Is Obesity Always Fast Food Related - Research Paper Example

Fast Food and Obesity: Not Necessarily Related Obesity is currently a leading cause of morbidity and mortality all over the world. With the advent of remote controls, fast-moving vehicles, electric doors and stairs, increasing junk food intake, long-hours in front of the computers and the less active lifestyle options adapted by mankind, the health status is directly or indirectly worsening. Obesity is not just a cosmetic defect it brings a plethora of co-morbid conditions that can cause prolonged disability and even death. The prevalence of obesity is rising in the U.S. with the passing years which is quite an alarming situation. According to a report presented by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2004, 400,000 deaths are caused each year due to obesity caused by poor diet and the lack of physical activity. One year later another research body, superior in their scientific methods to CDC, estimated that 26, 000 deaths per year are caused due to obesity and overweight (Center for Consumer and Freedom 2005). According to Canadian Institute for Health Information, 405,000 cases of male obesity and 646,000 cases of female obesity are prevalent in the population and could be averted through better lifestyle adaptations (CBC News 2011). Many factors are considered as contributing factors to obesity. Excessive intake of fast food has been considered as a major cause of obesity in individuals of all ages. However, scientific researches, epidemiological data and population lifestyle observation has highlighted that fast food overeating cannot be tagged as the major contributing factor of obesity. According to Steven Blair, obesity epidemic is mainly driven by decreased daily energy expenditure rather than daily energy intake, however, the data available on daily energy expenditure is inadequate making the determination of a primary cause difficult (Center for Consumer Freedom 2005). Fast food is not necessarily the major cause of obesity. Physical inactivity, sleep deprivation, co-morbid conditions and various other factors are equally or more significant causes of obesity in adults and children both. Fast food is not the main cause of obesity. Physical inactivity or decreased daily energy expenditure is considered as a major and conspicuous cause of obesity in individuals of all ages. According to Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) physical inactivity is the major cause of obesity and a major population of obese people can be averted if exercise of low-impact quality of 15 minutes or less is performed daily. Geographical factors and socio-economic status of the population play a key role in determining the amount of physical activity performed. According to CIHI, after physical activity comes the type of food consumption that affects the obesity rates (CBC News 2011). Hence, the lower rate of physical activity adapted by the Canadian population showed a direct relation to obesity and was labeled as the major cause of obesity in the population. Thus, reduction of activity was labeled as a more prominent cause in comparison to the intake of fast food. Physical activity is related to not only improved body weight but also helps in the control of acquiring various diseases that come along with obesity. Nutritionists, dieticians and medical professionals all focus on exercise and daily physical activity along with diet control and tag it as an important and compulsory part of preventing or managing obesity. The state of physical activity in U.S.A. is quite inadequate reflecting the relation with higher incidence of obesity. Only one-fourth of the youth takes part in strenuous physical activity while another one-fourth youth has no report of any vigorous physical activity. The adults show an even poorer estimate of physical activity with only a 15 percent population of adults participating in regular exercise three times a week for at least 20 minutes (Center for Consumer Freedom 2005). The data clearly suggests that not only the individuals do not participate in vigorous exercise regularly but they have also adapted to less active lifestyle options like using cars or electrical lifts. This has reduced their daily energy expenditure and increased the risk for obesity. People who have computers, video games and televisions have overlooked the importance of physical activity in forms of biking, hiking, long walks or daily jogging. There are other researchers that focus on other contributing factors of obesity. According to David B. Allison, PhD, too much attention is paid to inactivity and overeating when it comes to obesity. In their article published in the International Journal of Obesity, they have put forward ten other explanations for obesity other than inactivity and overeating. Sleep deprivation, effect of pollutants on hormones, decreased smoking, prolonged stay in air-conditioned environments, usage of several drugs like contraceptives, ethnicity, relation with fertility, obese couples leading to obese children and giving birth to children at older ages are the explanations highlighted by the Alabama