Obesity and women in the U.S - Essay Example

Obesity of Women in the United s Introduction: Obesity is life threatening and as such a public health concern all around the world and especially in the United States. Obesity is characterized by the BMI of a person i.e the weight of a person in relation to their height. Specific mathematical calculations are used to decide a person’s BMI. If there is an excess in correlation, the person is said to be obese. The prevalence of obesity in the United States among women has led to other risk factors such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, cancers and hypertension resulting in high mortality rates. Obesity is playing a key role in the biological, social, cultural and behavioral spheres of our society and hence needs the undivided attention of all health care personnel. According to the latest statistics given by the NCHS Data Brief for 2005 – 2006, nearly 72 million people which is almost one - third of the population of United States is obese. In other words 34.3 % of adults were obese. Of these the statistic estimate for obese women was 35.3 %. Going by these statistics we can say that the BMI of people in the US particularly women has increased considerably and the entire population has become overweight since 1980. The geographic distribution in U.S notices that obesity is highest overall in the southern region of the country. New England (Connecticut and Massachusetts) and the Mountainous regions of Arizona Colorado and Utah have slight less obesity where as West Central South (Alabama and Mississippi) and West South Central (Oklahoma and Taxes) have comparatively higher obesity rates. (CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System). Obesity is a serious and persistent health problem in America today, predominantly among women. Obesity is responsible for affecting the quality of life for people and increasing the incidence of mortality in women. Obesity has spread nationwide but remains essentially concentrated among women in the United States. Relevance of the topic: According to the current findings in Health care, obesity is looked upon as the single most prevalent chronic disease that blatantly reflects the rising cost of health care. Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in America which is compromising the health, well being and life of human beings. Obese people have twice the risk of developing diseases of the heart and liver that is the most common cause of death. Since women who are a major part of our society are its main victims, prevention and early treatment of obesity is crucial to guarantee a healthy population of women of all ages. Problems related to Obesity: Obesity is a disease process that affects all major organ systems in the body. Uncontrolled blood pressure can harm blood vessels and nerves. Among the various threats it proposes, the major ones are cardiovascular and respiratory disease. The threats that obesity undoubtedly affects the women population include breast cancer, birth defects, endometrial cancer (EC), Infertility, gallbladder diseases and other life threatening gynecological complications. Literature Review: Since obesity is considered to be the No. 1 problem facing Health personnel, various research programs and measures are being implemented to curb the rising menace. Health programs such as “Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease overweight...” Educational activities such as the “Pediatrics for the 21st Century Program: and “Fact, Fiction, or Future of Pediatric Obesity” are being carried out to make people aware of the dangers of obesity. Researches regarding obesity such as the “Periodic Survey of Fellows (healthy lifestyle study)” are undertaken to bring awareness on the subject of obesity. Private and Federal agencies such as CDC, MCHB, and AMA issue regular reports on the current conditions and statistics on the subject encouraging people to engage in obesity prevention, intervention and treatment of obesity Research has also contributed a lot through intensive medical interventions, utilizing the most effective treatments, and specialized hospitalization in trying to keep the problem of obesity under good control. One such authority, who is trying to help in this context, is the American Academy of Pediatrics, by issuing articles brochures and books about recent research carried out. According to research undertaken on African American and Caucasian women, it was evident that ethnic African American women were much more obese than Caucasian women. It was also noticed that when undergoing treatment for obesity, black women are found to lose less weight than their Caucasian counterparts and they are found to gain more weight if they are not treated. The study made an assessment of the individual’s REE (Resting energy expenditure) and found that the body composition of an obese white person was (n= 122) whereas the body composition of an obese black person was (n= 44) proving that black women were less prone to losing weight than their Caucasian counterparts. Women aged 20-64 years have a considerably higher prevalence of obesity. African-American, American Indian and Hispanic-American women have the highest risk of becoming overweight. Of all the obese women in U.S 37% of African-American women are obese; 33.3% of Mexican-American women are obese; 24% of Caucasian women are obese. The prevalence of Caucasian women, who are overweight or obese, ranges from 18% among 25 to 34 year olds to 35% among 55 to 64 year olds.60% percent of African-American women aged 45 - 65 are overweight or obese and 37 percent are theoretically obese, meaning that they are 30 percent above ideal body weight. The figures for Mexican-American women are similar: 66 percent overweight and 33 percent obese. For Caucasian women, the figures are slightly lower with 49 percent considered overweight and 24 percent, obese. Among other women are American Indian or Alaskan Native women (29.4%) were less probable than black women (36.6%) and more prone than Asian women (5.8%) and white women (20.3%) to suffer from obesity. Researches conducted at the University of California estimates that by 2020 – 30 about 37% of U.S. men and 34-44% of U.S. women will be obese and by 2035, an increased number of deaths of about 100,000 to 300,000 will be caused only due to obesity (Center for Disease Control). Methods: People who are prone to an increased intake of food and who do not indulge in healthy exercise are the targeted audience for obesity. Such people include people who possess sedentary behavior, enjoy a very comfortable socio – economic status, poor eating habits- such as indulging in foods filled with fatty substances and oils, or people suffering from hormonal or metabolic disorder. Other major factors that contribute to an obese condition are hereditary and other genetic disorders. The participants who fall within this category should take extra precautions from the onset to avoid further damage. Programs such as the (NHANES) The National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey would help them significantly through interviews, standardized physical examinations which includes testing of both urine and blood etc. Testing is carried out according to three age groups – 20 – 39, 40 – 59 and older. Testing is also carried out between different ethnic groups to estimate the depth of prevalence in different groups which could be utilized at a later date. Conclusion: Based on all the findings in recent times, we understand the Obesity is one of the killer diseases that robs individuals of a longer and better quality of life. Obesity is one of the major problems facing modern society and as such should be nipped in the bud before it is too late. Therefore, it is vital to educate people on the off- shoots of this problem and bring awareness into the society with special considerations for its target audience – the women, so that they could take necessary precautions to avoid this unhealthy and painful situation. Exercise and healthy eating habits should be on the agenda in the school curriculum so that awareness is kindled at a very early age. Besides early detection and treatment family and friends and other members in the society should understand, support and help people suffering from this dreaded disease.   References 1. AHRQ: DVD for parents/children 2. CDC, MCHB, AMA: consensus guidelines 3. CDC: VERB! Campaign 4. OSG: Shaping Americas Youth 5. NIH: We Can! 6. Michael Fumento (1997) The Fat of the Land: The Obesity Epidemic 7. The Burden of Chronic Diseases and Their Risk Factors: National and State Perspectives http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/burdenbook2004/pdf 8. World Health Organization (2000) Obesity: Preventing and Managing the Global Epidemic Ogden CL, Carroll MD, McDowell MA, Flegal KM. Obesity Among Adults in the United States— no change since 2003–2004. NCHS data brief no 1. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2007. Resting energy expenditure in obese (REE) African American and Caucasian women. www.obesityresearch.org/cgi/content/abstract/5/1/1 Read More