Affluence and Obesity Epidemic - Term Paper Example

Nutrition: Affluence and the obesity epidemic Overview The problem of excessive weight gain and obesity is increasingly becoming a major health concern worldwide. According to data provided by the world health organization, in 2005, there were approximately 1.6 billion overweight adults globally and of these, at least 400 million were obese. WHO has further forecasted that by 2015, the number of overweight will have reached 2.3 billion and of these, 700 million and above will be obese. Of even greater concern is the number of children that are increasingly becoming overweight and obese. In 2005 alone, the number of overweight children under the age of five stood at approximately 20 million and given the current trend of events, these figures are likely to increase despite the warnings given on the serious negative health implications that result from obesity (WHO,2006). This problem appears to be more rampant in affluent households as opposed to the low and middle income households, creating the impression that obesity could very well be a rich man’s disease (obesity rates). This aim of this paper is therefore to find out whether affluence is the primary contributing factor to obesity and excessive weight gain. Excessive Weight Gain and Obesity The World Health Organization has defined the terms overweight and obesity as an abnormal accumulation of fat, so much so that it becomes a risk to the health of a person. The distinction between overweight and obesity is that when one is overweight, they have a body mass index of 25 or more while obesity implies a body mass index of 30 and above (2006). Several factors have been attributed to this disorder: Calorie imbalance The number of calories in someone’s body usually determines obesity. When someone consumes excess calories and does not engage in activities that will sufficiently burn them off, then the result will be an energy imbalance. When the amount of calories going in are more than those going out then this means that some of it will be stored in the body as fat leading weight gain. If the excess intake of calories goes on for an extended period of time, the person becomes overweight and with time may become obese (CDC, 2008). This seems to lend credence to affluence as a contributing factor of obesity since well off people are the ones most likely to consume more food than they need because it is available to them in plenty. They are also more likely to purchase unhealthy luxury foodstuffs that have excess calories simply because they can afford them. Behavior If the environment that we live in does not encourage physical activity then chances are that one will gain weight. If for instance, one engages in sedentary behaviors such as spending the whole day sitting in front of the television set then this lack inaction means that the calories taken in are not burnt off thereby leading to weight gain (CDC, 2008). Excessive eating is also a contributing factor and couch potatoes have a tendency to overeat while not engaging in proper activity. These behaviors are more characteristic of an affluent person as a poor person cannot afford the luxury of overeating, much less watching television the whole day. Genetics Scientific research has shown that genes also have a role to play in excessive weight gain. One’s genetic makeup may mean that they have a lower metabolism or a higher affinity for fat. Susceptibility is increased if the genetically predisposed person engages in an unhealthy lifestyle as obesity is the outcome of both genes and lifestyle. Researchers have pointed out to the presence of a gene called the FTO gene whose variant causes obesity. One’s age, race and ethnicity has also been linked to their probability to be obese (Hitti, 2008). According to the Washington behavioral risk factor surveillance data, there are significant disparities in obesity when one considers these three factors. It was stated for instance, that nationally non Hispanic black females were at 5the highest risk of being obese. Obesity was also found to peak at the age 55-64 (Obesity rates). Contribution `to Knowledge The preceding research on the factors influencing overweight and obesity shows that there is a significant relation ship between affluence and obesity prevalence. This is because obese people seem to be surrounded with a calorie rich environment and their lifestyle is quite sedentary showing little if any signs of physical activity. Such a lifestyle can only be sustained by an affluent person. Low income people cannot possibly be surrounded by a calorie rich environment and engage in a lot of physical activity in their effort to earn a living. Genes have also been added as a significant contributing factor to weight gain, as is race and ethnicity. This is a significant enrichment to the body of knowledge as it shows that obesity can actually occur across the board depending on one’s sex, age or race. Blacks typically earn a lower income than whites but were found to be more obese thus the view that affluence primarily contributes to obesity may not be entirely correct (Obesity rates). The problem is thus increasingly appearing to be a matter of awareness. That people are increasingly adding weight does not mean that they are becoming richer but rather, that they are either not aware of the dangers of weight gain or are ignoring it. Excessive weight gain has serious consequences for the health not just of an individual but the nation as a whole. A proper obesity awareness program thus needs to be put in place so as to make people realize the dangers of their weight and inculcate the need to stop any excessive form of weight gain, whether it is brought about by genes or an unhealthy lifestyle. REFERENCES World Health Organization. (2006). Obesity and overweight Fact sheet no. 311. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. (2008) Overweight and obesity: Contributing factors. Department of Health and Human Services. 11 Dec 2008 Washington State Department of Health. (2004).Obesity rates in Washington state by sex, age, race/ethnicity and income. Hitti, Miranda. How the FTO obesity gene works. WebMD December 11 2008. Read More