Obesity in the United States - Essay Example

Obesity in the United States Abstract Numerous studies have shown that the incidence of obesity has been increasing around the world in recent years. Studies also suggest that obesity prevalence in the United States of America has been going up by nearly 50 percent each decade since 1980 (Ford et al., 2011). Obesity presents the United States of America with serious public health and life expectancy threats. While there are people who hold the view that obesity does not pose serious health risks to people because it does not necessarily impair normal body functioning, medical research has shown that indeed obesity pose serious health threat and undermines the overall wellbeing of any society. According to NIH (2005), the condition threatens both the health of the affected people as well as their productivity. This will eventually have dire social and economic consequences to the country as government and household expenditures on obesity-related illnesses and complications will increase. It is therefore necessary to emphasize on the importance of preventing obesity and mitigating its effects. There is need for combined efforts by health players in the country and the public in order to combat obesity and its effects. Introduction Numerous studies have shown that incidence of obesity has been increasing around the world in recent years. The World Health Organization (WHO) has termed Obesity as a worldwide epidemic and cautions that the prevalence of diseases is on the rise because of obesity. According to WHO (2008) obesity is defined as the excessive accumulation of fat in the body of a person that may lead or result to health impairment. WHO points out that the facts about obesity are worrying and its consequences pose serious health threat to a large proportion of the world’s population; the organization notes that from 1980, the incidence of obesity in the world has more than doubled. Its findings indicate that by the year 2008, close to 300 million women and more than 200 million men over the age of twenty years were obese. Studies suggest that obesity prevalence in the United States has been going up by nearly 50 percent each decade since 1980 (Ford et al., 2011). It is estimated that obesity leads to over 300,000 deaths in the United States every year. This situation is attributed to the diseases associated with obesity such as various strains of cancer, heart diseases and type 2 diabetes, which not only decrease lifespan but may cause deaths (National Institutes of Health (NIH), 2005). Obesity poses serious threat to human health and overall wellbeing of the United States’ population. This paper will argue and show how obesity poses health threats to the people of the United States and why it is necessary to address this challenge. The fact that obesity is becoming an increasing public health concern in the United States and consequently posing serious threat of poor health among the United States population is incontestable. Before looking at the threats posed by obesity in the United States, it is critical to look at the main causes of obesity in the country. Centre for Disease Control (CDC) (2012) explains that increase in the obesity prevalence in the United States can be attributed to a number of factors. It cites dietary as one of the main causes of obesity. In many households in the United States, food is not considered just as a source of nourishment but as a source of pleasure as well (Mermin and Graff, 2009). As such, majority of the American citizens tend to consume large quantity of food. In addition, the situation is attributed to majority of the American people consuming carbonated drinks, dairy products, and highly caloric food (NIH, 2005). Sedentary habits and lack of exercise among Americans has also been cited as a major factor contributing to the rising obesity prevalence in the country. Technological advancements have enabled people to perform tasks in the comfort of the homes and in the offices and are therefore unable to engage in physical activities, or lack time to engage in exercises (Hu, 2008). In most cases, people work behind computers the whole day with little or no break at all. Sedentary habits are prominent among children than among adults. Situation might escalate in the future as most children are adopting sedentary habits and tend to spend most of their times especially during the weekends and holidays playing video games and watching television. Fewer adults and children participate in sports activities and other exercise activities because of either lack of time or their unwillingness to do so (Ford et al., 2011). Developmental factors particularly among the children have contributed to the increase of obesity prevalence. Commitments to other responsibilities have made mothers to have insufficient time with their children and as a result, many children are not sufficiently breast- fed thus not cushioned against the possibility of obesity in their childhood as well as in their future. Medical research has shown that appropriate development considerations among them breastfeeding considerably minimizes the possibility of obesity (Mermin and Graff, 2009). Poor child growth and development has been blamed for the high prevalence of obesity among the current population. Medical factors such as Cushing’s syndrome and psychological factors such as stress and depression are the other factors that affect individual development and can also increase the chances of obesity both for children and adults. Besides, obesity may be caused by genetics; just like some other medical conditions, obesity is due to environmental and genetic interplay. Genes in some individuals have polymorphisms that control appetite and metabolism and therefore predispose these individuals to obesity (Hu, 2008). While the American people are predisposed by the same factors that cause obesity like people in other parts of the world, studies have shown that the lifestyle and habits of American people tend to increase their chances of being obese. This is a matter that has been of great concern among medical practitioners and policy makers in the health sector. NIH (2005) notes that medical studies show that if the challenge of obesity and overweight as well as their underlying causes is not addressed, these conditions will pose serious and dire threat to the health of the America population, as well as their overall wellbeing. Both the short and long- term effects of obesity are devastating especially in respect to life expectancy in the United States and obese people’s general health (Mermin and Graff, 2009). The threats posed by obesity range from serious illnesses