Obesity in Kuwait - Research Paper Example

Obesity in Kuwait According to a recent study by the Imperial College London, Harvard and the World Health Organization, Kuwait has ranked second in obesity, just behind United States (Study also incorporates BMI). This paper analyses the reasons for the obesity problems in Kuwait. Lack of physical workouts and junk food habits are the major cited reasons for the obesity problems among people. This is true in the case of Kuwaitis also. High income helps Kuwaitis to spend any amount of money for tasty foods.

In other words, income has definitely a direct relationship with the obesity problems in Kuwait. According to a study conducted by Zaghloul et al. energy intake among Kuwaitis is extremely more than what is actually required for a person. It was higher than the estimated energy requirements for almost half of Kuwaiti children and one-third of adults. The Estimated Average Requirement was exceeded by 78–100 % of the recommendation for protein and carbohydrates. It should be noted that majority of the energy drinks and foods contain excessive sugar and fat contents.

Sugar and fat are responsible for causing obesity. These food and drink items are extremely expensive compared to normal food and drink items. Only high income people will be able to spend money for these items. In other words, high income is causing obesity among Kuwaitis. Another reason for obesity among Kuwaitis is the globalization. It should be noted that globalization has brought many life style changes in this world. Because of globalization, it is easy for fast food chains to establish food outlets anywhere in the world.

Foreign direct investments are welcomed in almost all the countries because of globalization. As a result of that, global fast food companies such as KFC, McDonalds and Burger King are able to establish food outlets in any country at present. The case of Kuwait is not an exception. Because of globalization, a variety of fast food companies have already established restaurants in Kuwait. According to the arguments in the article “Is Globalization Making Us Fat” Social globalization, have a significant impact on obesity.

A social mismatch is there among the people because of globalization. This mismatch results in differences in the energy consumption levels of the people. In other words, physical and cultural environments are key elements behind obesity (Is Globalization Making Us Fat?). According to Kumiya et al.,(p.1027) in highland areas worldwide, socioeconomic globalization is progressing urbanization. This urbanization caused by socioeconomic globalization results in the development of transportation.

As a result of that, people get enough opportunities for transportation and hence they mobility has been reduced a lot. Lack of mobility or physical workout is another reason for the increased prevalence of obesity among people. To conclude, obesity in Kuwait is caused by high income of the people and the globalization. High income helped Kuwaitis to purchase expensive food items which are filled with high volumes of fat and sugar. On the other hand, globalization helped Kuwaitis to urbanize almost the entire corner of the country and thereby prevented Kuwaitis from getting enough mobility.

Works Cited Is Globalization Making Us Fat? IESE Insight. Second Quarter 2013, Issue 17, p10-10. Print Kumiya, Kiyohito; Ishine, Masayuki; Kasahara, Yoriko; Wada, Taizo; Sakamoto, Ryota; Kosaka, Yasuyuki; Ishimoto, Yasuko; Hirosaki, Mayumi; Kimura, Yumi; Fujisawa, Michiko; Otsuka, Kuniaki; Tan, Xiaoxia; Zhang, Hai; Zhao, Haijuan; Er, Wu; Yin, Shaoting; Matsubayashi, Kozo. “The effects of socioeconomic globalization on health and aging in highlanders compared to lowlanders in Yunnan, China, and Kochi, Japan”.

Ecological Research. Nov2011, Vol. 26 Issue 6, p1027-1038. Print“Study also incorporates BMI”. Arab Times. 30/03/2014. PrintZaghloul, Sahar; Al-Hooti, Suad N; Al-Hamad, Nawal; Al-Zenki, Sameer; Alomirah, Husam; Alayan, Iman; Al-Attar, Hassan; Al-Othman, Amani; Al-Shami, Entessar; Al-Somaie, Mona; Jackson, Robert T. Evidence for nutrition transition in Kuwait: over-consumption of macronutrients and obesity. Public Health Nutrition. Apr2013, Vol. 16 Issue 4, p596-607. Print