Overweight and Obesity As the National Health Problem - Research Paper Example

This research will begin with the statement that one of the greatest concerns for the American population is their deteriorating health. Most of the population eat unhealthy food and because of their busy schedules get lesser time to exercise and to plan their diet. These factors coupled with behavior, genetics, and environment result in obesity. According to the 2010 survey by Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index, 63.1% of the American adults were identified as either obese or overweight in 2009.

This was a slight 0.9% increase compared to the previous year results. The survey further divided the population into 36.6% overweight and 26.5% obese. People suffering obesity try to lose weight by applying short-time diets, while they turn out to be not only ineffective but harmful to their health. It has been observed that people who are obese have a greater chance of being diagnosed with other health issues such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and often encounter heart attacks at a younger age.

It was also an interesting find that a greater proportion of men (27.8%) were obese compared to women (25.2%). The body mass index (BMI), correlates with the amount of body fat and is a measure through which the obesity rates are calculated. Individuals having BMI values above 30 are characterized as “obese” while values ranging from 25 to 30 are classified as “overweight”. The above-mentioned survey used the respondent’s height and weight that they reported through the telephonic interviews.. (Ellen-Marie Whelan) Around 70 recommendations have been proposed by the White House Task Force to tackle childhood obesity.

This mainly encompasses health care, school meals and physical activity of the children. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) emphasize on improving nutrition labeling in fast food restaurants in order to inform the consumers of the nutrients they will be consuming. The “Childhood Obesity Demonstration Project” focuses on a personal grant that aims to give autonomy to community based intervention programs. (Ellen-Marie Whelan) Food availability within school plays a crucial role in enabling a healthy meal for the children and ensuring that funds are channeled to provide a nutritional diet at all times.

Children should be encouraged to engage in healthy activities after school and promote an atmosphere of healthy living. This can be done by providing physical education during school hours and encouraging children to participate in outdoor sports activities. Walking is the most effective source of curbing obesity. Children and adults should make it a habit to walk to and fro from their destinations. This will promote a healthy way of life and save up on huge costs of healthcare. Health promotion programs can make sure that employees are given healthy food choices and informed of choosing foods that are low in carbohydrates and calories but high in protein and fiber.

The “Health Risk Assessment” is a great way to analyze personal capabilities and limitations, thereby helping in the development of a personalized and safe exercise program. (Bates) Employers should incorporate such programs and motivate employees to make full