Increase in Obesity in UK - Essay Example

Outline Introduction 2. Obesity Problems i. Definition ii. Statistical Results iii. Impact on Health 3. Causes of Obesity a. Behavior Dimensions i. Unhealthy Food ii. Advertising and Fast Food Industry b. Lack of Physical Activities 4. Prevention of Obesity a. Nutrition Solutions b. Physical Activities c. Promotion of Healthy Life Style d. Dietary Supplements: Chitosan 5. Conclusion Increase in Obesity in UK Introduction Eating is one of the most essential processes in human life which supplies human body with energy and mineral elements. Every epoch nation creates its own values and standards towards eating and eating habits based on cultural and economic perspectives. The beginning of the 21st century is marked by obesity problems and overweight affecting many nations and countries around the world. According to statistical results, there is an increase rate of obese people in the UK. Researchers single out different causes of obesity problems affected the UK population but all of them agree that changing life style and diet causes obesity and overweight. As a consequence of sedentary living habits and poor diet, a persons physical condition or endurance is relatively poor. Over time, obesity can instigate many adverse health problems such as heart disease, cancers, and premature death. Definition of Obesity and Statistical Results Following Gard and Wright (2004) Obesity can be explained as “weight at least 20% in excess of the range suggested in standard height weight tables” (p. 45) or a body mass index greater than 27. In spite of the fact that obesity affects all populations, it has become a problem for the UK nation caused by social and economic changes. According to recent statistical results: “the figures… show that the number of obese children aged 11 to 15 has almost doubled over the past ten years to reach a quarter of the population - increasing from 14 per cent to 24 per cent for boys and from 15 per cent to 26 per cent for girls” (Kirby 2006). Taking into account correlation between social factors and economic position of most UK citizens, it is possible to say that social and class location is a salient factor which causes obesity problems and unhealthy eating patterns. “The survey also showed that one in four adults is now considered obese. The number of obese men has almost doubled since 1993 - from 13 per cent to 24 per cent in 2004” (Kirby 2006). The significance of this problem can be explained by the fact that obesity becomes a primary cause of such diseases as II diabetes (about 80% of the obese population), cardiovascular disease, breast and colon cancer; gall bladder surgery, high blood pressure. In young age obesity can cause: sleep apnea, increased LDL cholesterol (Obesity: Third Report of Sessions 2004). Also, 60 % of obese children aged 5 to 10 years had at least one cardiovascular disease risk factor—such as elevated total cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin, or blood pressure—and 25 percent had two or more risk cardiovascular disease risk factors. It is important to note that obesity causes an extra 50,000 deaths among each year. These results show that child obesity is an epidemic which requires a special attention of the UK society, and prevention measures accepted on the governmental level. Statistical results and research studies suggest that obesity becomes a national problem which affected thousands citizens around the country (UK Obesity Statistics 2007). When contrasted with smoking and drinking, obesity at first seems like a less serious health problem. However, obesity is not only more hazardous than smoking and drinking, but it also leads to a higher cost for health care and medicine. Being obese not only causes physical health problems, but it can also cause psychological suffering as well. For example, a person is more likely to become reticent or belligerent as a consequence of an obese appearance. Young adults, especially women, feel societal pressure about the proper appearances, which may turn many women to eating disorders. In many cases of Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa, female patients often feel pressure because they cannot accept their appearances and eventually starve themselves to stay in shape. An eating disorder patient is more likely to think that it is imperative to stay slim and fit because overweight women often have "fewer dates, a lack of marriage opportunities, and diminished social success" (Gard, and Wright, 2004, p. 87). Behavior Dimensions Today, many families have a possibility to buy and eat healthier fat free food in contrast to low-income families which are used to buy lower-price fat saturated food. That is why more blue collars suffer form obesity than white collars. In addition, families with high income usually visit more expensive bars and restaurants where they order fat free dishes, but the popular place for low income people is fast food restaurants. The effect of fast food on risk of obesity is tremendous. Following “Pricing also make buying unhealthy food more attractive and economical than healthy alternatives; and food labeling, a key tool to help consumers choose healthy foods, is frequently either confusing or absent” (Obesity: Third Report of Sessions 2004). The UK citizens have unhealthy eating behavior caused by consuming of fat saturated food with high caloricity level. Limited physical activity and a sedentary lifestyle worsen this problem leading to obesity and obesity related problems. “Television viewing has doubled since the 1960s, while physical activity is being squeezed out of