1,500
c.) 2,500
d.) 3,500

2. The effects of obesity are similar to how many years of aging?

a.) 5
b.) 10
c.) 15
d.) 20 or more

3. What percentage of all Americans are overweight or obese?

a.) 25%
b.) 50%
c.) 65%
d.) None of the above

4. True or False: Each year, more American children die from conditions related to obesity than from gun violence.

5. How much do health care costs of American adults with obesity amount to each year?

a.) $100 billion
b.) $50 million
c.) $1 billion
d.) $25 million

6. If maintained, even weight losses as small as what percentage of body weight can improve one's health?

a.) 25 percent
b.) 10 percent
c.) 1 percent
d.) None of the above

7. When people are overweight or obese, they are more likely to develop health problems such as:

a.) Hypertension
b.) Type-2 diabetes
c.) Coronary heart disease
d.) Lung cancer

Answers

1. D. According to Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005, released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Agriculture Department, it's essential for people to increase their exercise and decrease their calories to lose weight. You need to burn off 3,500 calories to burn a single pound of fat.

2. D. Source: Roland Sturm, "The Effects of Obesity, Smoking and Drinking on Medical Problems and Costs," Health Affairs, March/April 2003 (UCLA/RAND Managed Care Center for Psychiatric Disorders)

3. C. Nearly two out of three (64.5 percent) U.S. adults are overweight or obese. (American Obesity Association, 2005)

4. True. Source: Surgeon General's Call to Action To Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity, 2003

5. A. Source: American Obesity Association, 2005

6. B. Even a small workout regimen a few days a week can help lead to this small percentage. (American Obesity Association, 2005)

7. A, B, C. The more overweight a person is, the more likely that person is to have health problems. Among people who are overweight and obese, weight loss can help reduce the chances of developing these health problems. (Department of Health and Human Services; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2005)