Food and Obesity - Research Paper Example

Food and Obesity Introduction Spekamp and Gloth 2009, p.3, provide a simple definition of obesity in an individual as, “excessive weight (bodymass), with too much of the weight consisting of fat. (1). Nutritionists translate excessive weight into the body mass index BMI index, which is calculated using a formula based on weight and height. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, an individual with a BMI over 25 is over weight, while an individual with a BMI of over 30 is obese. (1). Slight weight gain, as long as it is restricted to the muscles of the body enhances health, while weight gain due to increase in the fat content of the body can pose health problems. The type of food and the quantum of food one consumes, without adequate exercise are considered to be the main causative factors of obesity. Generally speaking foods with higher calorie content contribute to fat mass gain in the body. Foods with higher fat and carbohydrate content have the potential to enhance the fat mass gain in the body. (1). 2. The Obesity Epidemic In the developed world a wide variety of fast foods are available. The regular consumption of fast foods, combined with lack of exercise and stress at the workplace are a common feature with individuals in the developed world, and these are considered to be the main cause of the widespread obesity seen in the developed world. This feature in individuals is spreading to other parts of the world, as more and more developing countries, through enhanced ties with the developed attempt to ape the developed world. This has led to obesity becoming a world wide health issue. On the obesity front, the U.S.A has a ranking of nine among all the countries in the world, with 74% of its population above the age of 15 either overweight or obese. (2). The problem of obesity is not restricted to only the adult population in the U.S.A., but also with the children, as 20% of the children are either overweight or obese. (3).The increasing prevalence of obesity in the U.S.A. can be seen from the increasing rates of its prevalence in the age group of 20 years and above, 1997-19.4%, 2004-24.5%, 2006-26.4%, and 2007-26.6%. (4). The problem with obesity is that it heightens the risk for chronic health diseases or conditions like type 2 diabetes, coronary heart diseases, stroke, arthritis, fatty liver disease, gall bladder disease, sleep apnea, and some forms of cancer. Obesity places an economic burden on the nation, with reliable estimates in 2001. indicating that the total economic costs to the nation due to obesity was $117 billion every year, which can be broken down into $61 billion in terms of direct health care costs and $56 billion in terms of indirect health care costs. (5). While indirect costs in terms of how much money is spent by the American population on dieting, diet books, diet pills, and so on, in an attempt to reduce weight is not easy to estimate, indirect costs in terms of loss of work hours due to absence of illness resulting from obesity has been estimated at $20 billion. (3). A key issue in the increasing obesity in the U.S.A. is the tendency of individuals to dine out. This can be ascertained from the amount money spent by Americans in 1970 and 2003 on dining out. In 1970 Americans spent 26% of their income on dining out, which by 2003 had increased to 46%. Portions served in outside food outlets, frequently are served in larger portions than the recommended standards of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This leads to food intake at higher calorie values that can lead to obesity. (5). 3. The Fast Food Problem Eating out in the U.S.A is increasingly becoming a way life. The reason behind this is that lack of time available for preparing traditionally home-cooked meals that are more nutritionally balanced. Fast foods have the advantage of being prepared fast at fast food restaurants, and are cheaper than the traditional restaurants. The benefits of convenience, speed, and cheapness of fast foods, find many Americans using fast food restaurants in their eating out habits. However, fast foods are full of carbohydrates, fats, and calories, the consumption of which will lead to weight gain. From the perspective of the nutritionist community fast foods are the main culprit in the obesity health issue in the U.S.A. (6). 4. Political Action in Support of the Prevention of Obesity Political action to enhance the awareness of the nutritional aspects of obesity, in a drive to prevent obesity, was the preliminary step at the state and county level. In New Jersey, in 2006, one of the key activities in the administration’s drive against obesity was a culturally sensitive campaign to enhance intergenerational nutritional awareness, so that healthy choices in food habits and physical activity would become a part of the way of life among the residents of New Jersey. (7). Till 2007 nutrition labeling regulations of the FDA did not include the food-away-from-homer sector. In 2007, the FDA placed mandatory requirements on fast food restaurants to display nutritional information of the foods that they serve for the benefit of their customers. This includes their advertisements through their web sites. This move on the part of the FDA is based on the rationale that people could change their eating habits based on their awareness of obesity, and the type of foods and the calorie values that lead to obesity.(6). By making it nutritional labeling mandatory for the food-away-from-home sector the FDA move enhances the scope for the prevention of obesity. Experiences from the nutritional labeling of packaged foods show that more nutritionally improved products are now made available by the business enterprises in the packaged food industry. This was the result of informed choices that the nutritional labeling enabled among the American population. There is enhanced awareness of the nutritional aspects of obesity, through the various awareness programs of the government and other social action groups. This awareness is translated into action in the form of informed choices, when adequate information on the nutritional value of the foods consumed is available. Thus, the FDA action in including the food-away-from-home industry sector in the mandatory labeling of nutritional value of foods that they serve is expected to provide the twin benefits of nutritionally improved foods being served by the food-away-from-sector of industry that includes the fast food industry, and the customers using their informed choice of these food offerings to provide more healthy eating habits in the American population. (5). The political action with regard to food labeling in obesity prevention action is not restricted to the FDA only. More state, county, and city authorities had already initiated action in this direction. In cities like New York City, San Francisco, and in King County, nutritional labeling regulations for Fast Foods and Chain Restaurants was introduced even before the FDA mandatory regulations for the food-away-from-home sector on nutritional labeling of their food offerings was announced. (5). 5. Conclusion Eating out is going to remain a part of the American way of life. The difference is that now people are more informed, and the mandatory labeling of food products is available in the packaged food sector and from restaurant. This holds out the promise that more healthy eating habits when dining in or eating out could help reduce the health issue of obesity in U.S.A. Prevention of obesity in the U.S.A. has been greatly helped by political action in increasing the awareness among the citizens on the nutritional aspects of obesity, and the action to make it mandatory for nutritional labeling in the packaged food industry and the food-away-from sector. Works Cited 1. Speckamp, Rudy & Gloth, Michael. Fit at Fifty and Beyond: A Balanced Exercise and Nutrition Program. New York: Diamedica Publishing, 2009. 2. “World’s Fattest Countries”, 2007. Forbes.com. 8 Dec. 2010. . 3. “Obesity”. 2010. emedicinehealth, 8 Dec. 2010. . 4. “Obesity”. 2007. CDC. 8 Dec. 2010. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhis/earlyrelease/200712_06.pdf 5. The Chronic Disease Prevention Program. “Fast Food and Chain Restaurant Nutrition Labeling Policy Initiative”. 2008. Multnomah County Health Department. . 6. “Fast Food Nutrition Facts”. 2010. Buzzle.com. 8 Dec. 2010. . 7. “The New Jersey Obesity Prevention Action Plan”. 2006. The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. 8 Dec. 2010. http://www.state.nj.us/health/fhs/documents/obesity_prevention.pdf Read More