daily life by the relentless march of automation” (Obesity: Third Report of Sessions 2004). In the UK, many people do not realize health problems until their family doctor becomes conscious of such problems as high body mass index, high blood pressure or high cholesterol level. Obesity is a direct result of unhealthy eating patterns. As western pop culture is shipped abroad to sell western commodities, the problem went as well like unwanted freebies that are stuck and taped around a product. Many researchers underline the impact of school nutrition programs on child obesity epidemics. Most of them are heavy eating who pay no attention to quantity of food. Most of them eat three times more than an average person which results in obesity problems. Most of obese people suppose that fitness programs do not help them preferring to blame society in low morals and advertising agencies in misleading information. Most fast food restaurants popularize and promote unhealthy eating behavior which leads to obesity problems. “Amanda Eden, care adviser at Diabetes UK, said: "A firmer line needs to be taken to force the food industry to adhere to labeling guidelines so people know whats in the food they buy. They also need to ban junk-food advertising to kids and find more ways of encouraging people to exercise" (Kirby 2006). Most food proposed in fast food restaurants is fat saturated with high caloricity level. In spite of advertising efforts to promote health conscious menus or calorie free diet, hamburgers and fried potato are the most “dangerous” products sold by fast food. Social dimensions are manifested in the ability of mass media to control the circulation of ideas about body image and fashion. Most adverting campaigns which are aimed to promote fast food mislead and misinform people about it. Most advertisements appeal to emotions of consumers persuading them to eat fast food in order to save time and money. It provides potential consumers with human-centered behavior, inconsiderate of any outside consequences, short-term or long-term (Gard and Wright 2004). Lack of Physical Activities Limited physical activity and a sedentary lifestyle worsen this problem leading to obesity and obesity related problems. The most important fact is that many parents do not realize health problems until their family doctor becomes conscious of such problems as high body mass index of their children. Statistical results show that: “At the BMA’s annual representative meeting (2004) it was decided that nutrition and exercise in childhood needed to be revisited given the significant increases in childhood obesity” (Preventing childhood obesity 2005). Feeling of shame and guilt prevails among obese children caused by failures with diets and physical exercises. “Turning to the role of physical inactivity, only just over a third of men and around a quarter of women achieve the Department of Health’s target of 30 minutes of physical activity 5 times a week” (Obesity: Third Report of Sessions 2004). Prevention of Obesity Nutrition Solutions The report prepared by House of Commons (2004) proposes nutrition solution as one of the main methods which helps to overcome obesity problems on the national level. “The British consume the highest number of ready meals in Europe; snacking is up; eating out is up. These trends, driven by far reaching societal changes, are not ones that it would be possible or even necessarily desirable to attempt to reverse” (Obesity: Third Report of Sessions 2004). The strict government policies need to address all restaurants, specifically fast food chains, to devise guidelines that must be followed in their kitchens. This set of guidelines should promote a low calorie, low fat and low cholesterol way of preparing and cooking food. This program would likely take several years to implement and would get many restaurants owners in an uproar. Telling them what they can and can not use in their kitchens would likely make them feel like they had no freedom to choose their menu. This alternative, however, is less likely to happen due to time and money constraints (Debres, 2005). Physical Activities Primary prevention measures involve changes in life style of a child before signs of obesity related problems. This stage is aimed to reduce risk factors and lifestyle changes to reduce obesity risk. According to findings regular physical exercises are the most effective, safest and reliable way to improve one’s health as they allow to prevent undesirable weight gain by burning extra calories and fats. Also, healthy food with minimal fat-saturated elements and active life style help many people to avoid obesity problems. Weight gain across leisure time is the main primary preventive measure (Diet and Obesity in the UK n.d.). Following House of Commons (2004) recommendations: “Our witnesses stressed repeatedly that rather than promoting planned sport or active recreation, which might require life changes that were unsustainable, a far more useful and realistic aim was to increase activity levels within”. Promotion of Healthy Life Style Recent years, Social Health Policies is aimed to introduce preventive measure at schools in order to prevent obesity at its early stage. School-based interventions increase physical activity and decrease sedentary behavior patterns. Prevention campaigns involve broad social context: media, social workers, school authorities, etc. A clear understanding of the goals to be achieved is essen­tial. It is important to take preventive measures, because only in this case it will be possible to reduce the percentage of obesity. House of Commons (2004) states: “we feeel that the school environment can have a strong influence over children’s developing nutritional habits, and that the Government must not neglect this crucial opportunity to promote healthy eating to children and help them develop sound lifelong habits” First off, adults are not the only ones that need to accept this as a problem, children need to be taught and held responsible as well. Adults and children should be educated with free counseling and advice on obesity and obesity related issues. There also should be more emphasis put on teaching adults to keep a balanced diet and nutrition when cooking for their families. Understanding how to prevent this disease and why it is so dangerous and unhealthy is the key to eradicating the problem. Putting the information out there will not necessarily solve the problem. People do not always do what is best for them even if it involves such a harsh health risk. Many people become set in their ways, and are reluctant to change. Therefore, for this option to work, people need to not only have access to the information, but put it to use as well. The public should be taught, starting in elementary school that overeating and a lack of exercise can lead to the disease known as obesity. Promoting education on obesity at such an early age will help to eradicate this disease, which has cost the American public millions of dollars. This will give children and all of America a chance of growing into a stronger and healthier nation. In particular, public health policies towards healthier generation should be crafted with attention to their impact on overall population. The main Social Health Policies involve: “Mounting large scale mass-media campaigns to promote healthier diets and physical activity; Requiring chain restaurants to provide information about calorie content on menus or menu boards; Designating more downtown areas as pedestrian malls and automobile-free zones” (Obesity Epidemic “Deadly” Result of Societal Shifts in the 20th Century, 2000). The best resolution to eradicate this spreading disease is by educating people about a healthy diet and regular exercises, starting with the younger generations. The information mentioned above and statistical results demonstrate that unhealthy eating and sedentary life style is culturally constructed and influenced by cultural peculiarities and established traditions. Dietary Supplements: Chitosan One of these dietary supplements is Chitosan. “A ‘Chitosan’ is merely a fat inhibitor which occurs to work wonder for those who are in an examination of a harmless way to lose body weight. This easy and plain ingredient has in fact been around for donkey’s years. It is originated from chitin, a polysaccharide found in the shells of the crustaceans like lobsters, shrimps, and crabs. There were many inquiries were raised thinking through the claims that chitosan is efficient and useful for weight loss. One of those is how does chitosan work for weight loss? Fundamentally, chitosan is a distinctive fiber that works to immerse or suck up wherever from six to ten times its weight in oils and fat. Chitosan come visible as similar as to the plant known as cellulose. Moreover, the chitosan’s maker usually claim that this distinct ingredient substantially binds with the fat molecules and changes over them into a form which human body does not absorb. The chitosan work depends on the notion that chitosan influence the fat before it arrives at the stomach and absorb in the body. The fat has no possibility to be metabolized. Moreover, chitosan has been promoted and supported as a weight loss supplement. It’s even called as “fat magnet” on the ground of its supposed capacity to bind fat in the digestive tract. Conclusion Obesity in the UK tends to have more negative than positive effect on the economy and can greatly reduce ones life expectancy. The results and research studies vividly portray that obesity is a national problem which have a deep historical, social and economic roots. Ideally, health policies should be tailored for children and adults in order to prevent obesity epidemics. Where media is largely responsible for promoting this culture, one can still trust its power to reverse it to bring a more positive and healthy outlook of beauty avoiding unnecessary blames and aggression. Schools and the state has a responsibility to articulate this public health pur­pose, and a pre­cise conceptualization of purpose will more likely lead to sound, properly conceived policies. Bibliography 1. Debres, K. 2005, Burgers for Britain: A Cultural Geography of McDonalds UK. Journal of Cultural Geography, num. 22, pp. 45-48. 2. Diet and Obesity in the UK. N.d., ESRC Society Today. [online] Available at: http://www.esrc.ac.uk/ESRCInfoCentre/facts/index55.aspx?ComponentId=12741&SourcePageId=16353 3. Gard, M., Wright, J. 2004, The Obesity Epidemic: Science, Morality, and Ideology. Routledge. 4. Kirby, T. 2006, Massive increase in obesity means one-third of children are. Independent (London). [online] Available at: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20060422/ai_n16207835 5. Medical Studies on Chitosan. 2006, [online] Available at: http://www.chitosanfacts.com/Medical.html 6. Preventing Childhood Obesity 2005, [online] Available at: http://www.bma.org.uk/ap.nsf/Content/childhoodobesity 7. Obesity: Third Report of Sessions. 2004, House of Commons. 2003-2004. [online] Available at: www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmselect/cmhealth/23/23.pdf 8. UK Obesity Statistics. 2007, [online] Available at: http://www.annecollins.com/obesity/uk-obesity-statistics.htm Read More