Causes and Effects of Obesity - Research Paper Example

Causes and Effects of Obesity One of the biggest problems of people all over the world in general and in the advanced countries in particular is obesity. Obesity is observed more in the rich communities than the poor because the former have excess of wealth and a luxurious lifestyle that optimizes their tendency to become obese. Obesity “has become a major problem in many countries, and it is even expected that in the USA, average expectancy will soon begin to drop sharply for the first time in 200 years because of an epidemic of obesity” (ADMC, n.d.). Obesity has many negative effects on the life of an individual in any age-group. Obesity can occur because of many causes. Heredity is one factor that causes obesity, though its role is perceived to be greater than it really is. Many people think of genes as the sole cause of obesity. While gene increases the tendency of an individual to gain weight, people generally have an unhealthy style of living that prevails in the culture of the family. Many people become obese because of the very unhealthy lifestyle. Prenatal and postnatal influences increase the tendency of children to be obese. Pregnant mothers who are obese or who smoke increase the tendency of their children to grow into obese adults (Harvard School of Public Health, 2014). Excessive gain of weight during the stage of infancy increases people’s risk of becoming obese as adults, whereas breastfeeding lowers this risk. A potential cause of obesity is the unhealthy diet whose consumption has become a trend and culture particularly in the West. People commonly consume large meals with a high content of refined grains, unhealthy fats, red meat, and carbonated drinks. Healthy diet based on the consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits is not very common. Advancement of technology is another factor that can be considered as the cause of obesity. People spend too much time watching television, surfing the internet, using computers, and Facebooking. All of these activities limit their physical activity. In addition, people’s tendency to consume unhealthy diets and life an unhealthy lifestyle is increased under the influence of constant advertising of unhealthy products on the digital media. Children experience many negative effects of obesity. Obese children cannot participate as actively in the physical extracurricular activities in school as their class-fellows. They might feel motivated to participate because of their inner talents, but their weight, figure, and obesity-influenced characteristics discourage them from making optimal use of their talents. Obesity limits the mobility of children because of which they cannot hangout with their friends. Many obese children become the victim of mockery and bullying by their class fellows and school mates. Others call obese children names and make derogatory remarks on their figure and looks. Obese children experience psychological problems because they not only feel unfit physically but also misfit in the society at large because most of the social systems favor physically fit and healthy people than obese people. While they cannot really establish control on their diet, obese children constantly fight with their inner selves and consider themselves responsible for their weight. All of these factors combine to put the obese children into inferiority complex. Many obese children may also experience social exclusion. These negative emotions have a substantial negative effect on their academic performance as well. Their limited physical activity negatively affects the performance of their brain as well. Limited physical activity makes children dull, lazy, and uninterested in studies. Many obese children attempt to diet in order to control their weight. In doing so, they miss their meals and breakfasts. Missing meals like this deprives them of the energy required to participate in the school activities physically and mentally. Effects of obesity are even more profound in the life of adults than children. As an adult, an individual has to look for employment and establish a family. The need to be physically active and social is even more for the adults than it is for the children. With the growing emphasis on smartness and physical fitness, weight-consciousness and looks-consciousness is now observed as much in men as in women. Obese adults find it hard to find jobs, let alone the jobs that impart the need to be beautiful and physically fit. Employers tend to hire workers who seem agile, active, and physically fit. Employers feel discouraged to recruit obese workers not only because of their perceived laziness, but also because of the fear of having to pay large sums in insurance of such employees. The tendency to go on abrupt and severe diet plans is even greater in adults than in children. Obese adults tend to miss meals in an attempt to shed off the excess weight suddenly, which not only proves an ineffective approach, but also has a negative impact on their productivity. Obese adults find it hard to get into a relationship with the people of their choice. Just like people want to remain physically fit, they have a tendency to develop relationship with physically fit people. “It is not uncommon for overweight or obese conditions to result in persons having lower incomes or having fewer or no romantic relationships. Disapproval of overweight persons expressed by some individuals may progress to bias, discrimination, and even torment” (Stanford Hospital & Clinics, 2014). Too much emphasis on smartness placed by media puts obese adults into inferiority complex and feel bad about themselves. Their inability to achieve their desired shape inculcates a sense in them that they cannot achieve any goals in life. The stigma associated with being obese and the risk of a variety of diseases posed by obesity complicate the effects of obesity on adults further Effects of obesity are more profound in older adults than in any other age-group of people. Older adults experience different kinds of diseases and complications because of obesity. Obesity increases the risk of heart diseases, dyslipidemia, blood pressure, hypertension, diabetes, and gallbladder disease (CDC, 2012) and causes the cholesterol level in the blood to rise. Many obese older adults experience sleep apnea that can be defined as brief periods of no breathing. Sleep apnea causes sleepiness during the day and interruption in the sleep of not only the obese older adults but also others in the surroundings. Heavy snoring is disturbing and discomforting. Sleep apnea may also be linked with high blood pressure which in turn is caused by obesity. Obesity poses difficulty in movement. In old age, as bones start to lose their density, older adults find it hard to move from one place to another carrying the excess weight. This affects and disturbs the social life of older adults. Accordingly, obesity can bring serious consequences on their private and social life and jeopardize their relationships. In old age, obese people are at the greatest risk of experiencing social exclusion. Concluding, causes of obesity include unhealthy lifestyle and genetic factors. Obesity has dreadful effects on people in any age-group. While the effects are experienced by all obese people, the effects are the most dreadful during old age. Experiences gained in the childhood have a remarkable effect on the psychological and social well-being of an individual in the adulthood. Obesity experienced during the childhood changes the outlook of the people on everything for the worse. Effects of obesity can be observed in every area and aspect of life including work, relationships, social networking, and self-esteem. Owing to the immensity of its negative impacts, obese people should take serious measures to control their physical condition. This can be achieved through regular exercise and balanced diet. References: ADMC. (n.d.). Obesity: Paying a Heavy Price. Retrieved from http://www.admc.hct.ac.ae/hd1/english/cause/causeeffect_obesity.htm. CDC. (2012). Overweight and Obesity. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/adult/causes/index.html. Harvard School of Public Health. (2014). Obesity Causes. Retrieved from http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/obesity-prevention-source/obesity-causes/. Stanford Hospital and Clinics. (2014). Health Effects of Obesity. Retrieved from http://stanfordhospital.org/clinicsmedServices/COE/surgicalServices/generalSurgery/bariatricsurgery/obesity/effects.html. Read More