group for obesity (DeNoon 2006). The ten other causes given by the researchers support the fact that fast food intake is not the major cause of obesity and other factors should be given equal attention. Too much attention is paid to fast food consumption and over-eating when it comes to listing down the major causes of obesity. Nevertheless, depending on the age, social and environmental factors the major and primary causes of obesity also vary. Hormones imbalances caused by contraceptive drugs or old age pregnancy will effect those women more who are using contraception while the others will be comparatively at a reduced risk. It has been observed that obesity is significantly influenced by the genetic make-up of an individual. Genes in our body are responsible for making certain proteins that take part in energy metabolism. These proteins are involved in fat metabolism. In animals this protein is widespread and is related with their lean structure. Slight variations of this gene in children have been associated with gain in weight. These observations establish a strong link between genetic inheritance and the likelihood of obesity (Webb and Whitney 2000). Genetic influence on possibility of obesity is strongly supported by the research scientific bodies; however, the environmental factors go hand in hand with the genetic factors. However, the notion that people with genetic predisposition have an inevitable likelihood of obesity is still questionable. Moreover, it is important to consider that in spite of genetic inheritance, the presence of environmental factors play an important role in development of obesity. In the absence of the outside-the-body factors, the chances of obesity are very less Sleep deprivation and birth control techniques are other established contributing factors to obesity. Body Mass Index (BMI) has an inverse relation to the sleep duration. Less sleep predisposes an individual to weight gain and eventually obesity. According to the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 2005, young men who were allowed to sleep only four hours per night for two days showed an increase in ghrelin hormones and decrease in leptin. This showed that sleep deprivation reflects a relation with obesity. Studies reflecting the relation between injectable contraceptives and weight gain were conducted and it was reported that women gain weight with the first year of usage of the injectable contraceptive. The weight gain continues in the subsequent years as the administration of birth control injectables continues (Center for Consumer Freedom 2005). It is proved from more researches and scientific investigations that factors like sleep deprivation and birth control pills or injectables play an important role in obesity as well. Thus, fast food consumption is solely not the major cause of obesity. As mentioned earlier, other causes of obesity should be given considerable attention as well. Sleep deprivation and birth control pills are considered as very important factors responsible for acquiring obesity. If they are managed and prevented appropriately, obesity can be avoided in many people. Considerable epidemiological studies and clinical trials have been performed to establish the relationship between the dietary factors and weight gain. Several food components and food groups are involved with obesity and this relationship is an important factor to consider while discussing obesity. Many studies label excessive food intake of certain food groups as the major cause of obesity. For instance, some cohort studies indicate that sugar-sweetened soft drinks are related to weight gain while increased consumption of whole grain is associated with reduced weight gain. Intake of dietary fats is related with increased weight gain. Epidemiological evidence also suggests are co-relation between body fat and fat intake (Hu 2008). The dietary components of the food are critical in the health status of any individual. The weight loss regimens also focus on controlling the type of food consumption and physical activity to attain a desired weight. Increased fat intake over a long period predisposes an individual to obesity. However, other factors also play a critical role and fast food consumption or overeating cannot be considered as the major cause of obesity. A study of 6,212 youngsters revealed that every day one-third of the U.S. children eat fast food and thus increasing the risk for obesity. Billions of dollars are spent on the advertisement and establishment of fast-food companies and their products. It is hence not surprising that majority of the children are involved in junk food intake on a regular basis. Since 1990s there has been an increase in the fast-food restaurants thus, promoting the trends of junk food consumption. According to Kelly Brownell, Yale University obesity researcher, increased calorie intake leads to an increased obesity risk in the children (CBC News 2009). Researchers highlight the importance of fast food consumption in the etiology of obesity and consider this as an important cause of obesity in children. Fast foods are high in sugar, carbohydrates and fats with