By PANA CHANG

The Mirror reporter

According to NBC News, “the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that almost 40 percent of American adults and nearly 20 percent of adolescents are obese- the highest rates ever recorded for the U.S.”

Obese or overweight is medically defined as having a BMI of 30 or above. Having a BMI of 30 and above means being 30 pounds above what is considered a normal weight.

Today Americans have phones that will allow them to download apps to help them keep track of their diet and exercise routine. MyFitnessPal, for example, is a free smartphone app that tracks a person’s diet and exercise to help determine a person’s calorie and nutrient intake.

Another app is Fitbit. It’s used with a wearable activity tracker. The app can use a person’s smartphone sensors as a pedometer to record steps taken daily.

Fitstar works as a personal digital training coach. The exercise is adjustable to the individual’s physical capabilities.

According to NBC News, “70.7 percent of Americans are either overweight or obese.”

An unhealthy diet and lack of exercise can lead to obesity, but sleep deprivation is also another possible reason. According to the Institute of Medicine, “An estimated 50 million to 70 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders or sleep deprivation.”

Consequences of being obese may include high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke, killing millions of Americans and making up $190 billion a year in weight-related medical bills.

Other than apps that can be downloaded on phones there are also programs that help with weight loss, such as Weight Watchers diet. Weight Watchers allows you to follow a plan online. You can keep track of your own food choice and exercise.

Plans for how to lose weight may vary for each person depending on what it is they want to achieve.