to reduced productivity among the affected persons. The condition is associated with a number of illnesses which if not checked on time may result to illnesses that may ultimately lead to early death. The illnesses associated with obesity include type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), and hypertension among others (Ford et al., 2011). Moreover, health risks emanating from obesity go beyond the potential illnesses and affect the affected person’s breathing, energy levels, moods, sleep, and their productivity. Additionally, these health risks tend to negatively impact on psychology of obese people leading to isolation from others and low self- esteem, and a general decrease in their quality of life (Mermin and Graff, 2009). Both the adults and children are affected by obesity- related illnesses in almost equal measure. They are in risk of diseases such as obstructive sleep apnea, high blood pressure, certain types of cancer, type 2 diabetes, and heart diseases. Nonetheless, it is worth noting that chances of type 2 diabetes are higher among children and these portends serious challenges about the health of the American population in the future. More worse is the fact that illnesses arising from obesity have more negative effects on children than on adults because adults can accept their situations easily thus not overly affecting their moods, self- esteem, and relationships (Hu, 2008). Obesity threatens to reduce the overall lifespan of Americans’ present and future generation. CDC (2012) warns that unless swift, drastic and radical measures are formulated and implemented urgently, lifespan in the United States would reduce drastically. The effects of obesity in the United States have become more evident in recent years than ever before. The condition has become one of the leading causes of death that are preventable in the country thereby causing concerns about life expectancy (Mermin and Graff, 2009). It is no doubt that the impacts of obesity present very gloomy and threatening picture on health in the United States. It is estimated that 120,000 to 366, 290 deaths are caused by obesity- related complications and illnesses in the country. Investigation carried out by CDC shows that, obesity, on average, reduces lifespan of a person by about five to seven years on a lower scale of obesity, while on a higher scale by over 10 years (CDC, 2012). However, there are those who argue that obesity does not pose serious threat to health of Americans. Their view is informed by the argument that obesity does not necessarily harm or affect the normal body functioning as other conditions do (Woodward-Lopez, 2006). They argue that there are many obese people whose BMI is in the obesity range but are living normal lives and they are not physically impaired. They further argue that despite common belief that obesity shortens life expectancy, some obese people do not develop obesity-related diseases such as diabetes and they live long lives (Frugier, 2004). The view that obesity is not a threat to health of Americans is also supported by the argument that is does not have symptoms or signs like diseases have; excess fat is the only characteristic sign of the condition. It is also argued that the fact that obesity is preventable makes it not to be considered as a threat health of the American people. Besides, there are those who consider obesity as having positive health benefits such as reducing osteoporosis risk and increasing bone mass, and therefore the condition cannot be considered to pose serious threat to human health in the United States (Woodward-Lopez, 2006). It is important to point out that obesity being a non- communicable condition is largely preventable. Its causes can be for the most part avoided through supportive communities and environments. The environment and communities should be supportive in respect to facilitating frequent exercise activities such as sports and healthy dietary choices, ultimately, preventing obesity and its consequences (Mermin and Graff, 2009). Society should make healthy lifestyles desirable in addition to formulating and implementing policies that promote healthy lifestyles. This condition can also be prevented at the individual level; persons can prevent obesity by increasing vegetable and fruit consumption, limiting their sugar intake, engaging in physical activities regularly, and limiting intake of fats among other measures (Ford et al., 2011). Conclusion It is evidently clear that obesity presents the United States with serious public health and life expectancy threats. While there are those people who argue that obesity does not pose serious health risks to people because it does not necessarily impair normal body functioning, medical research has shown that indeed obesity pose serious health threat and undermines overall wellbeing of any society. The condition threatens both the health of the affected people and their productivity. This will eventually have dire social and economic consequences to the country as government and household expenditures on obesity-related illnesses and complications will increase. It is thus necessary to emphasize on the importance of preventing obesity and mitigating its effects. There is need for combined efforts by health players in the country and the public in order to combat obesity and its effects. Because obesity is largely preventable, preventive measures such as healthy- eating and physical activities should be encouraged. Prevention of this condition and its consequences will go a long way in ensuring that United States’ present and future generations enjoy long and productive lives. References CDC (2012). Overweight and Obesity. Retrieved on 22 November, 2012 from http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/ Ford, E et al. (2011). Trends in obesity and abdominal obesity among adults in the United States from 1999-2008. International Journal Of Obesity, 35(5), 736-743. Frugier, M. K. (2004). Childhood obesity in the United States. New York: Novinka Books. Hu, F. B. (2008). Obesity epidemiology. Oxford: Oxford University Press. National Institutes of Health (NIH). (2005). Obesity Threatens to Cut U.S. Life Expectancy. New Analysis Suggests. Retrieved on 22 November, 2012 from http://nih.gov/news/pr/mar2005/nia-16.html Mermin, S. E., & Graff, S. K. (2009). A Legal Primer for the Obesity Prevention Movement. American Journal Of Public Health, 99(10), 1799-1805. WHO. (2008). Obesity and Overweight. Retrieved on 22 November, 2012 from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs311/en/ Woodward-Lopez, G. (2006). Obesity: Dietary and developmental influences. Boca Raton, FL: CRC/Taylor & Francis. Read More