The Affects of Unhealthy Eating on the British Population - Essay Example

The Affects of Unhealthy Eating on the British Population The affects of an unhealthy, unbalanced diet is a growing epidemic globally. The United Kingdoms is not immune to this widespread health problem. This research paper intends to take a closer look at the citizens in particular of Stockton and how their diets are affecting their lives and health. In particular, obesity both in children and adults is on the rise. The effects of obesity range from poor physical appearance to staggering health complications. The British government has recognized this growing problem and has responded by setting forth some guidelines for food choices and calorie consumption. These guidelines are intended to educate individuals on healthy eating and better food choices and portion sizes. This paper will examine some of those guidelines. Part of the problem lies with individuals taking responsibility for their eating habits and adhering to these guidelines. “It is a unanimously accepted and widely condemned fact that the population of the world, in the prosperous regions at least, is getting fatter. Obesity, usually linked with declining levels of physical activity, is often cited as the single greatest cause of unnecessary death and disease” (Gard, Wright, 2004). It is also important to expand one’s knowledge of the risks of an unhealthy diet and obesity. In the case of individuals who are 30lbs or more overweight, their chances of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, arthritis, gastrointestinal disorders, hypertension and heart disease are raised exponentially. Not to mention, obesity causes depression, fatigue, irritability, low self esteem, sleep apnea, joint pain and many other uncomfortable circumstances. Several factors are contributing to the epidemic of obesity. One problem that has taken the United States by storm is the increasing number of fast food chains. In every city in America, as well as European cities, fast food chains are lining every street corner. The food that is offered is quick and inexpensive. This makes it therefore quite convenient and popular. In today’s throbbing society, families are so busy with the demands of life that taking time out for good nutrition is not a priority. The easy solution of a quick stop meal at the local fast food chain seems to be the easiest way to have dinner for many. The problem with this is that fast food is not only incredibly high in calories; it is also high in serving portions and preservatives. Although American culture is infamous for their affinity for fast food, the UK is not far behind in the fast food after math: “The official company history says that McDonald’s does not modify its way of doing business to adapt to foreign cultures, but changes local cultures to meet its own needs” (Debres, 2005). This is essentially a fast food restaurant that is doing global damage with its incredibly poor nutrition standards. A recent film was produced by filmmaker Morgan Spurlock called Supersize Me. It detailed the astounding health hazards that can be brought on by a consistent fast food diet. Spurlock underwent a 30 day McDonalds’ diet and in addition to gaining 20% of his body weight, he found himself with elevated cholesterol, elevated liver enzymes, and an overall feeling of depression. This film raised quite a bit of awareness to the woes of fast food and junk food consumption. It is a well known fact that children are a product of their environment. If a child lives in a household where the normal menu consists of high sugar and high fat foods, when that child begins making his/her own food choices, those food choices will most likely be similar to the diet provided for the child by the parents. Eating habits are learned behaviors that start at home. If a child is accustomed to poor health and nutrition, chances are that that child will have a very difficult time breaking those habits when he/she is older. In addition, if a child grows up in a home where physical activity is limited, that child will not only be less healthy than a more physically active child but also grow up to be a less active adult. When physical activity is maintained, even a diet which includes sugary or fatty snacks in moderation can be balanced out. Physical activity is imperative to burn excess calories, maintain normal body weight, maintain healthy cardiovascular functions and maintain an overall sense of well being. “One of the most worrying threats to public health and life quality as we start the next millennium, is obesity” (Fox, Edmunds, 2000). Childhood obesity in developed countries has grown to pandemic proportion leading to a generation of overweight and disease ridden adults. It is vital to provide children with proper diet and nutrition information at an early age both at home and in school. When the parents and schools work closely together to meet this goal, there will be less of a bleak future for this generation. Some of the changes that can be made in a child’s diet that is not meeting nutritional standards is the increase of fruits and vegetables with a reduction in sugar and saturated fat consumption: “Like many adults, British children are typically eating less than half the recommended five portions of fruits and vegetables a day” (British Nutrition Foundation). In order to understand what is essential for health but also what is not healthy, we will need to study the food guide pyramid. This pyramid is established by the USDA but is also observed by the UK. This pyramid essentially consists of all the food groups with vegetables and whole grains as the base and sugary, fatty snacks as the very pinnacle. What this means is that one should be consuming a larger amount of leafy, green vegetables and whole grains than any other food. In addition, one should eat less fat filled and sugary foods than any other type of food. The problem is that many individuals are doing the opposite. They are consuming large amounts of sugary, fatty foods and not getting enough exercise. This is precisely what leads to obesity. According to standards set by the USDA and followed British health professionals and government officials, one should stick to a diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruits, low fat dairy products, lean meat and legumes. There is not an exact caloric intake requirement for everyone. It is truly a matter of what each individual’s specific needs are. A small framed woman working in an office does not need the same number of calories as a larger framed woman doing physical labor all day. A calorie is a measure of energy and food provides just that, energy. In addition to including the above foods in one’s diet, it is important to minimize or exclude foods that are high in trans- fats, sugar, cholesterol and sodium. These foods are all part of an unhealthy diet that can lead to obesity and health problems. It is one thing to provide the information as to what one should do as far as health and fitness are concerned, but it is entirely another for people to follow this guideline. This is absolutely where the problem lies and this is also why obesity is on the rise. People are simply not following the healthy advice they are given. In taking a look at specific statistics that reflect the obesity problem in the United Kingdom, “Around 43 % of men and 33% of women are overweight, and a further 22% of men and 23% of women fall into the obese category, this means that over half of the population is overweight!”( http://www.stop-smoking-stay-slim.com/obesity-statistics.html). Another staggering statistic is that for every eleven individuals that die in the UK, one of those deaths is attributed to being overweight. In the case of childhood obesity, “According to the WHO (world wide health organization), the number of under 5’s suffering from childhood obesity worldwide is a staggering 22 million!” (http://www.stop-smoking-stay-slim.com/childhood-obesity-statistics.html). These numbers are only increasing unfortunately. These children that suffer from childhood obesity are growing up to become obese adults and therefore living shorter, less productive lives. In conclusion, better education in the area of nutrition and exercise are paramount. Children need to be educated not only in the schools but in their homes by their parents and family members on the benefits of good nutrition and exercise. Examples need to be set by the parents; healthy active lifestyles in the parents are going to then reflect in the waistlines of the children. Works Cited: Gard, Michael, Wright, Jan, 2004, The Obesity Epidemic: Science, Morality and Ideology, London, Routledge Publications Debres, Karen, 2005, Burgers for Britain: A Cultural Geography of McDonalds’ UK, Journal of Cultural Geography vol.22 Fox, Kenneth, Edmunds, Laurel D., 2000, Understanding the World of the “Fat Kid”:Can Schools Help Provide a Better Experience?, Reclaiming Children and Youth vol.9 http://www.nutrition.org.uk/home.asp?siteId=43§ionId=s http://www.thehealthierlife.co.uk/article/3181/dietary-guidelines.html http://www.mypyramid.gov/ http://www.annecollins.com/obesity/uk-obesity-statistics.htm http://www.stop-smoking-stay-slim.com/obesity-statistics.html http://www.stop-smoking-stay-slim.com/childhood-obesity-statistics.html Read More