In Fighting Obesity, Are Calories, Carbohydrates or Fat Grams the Enemy - Research Paper Example

? "In Fighting Obesity, are Calories, Carbohydrates or Fat grams the enemy?" Introduction Medical advances enable individuals to have a longer life expectancy and to combat diseases that were once proven cause of mortality. Innovation in medicines and medical technologies provide a tool to physicians to alleviate the chronic conditions of the patients and enhance their survival rate. Although in United States healthcare system is the most pricey in the world, still reports reveal that much of the situations are related with chronic medical conditions. A distressing inclination display an increase in the cases of overweight and obesity amongst the U.S. population (Dietz, 2009). Research studies reveal that obesity is found to be associated with numerous chronic health states counting diabetes, stroke, heart diseases, high blood pressure (Glied, 2003). The number is increasing constantly and thereby obesity does not come alone but in association with other chronic conditions, radically enhancing the cost of healthcare. In order to afford the essential therapeutic concern and management, it requires to deal with comorbid states, resulting in the financial burden on the nation as well as deficit in upcoming healthcare endowment. Besides, an augmenting demands of health care facilities is observed, hence a complicated situation is portrayed. A more wide-ranging interdisciplinary research is required to have an insight to understand the situation (Glied, 2003). As obesity has emerged as an issue that is engulfing the well-being of individuals of the present epoch and is rising as an epidemic in the United States of America. The incidence of obesity amongst adults has become two fold in past couple of decades intensifying the health concern and related issues of the inhabitants (Flegal, 2010). Obesity condenses eminence of life, enhances the probability of untimely death, augments the jeopardy for numerous persistent diseases, related to heart such as coronary heart disease, hypertension, other related disorders like high cholesterol levels, sleep apnea, overweight resulting in orthopaedic problems, early signs of puberty in case of obese kids, reduced life expectancy, stroke, obesity enhances the possibilities of witnessing Type 2 diabetes, elevated BMI, cancer, arthritis, metabolic disorders and other related anomalies (US Department of Health and Human Services: The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Obesity). Obesity not only brings concern about health, but it adds to the financial burden too. Obesity augments the health care costs. Estimates reveal that obesity accounts for approximately 10% of yearly medical expenses, increasing the obesity-associated medical costs to $147 billion in 2008 (Finkelstein. 2009). Obesity has reached an alarming position in USA, and two well distinguished categories have been demonstrated namely obese and extreme obese. Findings disclose that over one-third adults of United States are found to be obese during the year 2007–2008 (Flegal, 2010). According to The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), the incidence of obesity in the United States could be estimated by means of data for height to weight ratio. The prevalence rate of obesity displays that there was a steady increase in obesity equally in both the sexes belonging to all ages from 1976 -1980 to 1988-1994. On the other hand, the trend in obesity augmentation between 1988-1994 and 1999-2000 was significant in other ages except for the males belonging to the age between 40 to 59 years. While data analysis from 2001-2002 to 2003-2004 recommended escalating trends since 1999-2000 in males and not in females (Ogden, 2006).? Obesity trends also varies between the ethnic and racial communal groups which is displayed by means of BMI, a helpful tool to measure obesity for the examination and comparison of the obesity and to procure data in a standard format across the world as BMI indicates the percentage of body fat (Bouchard, 2008). Causes of Obesity As described by Glied, (2003), eating habits and consumption of large quantity of calorific food by an individual with little physical activities or work output leads to the accumulation of the calories. An obese child turns out to be an obese adult and therefore, an appropriate discipline is desired in the life cycle of adults and children, i.e. the entire family. The triggering factors to eat more could be varied, starting from loneliness to eating discipline. Observation reveals that children are becoming dependent on fast food which are readymade, easy to cook, tempting and pleasing to tongue. Since both the partners are working their children also look for the easy options to satisfy their hunger pangs (Rosenheck, 2008). Junk food items are rich in calories, the process of preparing junk food also destroy the vitamins and minerals of the ingredients which might be pleasing to tongue but possess diminished food value. Observation reveals that if high calorific food is consumed even in small amount it leads to obesity as compared to the individuals who consume a lot of low calorific or low energy food (What Can We Do To Fight Obesity?). Sedentary life style is always associated with weight gain (Jacobs, 2006). Besides sedentary life, luxury in transport has left little room for walking or any physical outputs. People are more involved in desk jobs in contrast to the physical jobs encompassing farming or mining, which were preferred jobs a few decades earlier. Individuals are more dependent on exercise equipments such as treadmills rather than running which