very high calorie intake per meal. Increased consumption of “junk” food reduces the habits of eating healthier and fresh foods like vegetables, fruits, fishes and cereals etc. The media and the fast food restaurant-investors play a major role as the culprits in promoting this unhealthy trend. Advertisements display fast food as a tempting, delicious and appetizing feast which should not be missed by any one! This allures the children and adults both leading to potential risks of obesity. Many factors influence the increased consumption of fast food and relation to increased weight gain. According to an investigation, it was researched that whether the fast food restaurants are an environmental risk factors for obesity. Accessibility of restaurants i.e. restaurants within a 2-mile radius of home increased the frequency of visits to the restaurants. Moreover, a person who was working and had children was another important factor affecting the visits to fast-food restaurants. It was established that proximity of fast food restaurants to work addresses and increased restaurants near a person led to increased visits and intake of fast food. However, a strong link could not be established with obesity (Jeffery et al 2006). The study implies that fast-food restaurants play an important role in the number of visits and amount of intake of an individual. With the increasing number of fast food restaurants, the increasing frequency of obesity is inevitable. It has been observed that the number of meals consumed at places other than home have risen, the portion size of meals has also increased both at home and restaurants. The visit of the people to the fast food restaurants has been associated with a rise in the consumption of soft drinks and junk food which includes French fries, burgers, pizzas, cheese. This increases the total fat and calorie intake and a reduction in the consumption of healthy foods like fruits and vegetables. It is a startling fact that the consumption of fast food by children nowadays is associated results in their consumption of 187 kcal above their normal body requirement (Brownell 2004). This school of thought supports the notion that fast food is interlinked with the increased incidence of obesity especially in children. It is obvious from the mentioned studies that children who have easy access to the fast food restaurants are more inclined to consume fast food as compared to those who cannot visit these restaurants frequently. With the increased number of visits the amount of fast food consumed will also be increased leading to greater chances of obesity. Obesity is an alarmingly rising condition all over the world. The statistics show that obesity has caused mortality every year and is also a major risk factor for various lethal and disabling diseases. The current lifestyle options adapted by mankind are the major contributing factors leading to the increasing prevalence of obesity. People who have the comforts of air-conditioned rooms, automobiles, video games, televisions, computers and electric devices have immersed themselves in a lifestyle of low physical activity and poor diet intake. Stressful conditions and poor medical awareness have predisposed them to sleep deprivation and birth control consequences. Many epidemiological studies and clinical trials have been conducted on the basis of available data to establish a major contributing factor for obesity. Some researches support that labeling overeating as the major cause of obesity is a myth. Physical inactivity is the major cause of obesity and if regular physical activity is induced in daily routine most of the obesity risk factors can be averted. However, fast food consumption is associated with obesity in many investigative studies and researchers are trying to establish the link between increased obesity risk and fast food consumption. To prevent obesity in children and adults it is important to focus on all the major causes of obesity and not just fast food consumption. Obesity is a multi-factorial condition and all the major etiological factors should be carefully considered if a proper management and control is aimed. Works Cited Brownell, KD. "Fast Food and Obesity in Children."Pediatrics. 113.1 (2004). Print. CBC News. “Fast Food linked to child obesity”. CBCNews.com: Health watch. 11 Feb 2009. Web. 12 May 2012. CBC News. “Lack of exercise main factor in high obesity rates”. CBC News, Health. 20 Jun 2011. Web. 12 May 2012. Center for Consumer Freedom .An Epidemic of Obesity Myths. Washington, D.C: Center for Consumer Freedom, 2005. Print. DeNoon, Daniel J. “10 Causes of obesity other than over-eating, inactivity.” Fox News, Nutrition. 28 Jun 2006. Web. 12 May 2012. Hu, Frank B. Obesity Epidemiology. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008. Print. Jeffery, RW, J Baxter, M McGuire, and J Linde. "Are Fast Food Restaurants an Environmental Risk Factor for Obesity?" The International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 3 (2006). Print. Webb, Frances S, and Eleanor N. Whitney. Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies. Australia: Wadsworth, 2000. Print. Read More