The American epidemic of obesity - Essay Example

American Epidemic of Obesity al Affiliation: American Epidemic of Obesity Obesity and overweight are phrases that are used to refer to the excessive accumulation of fat in the body that can influence health complications. Obesity and overweight in adults are determined using the body mass index that is a simple index of weight-for-height. BMI is defined as a persons weight in kilograms divided by the square of his height in meters (kg/m). A BMI higher or equal to 25 is overweight while a BMI greater than or equal to 30 is obesity (Michael & Jan, 2005). Owing to the fact that BMIs measure for obesity and overweight is the same for both males and females. It provides the most useful population-level measure of overweight and obesity. It is however just an estimate because it may not correspond to the same degree of fatness in different persons. The main cause of obesity and overweight is an energy imbalance between a number of calories consumed and the amount that is expended (Wolin, & Petrelli, 2009). There is a global increase in the rates of obesity and overweight due to an increase in the intake of high-energy and fatty foods and also an increase in physical inactivity in the population due to the highly sedentary nature of work today, changing modes of transport with many people using vehicles as opposed to walking and increase in urbanization (Michael & Jan, 2005). This change in diet type and physical activity patterns can be attributed to environmental and societal changes due to development. The absence of supportive policies in key sectors such as health, agriculture, transport, urban planning, environment, food processing and distribution, marketing and education is also a cause of this change. For a friend who is overweight, I would advise that they change their lifestyle. They should cut down their intake of regular soda as it is high in sugar and hence calories. Diet soda, alternative most health- conscious soda consumers opt for is also reported to contain some artificial sweeteners that have been linked to health issues such as cancer and should, therefore, be avoided. I would advocate that they take fresh fruit juices as they are much lower in calories and have no additives. They should also reduce their intake of fast foods as fast foods are high in calories and fat hence contributing to overweight and obesity. Intake of greens and fruits as well as legumes, whole grains and nuts should be increased as they are low in calories and fat. It would be important for the friend to improve her physical activity and make her diet healthier in order to ensure that her health is not at risk. This is because obesity and overweight lead to cardiovascular problems such as heart disease and stroke. When theres too much fat in the body, it may clog blood vessels leading to a rise above normal in blood pressure and may result in a stroke. Also, accumulation of fat around the heart alters its functioning and may bring about heart diseases. They should increase their physical activity through exercise. Joining a sport, walking as opposed to driving, using stairs and not the elevator, hitting the gym are ways in which they can exercise. An overweight person should also check their sugar consumption and reduce it. Where possible, use of healthier replacements for sugar such as honey and beet is greatly advised as the two have been shown to have great positive impacts on health. Metabolism is related to obesity and overweight. A slower rate of metabolism means a slower rate of burning of calories and thus leads to accumulation of the calories which is the cause of obesity. The body rate of metabolism can be increased through physical activity such as exercise. Sugar is the main factor being linked to obesity. It is said to drive fat storage in the body and also make the brain think that it is "hungry" thus resulting in an intake of more unhealthy food and this in turn leads to obesity. Fructose is especially unhealthy according to research. It is found in table sugar (sucrose) and also in High Fructose Corn Syrup which has become ubiquitous in soft drinks and other processed foods. It is, therefore, advisable to cut down on sugar intake in order to prevent or fight the obesity menace. The increase in available calories over the years has been as a result of the increased consumption of ultra-processed food products, which are rather highly palatable, relatively inexpensive, easy to access and widely advertised, making overconsumption of calories very easy. The government should implement policies that support the supply of healthier foods and make such foods affordable and easily accessible by the population. This would limit the consumption of "junk foods" and hence reduce occurrence of obesity. Willpower and personal responsibility play a huge role in promoting healthy behavior. A lot of beneficial information on how to combat obesity and overweight is being given all over. There is increased championing of the better, healthier lifestyle course. At the end of the day, it is all about the personal decision. You have to have the willpower to eat healthier, exercise more in order for you to be able to keep obesity at bay. It is really about what you are willing to do to stay healthy even when no one is at your watch. Willpower sometimes is not all that it takes to reduce this epidemic. Some of the causative agents of obesity are somewhat beyond our control. It is extremely hard to fight obesity while living in an environment where obesity is promoted. If you have to sit long hours at work and later have to take care of family, you may practically never have time for proper exercise. Another factor is poverty. Poverty is greatly linked to obesity. Healthier foods are more expensive and therefore for a person without means, they may not be able to afford them, as much as they would want to. Factors such as stress, hormonal imbalance, adolescence have also been linked to obesity. They are somewhat not really something we can have control over as they occur naturally. The entertainment industry and the marketing departments of food and beverage corporations play a huge role in adding to the problem of obesity. As children continue to grow, food influences that are not from the family begin to come in. Television and advertisements by food corporations generally depict calorie-dense foods with high amounts of fat and sugar as great tasting and very rewarding to eat. Also, most of the food products being advertised are usually of low nutritional value. Children have been observed to show greater preference for the advertised foods and even ask their parents to buy them such foods. If obesity has to be overcome, the content being aired on media such as television needs to be controlled. Healthier foods and lifestyle should be promoted through advertisement as this has shown to be quite effective in shaping opinions. Also, food corporations need to include the nutritional composition of foods in their advertisements in order for consumers to make informed decisions. The US Dietary Guidelines seem to promote Agricultural products grown and sold in America since they are currently advocating for an increase in consumption of fruits, vegetables and eating foods in their whole, natural form. They are even seen to be inclined on vegetarian lifestyle as the healthier option. USDA shows support for farming in such ways as giving grants to farmers to promote agricultural produce. The bodys relationship with large farmers such as cheese makers and corn growers is not exactly smooth. This is because the two products are being linked to obesity in the US. Most of the snacks that are consumed contain corn. High Fructose Corn Syrup that has been seen to cause obesity is also from corn. Cheese has been associated with overweight and obesity. Theres a push to consume vegetable oils as opposed to animal sources as the former are healthier. This explains the rift between USDA and the farmers. School lunch programs can also help in promoting healthier diet as a way to combat obesity. Schools selling fast foods, frozen and processed foods need to replace them with healthier food options as those foods are high in sugars, fats, and calories and, therefore, lead to obesity. Fruits and vegetables should be made a compulsory part of lunch. The fruits may be given whole or as fruit juices. Salads should also be incorporated into the menu of school lunches. Ensuring that children are only exposed to fruits and vegetables as a snack would also promote health. Reference Michael Gard; Jan Wright (2005) The Obesity Epidemic: Science, Morality and Ideology. Routledge Wolin, K. Y., & Petrelli, J. M. (2009). Obesity. Santa Barbara, Calif: Greenwood Press. Read More