leaves little scope to burn their calories and development of muscles become negligible. Moreover, people are less aware about being healthy and benefits of possessing good health; it is added by ample of eatable items in a decorative manner, tempting one to taste single piece and progressively this becomes a regular practice and aids in obesity. Appealing advertisements are also responsible to try new dishes to satisfy taste buds which contributes to obesity. Even though food items are low in calories but their gradual consumption also leads to accumulation of calories in the body, which if not burned or consumed, turn out to be responsible for gradual buildup of body mass and hence cause obesity (What Can We Do To Fight Obesity?). Other factors which are responsible for causing obesity are certain routine habits such as smoking and alcohol consumption. As these entities enhance the cortisol levels, which is responsible for increase in fat storage and muscle burning, they should be eliminated from the habits (What Can We Do To Fight Obesity?). Not only the amount of food intake plays a crucial role but, the content of the food is also imperative. Food rich in fats encompassing butter and oil, such as fried food is said to be rich in calories but besides fats, other food items rich in carbohydrates such as sweets (containing sugar), also put alarming situation for individuals consuming such food items in high quantity and eventually they lead to the condition of obesity. The present article deals with the importance of food content which are of paramount significance in fighting obesity, the role played by the food items encompassing carbohydrate, calories and fat grams, must be understood because high content of these basic ingredients are responsible for the obesity. A gradual consumption of high calories than required by the body is responsible for the accumulation of calories, turning the excess calories to fats and hence contributing towards obesity. Fighting Obesity- Carbohydrate, Calories & Fat Grams The Enemy? "Carbs" or carbohydrates are considered as diet wrecker and larger foe than fat. However, carbohydrate are energy molecules which burn to give energy. Sugars are considered as simple carbohydrates, glucose is the simplest one. Pure sugar raise the blood sugar level leading to the condition of "sugar high", when the level goes down then it is the condition of "sugar blues" (The Truth About Carbohydrates). Carbohydrate is one of the major nutrients besides proteins and fats. Carbohydrates are required to meet the energy requirement of the body. Initially it was thought that the sugar is responsible for hyperactivity in children which is now proved to be false. Sugar intake is not related with the diabetes, this contradicts the initial thoughts. Diabetes is a condition that is hereditary and possess little relationship with the amount of sugar intake. However, being overweight enhances the chances of contracting diabetes. Association of sugar with dental caries is true because sugar causes cavities and carbohydrates are associated with the tooth decay, as starch molecules adhere to the enamel and provide sufficient time for bacterial attack, initially bacteria attack food particles and gradually they attack the adjoining tooth. On the other hand, carbohydrates also contain fiber (the indigestible part). This aids in eliminating the toxin producing bacteria from the body (The Truth About Carbohydrates). Calories are considered to be fattening whereas carbohydrates are not. In terms of energy production, carbohydrate and protein gives four calories per gram while the fat provides nine calories per gram. Protein possess neurochemical effect and one feels satisfied after consuming proteins. Under the condition of starvation fats are converted to carbohydrates which are then used to generate energy (Carbs: the good, the bad and the ugly). Why Is It Important To Fight Obesity? Obesity in United States has taken the form of an epidemic and therefore it is imperative to fight the condition on priority basis, not only to induce good health but also to prevent the onset of dreaded diseases in the society. Physical ailments are distressing and take away the mental well being of the individual leading to psychological predicaments. Essentially, fighting the condition of obesity is the priority to prevent the creation of detrimental, unattractive and pricey society which squanders too much money on excess food as well as processed food. As with time, health care costs are mounting, together with the cost of processed or fatty food an awareness should be generated in the mob towards healthy eating (What Can We Do To Fight Obesity?). Calories, Fats Or Carbohydrates, How Diet Works? Consumption of low calorific diet encompassing low-fat diet and low-carbohydrate diet could be a step towards fighting obesity. However, carbohydrate restricted diet (such as Atkins) could be helpful. However, consumption of such restricted diet alone could not be a help, besides, reasons apart from diet also share responsibility for healthy life, such as genotype of the individual, tendency to gain weight, sedentary life style, lack of physical output. These parameters must be set to be healthy and accordingly diet has to be manipulated. If the lifestyle is sedentary it is essential to control the weight through diet. Incorporation of Atkins which reduce the weight at double speed and thus keeps the body fit and also improves the condition of heart, thereby minimizing the risk factors of heart attack and stroke which are otherwise prevailing amongst the obese individuals. The nutrition component of the diet should be modified on the basis