In the modern world, many health complications have been identified. Scientific research on how to treat and control such conditions is an ongoing process on a daily basis. One of the sensitive and controversial conditions being addressed today is obesity. A contracting perception had been created in the ancient times where obesity was associated with wealth and fertility. A large population still holds onto this vague view especially in developing countries such as those in Africa and some parts of Asia. In developed countries such as the USA, the public is generally educated on this sensitive topic. Obese people have been victims of bullying and discrimination by others who perceive the ideal body weight as the complete opposite to what many think. Obesity is not defined by a person who is overweight neither is it defined by the amount of body fat. Obesity is a chronic condition in which the continued accumulation of body fat results in health complications. The accurate scientific measurement to identify whether or not one is obese is the Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is a mathematical ratio which is calculated by dividing the weight of a person by the height squared. An index in the range of 18.5-24.9 is indicates the ideal weight. For an adult of 35 years and older, an index greater than 30 indicates obesity (Gunnars, 2017).
According to Twarog (2016), recorded cases of obesity have been on the rise reaching epidemic proportions in the USA especially in adults. Jerry states that more than two-thirds of the American adults are obese. Children have also been falling victim at a dramatic rate. The cases of obesity also doubled in the early 1900’s. Researchers and health practitioners have identified different causes that lead to obesity. The main causes identified are related to the body mechanism in terms of nutrient-intake and inactivity or the energy expenditure. The ideal weight will, therefore, be attained after a perfect balance between the two. Many disastrous effects related to obesity have also been published. This paper aims to discuss in detail the causes and effects of being obese.
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Causes of Obesity
Diet and Eating Habits
Large amounts of calorie-intake is the leading cause of obesity (Alston & Okrent, 2017). The metabolic rate allows the body to shed off some amounts of energy in the normal routines of daily life. Some energy is later stored for later use in form of fat. Intake of foods high in calories compels the body to store large amounts of fat in the body. Some of these foods include sweetened beverages and potato chips. Some techniques such as placing nutrition fact labels on food packaging raises awareness to consumers on the calories content on their food choices. Laws such as the U.S farm bill have enabled subsidization of healthier food options such as wheat, corn, and soy. More effort still needs to be put in place to educate people on better eating habits ( WHO, 2017).
Physical Inactivity and Lifestyle
Health practitioners mainly stress on the importance of physical activity because of the effectiveness of averting complications such as obesity. Physically active people burn off more calories and therefore their chances of being obese (Meyer, 2017). Studies have indicated a shift in the modern lifestyle where people are less active even in their careers. Use of homes appliances have made household chores less demanding physically. The mode of transportation is another instance where people generally prefer to use different means to get to their destination rather than walking. Watching television and playing video games are other lifestyle routines that greatly increase the chances of obesity.
Genetics, Illnesses and Midlife Weight Gain
The body is composed of different hormones that play crucial role in its normal functioning. For instance, different hormones come into play when controlling the appetite and metabolism rate. Any imbalance or deficiency in such a hormone causes raises the risk of infection. Leptin is a hormone that sends signal to the brain to consume less food when there is already too much fat in the body (Kazaks & Stern, 2013). A miscommunication or a deficiency in this hormone could lead to increased appetite and consequently lead to obesity. Older adults are also at a higher risk of being obese especially women who are in their menopause stage. Some physical and mental illnesses also the raise the risk of obesity in adults. Some of these conditions include Cushing’s syndrome, hypothyroidism and growth hormone deficiency. Involuntary eating disorders contribute largely on bringing about obesity. Medication such as steroids and antidepressants used to treat these conditions also aggravate the condition of obesity (Twarog, 2016).
Effects of Obesity
The main effects brought about by obesity are related to the health of an individual. However, there are more effects brought about by discrimination and stigmatization. Victims of discrimination due to their weight could regard themselves as social misfits and outcasts. The end result leads to the lowering of their self-esteem and poor social interaction. Cases of attempted suicide and voluntary body harm have been witnessed due to such discrimination ( Rippe, 2017). There is a wide range of health complications brought about by diabetes. Diabetes, type 2 is one of the conditions. Other complications include difficulty in breathing due to shortness of breath. Accumulation of high-fat content around the heart and blood vessels also increases the chances of heart attacks as well as other pulmonary conditions such as stroke and varicose veins (Brownell & Walsh, 2017). Some types of cancers have been closely linked with obesity. They include breast cancer, prostate and colon cancer in both genders. Other health complications are flat feet, abdominal hernia, and osteoarthritis of the knees and hips ( Hammond & Levine, 2010).
Conclusion
Obesity has been a sensitive topic in many discussions. There has been good effort by all health practitioners and stakeholders such as the government to sensitize the general public to respond in the right way by adapting active lifestyle and improving their eating habits. The public should also shun away from all acts of discriminating obese people. Obesity has been on the rise in both the children as well as adults. However, with the continued effort by all players, such cases will be on the decline soon.
References
Brownell, K., & Walsh, T. (2017). Eating disorders and obesity (3rd ed.). New York: The Giulford Press.
Kazaks, A., & Stern, J. (2013). Nutrition and obesity . Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Meyer, D. (2017, October 13). Here's Why America's Obesity Epidemic Is Just Getting Worse. Fortune . Retrieved 13 November 2017, from http://fortune.com/2017/10/13/obesity-in-america/
Alston, J., & Okrent, A. (2017). The effects of farm and food policy on obesity in the United States . New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan.
Rippe, J. (2017). Nutrition in Lifestyle Medicine . Cham: Springer International Publishing.
WHO (2017). Obesity and Overweight . Retrieved 13 November 2017, from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs311/en/
Twarog, J. (2016). Is obesity becoming the new normal? Age, gender and racial/ethnic differences in parental misperception of obesity as being ‘About the Right Weight’. International Journal of Obesity , 40 (7), 1051-1055. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2016.40
Gunnars, K. (2017). 10 Leading Causes of Weight Gain and Obesity (Besides Willpower) . Health line . Retrieved 13 November 2017, from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-causes-of-weight-gain
Hammond, R., & Levine, R. (2010). The economic impact of obesity in the United States. Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome, and Obesity: Targets and Therapy , 2010 (3), 285-295. http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/dmsott.s7384