of the lifestyle and other habits. Thus, one rule cannot be applied for all, some may restrict themselves to low-carb diet while others on the basis of low-fat diet to keep their weight under check. One must not get carried away by what means others have adopted to reduce weight or with the false advertisements but should plan out the lifestyle together with the diet (Calories, fat or carbohydrates? Why diets work (when they do)). Conclusion Although most of the surgeons and scientists do not support the view that obesity is a disease. According to the Rick Berman of Center for Consumer Freedom, "That's not a disease, that's something that's within the control of everyone. And for us to now shift this over to say ... it's society's responsibility is a real sorry day for this country" (America's Obesity Problem Spurs Debate). According to environmental campaigner, John Gibbons, “much like burning coal, processed foods laden with salt, sugar and fats are only cheap as long as you don’t have to pay to clean up the mess, and society, rather than the producers and polluters, continues to pick up the tab” (Debate on Obesity Our view: Hooked on junk food). Obesity has reached an alarming situation in United States, it is taking more severe form as compared to the flu or any other disease condition. Parental obesity is transmitted to children and childhood obesity is potentially more dangerous as compared to the adult obesity. As a responsible individual, it is essential to create healthier society which is devoid of dreaded diseases and for this it is essential to fight obesity not only by means of diet control but also with the help of lifestyle interventions and by adopting diet that matches the lifestyle. References America's Obesity Problem Spurs Debate. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,107100,00.html. (Provides a view about the awareness of the Americans regarding Obesity) Bouchard, C. (2008). How much progress have we made over the last few decades? Int J Obes (Lond). 32(suppl 7), S2–S7. (Provides a view about the progress that has been made in the direction of understanding obesity) Calories, fat or carbohydrates? Why diets work (when they do). (n.d.) Retrieved from http://garytaubes.com/2010/12/calories-fat-or-carbohydrates/ (Provides a view that intake of appropriate amount of food is essential for the health of the individual. It matters a lot what one is eating and in what qualntity ) Carbs: the good, the bad, and the ugly. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/13802613/ns/today-today_health/t/carbs- good- bad-ugly/ (Provides the view that its not all the carbohydrates are good or bad but there are different categories of these essential food items which are responsible for the health and well being and therefore must be consumed appropriately) Debate on Obesity Our view: Hooked on junk food. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2010-03-31- editorial31_ST1_N.htm. (Proponents of obesity always have their view point to support them) Dietz, W.H., Benken, D.E., Hunter, A.S. (2009). Public Health Law and the Prevention and Control of Obesity. The Milbank Quarterly, 87(1), 215-227. (Provides the view about the concern of the people about the obesity) Finkelstein, E.A., Trogdon, J.G., Cohen, J.W., Dietz, W. (2009). Annual medical spending attributable to obesity: payer-and service-specific estimates. Health Aff. 28(5), w822–w831. (Provides the view that obesity not only implicates health and well being but also is a financial burden on the nation) Flegal, K.M., Carroll, M.D., Ogden, C.L., Johnson, C.L. (2010). Prevalence and trends in obesity among US adults, 1999–2008. JAMA, 303(3), 235–241. (Provides a deep insight about the prevailing trends in the lifestyle and interventions that are responsible for the augmentation of obesity in the nation) Glied, S. (2003). Healthcare Costs: On the Rise Again. The Journal of Economic Perspectives, 17(2), 125-148. (Provides the view about health care burden due to obesity) Jacobs, D. R. (2006). Fast food and sedentary lifestyle: a combination that leads to obesity. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 83(2), 189-190. (Provides an understanding how sedentary lifestyle is responsible for the obesity and its prevalence) Ogden, C.L., Carroll, M.D., Curtin, L.R., McDowell, M.A., Tabak, C.J., Flegal, K.M. (2006). Prevalence of overweight and obesity in the United States, 1999- 2004. JAMA, 295(13), 1549–1555. (Provides the view about the trend that persisted in the nation over the decades and to what extent there is a rise in obesity) Rosenheck, R. (2008). Fast Food Consumption and increased caloric intake: a systematic review of a trajectory towards weight gain and obesity risk. Obesity Reviews. 1-13. (Provides the view about the impact of consumption of fast food) The Truth About Carbohydrate. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/how-nutrition-works2.htm. (Provides an insight about the carbohydrate and its role in diet of the individual) US Department of Health and Human Services: The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Obesity." Rockville, MD: US Department of Health and Human Services, US Public Health Service, Office of the Surgeon General; 2001. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/obesity/calltoaction/CalltoAction.pdf. (Provides an insight about the Government measures and concern about the prevalence of obesity in the nation) What Can We Do To Fight Obesity. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/topicoftheweek71.htm (Provides an insight about the importance of fighting obesity and what measures need to be taken to overcome this critical issue) Read More