Epidemic Rise of Obesity throughout the World - Essay Example

of the Paper s Contents Introduction 3 Epidemiology 3 Children and Obesity 5 Obesity and Socioeconomic Factors 6 Prevalence of Obesity in different parts of Australia 8 Obesity and Sociological Theories 9 Conclusion 13 Reference 14 Introduction Today, sedentary and unhealthy lifestyle has taken its toll on the health and well being of human beings. There are enough evidences to establish the fact that being overweight and obese is an emerging global problem which is growing at an alarming rate throughout the world even in places where they used to be rare (Seidell,1999,p46). Obesity is not same as being overweight and refers to having excess of unwanted lipid in the body leading to multiple serious health problems (WHO,2014).However both obesity and overweight increases risks for disease onset (CDC,2012).Body Mass Index (BMI) is the most common approach towards assessing whether a person is normal, underweight, over-weight or obese. BMI is calculated from the height and weight of a person. An adult is considered obese when his BMI index exceeds 30 (ABS,2012). Obesity is an expanding problem and studies shows that down the years the obese population is steadily on the rise. The field of sociology connects this epidemic to multiple behavioral, thinking and acting patterns of both an individual and society. This essay will explore the epidemic rise of Obesity throughout the world and also link this expanse with sociological theories put forward by eminent sociologists such as Karl Marx and Erving Goffman. Epidemiology Obesity is a major health problem today and causes about 2.8 million deaths worldwide. Almost all of these deaths are caused because of the several complexities associated with being overweight or obese. Obesity is linked to the BMI (Body Mass Index) of the body and an increase in one’s BMI increases susceptibility to severe diseases such as breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, liver and kidney problems, heart ailments and other serious health hazards (Bray,2003,pp787). Mortality rates also increase with increase in the BMI, which gives a measurement of the degree of extra weight. Between 1980 and 2008 the prevalence of obesity had nearly doubled and the numbers are ever increasing (WHO,2014). In 2008, 10% of men 14% of the women population of the world were found to be obese with very high BMI. In other words almost half billion of world population is obese. Country wise America has the most number of overweight and obese populations (62% overweight and 26% obese) while lowest obesity is seen in Asian and African countries (WHO,2014). 50% of the women in Europe, Mediterranean and America were found to be overweight while most of these already overweight women were obese and suffered from various weight related problems as well (WHO,2014). In all regions in which the World Health organization conducted its surveys to estimate obesity prevalence, it was seen that the number of obese women were almost double than obese men thereby clearly indicating the percentage of obese women is higher than that of men (refer to figure 1). Australian Health survey reports show that between 2011-2012, 63.4% of Australians were either overweight or obese whilst in 1995 it was lower at 56.3% showing an increase in the obese population (Australian Health Survey, 2012). However, compared to world statistics, in Australia it was found that percentage of obese men was higher than that of obese women, a 70.3% for men against a mere 56.2% for women(refer to table 1A, and 2) (Australian Health Survey,2012). FIG 1A: shows prevalence of obesity among Australian adult population (ABS,2012). Fig1B: Shows World statistics of Obesity prevalence among different countries and income groups (WHO,2014). OVERWEIGHT/ OBESITY (MEASURED AND SELF-REPORTED BODY MASS INDEX (BMI)) (a)(b), Age standardised (c), 18 years and over 1995 2001 2004-05 2007-08 2011-12 . no no no no no Overweight/obese Measured Males 64.9 na na 67.8 70.3 Females 49.4 na na 54.3 55.7 Fig 2: Shows Australian population who are overweight or obese between 1995 and 2012 (ABS,2013). Children and Obesity Recent trends of prevalence of obesity have been seen to be rapidly increasing among children not in Australia alone but in all countries of the world.25% of Australian children were found to be obese in 2007 (NHMRC,2013). Population survey data analyses from national and state surveys were used to predict that by 2025, one-third of children between 3-19 years would be obese (Dept.of Human Service, 2008). The growing trend of the increase in the percentage of obese children can be understood through studies conducted by Magarey et al (2001). Cohort studies were conducted to understand the current and predict the future trends of obesity among Australian children based on age, gender and birth year.8,492 children aged between 7-15 years participated in the study in 1985 while in 1995, 2962 children between the age of 2-18 years were included in the same study. A comparison of the decade long study showed that there was a sharp increase in the number of both overweight and obese children. In 1985, 1.7% boys and 1.6% girls were obese while a decade later 4.5% of the boys and 5.3% of girls were obese. An overall growth trend was seen among the children population however another noticeable trend was that the percentage of overweight and obese girls was found to be higher as well. The peak age for obesity for girls was lower at 7-11 years whereas that for boys was slightly higher at 13-15 years (Magarey et al, 2001, p.561). The problem stands that according to works of Serdula et al (1993, p167) almost 63% children who are obese grow up to be obese adults. Obesity and Socioeconomic Factors Changes in the society are the major contributing factors towards the lifestyle and health of the population. One of the major determinants of obesity and other chronic illness is modern westernized lifestyle (Egger & Dixon, 2014). Obesity is majorly dependent on several socioeconomic factors. In the recent decades, i.e. post the Industrial revolution and rapid industrialization the period was followed by subsequent urbanization and economy growth and these are thought to be important factors responsible for the growing rates of the obese population since these induced changes in both the agricultural and food markets of the world (Forrester, 2013, p147). Worldwide, it is seen that people hailing from lower income groups tend to be slightly more obese than those from higher income backgrounds (Dinsa et al,2012,p.1067). In Australia, obesity was noted to be 33% among people hailing from lower income groups or disadvantaged backgrounds while for people hailing from higher income groups the number was lower at 19% (ABS,2009). In most Westernized countries obesity is on the rise among economically backward communities and this was based on findings in Australia where school children and youth belonging to SES (Socially and economically backward societies) were found to be more obese (o’Dea et al, 2014, p222). The table below shows that the number of obese children is on the rise especially among the socially and economically backward communities and from households of people who either smoke or drink heavily. Fig 3: Relation between obesity and other problems to Income backgrounds where  first quintile represents the 20% of the total population living in areas with the most disadvantage  and the fifth quintile represents the 20% of the total population living in areas with the least disadvantage (ABS,2009). Prevalence of Obesity in different parts of Australia It has also been seen that geographical areas too, have a role to play in the statistics associated with obesity and associated diseases. Australia has the 4th highest rates of adult obesity in the world at 28.3% (OECD Health Statistics, 2013). Surveys have shown that within Australia itself the percentage of both men and women living in outer regional Australia were higher at 69% than the 60% of the citizens residing in the inner and city regions of the continent (ABS,2012) (refer to table 5). According to studies conducted in 2012- 2013 about 1/3 rd of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were obese while 66% of the adult population were either overweight or obese (refer to figure 6) (ABS, 2013). Tables 7A and 7B showf that adults belonging to Indigenous population tend to be more obese than non-indigenous adults. Fig 4: OECD report on obesity prevalence in Different countries (OECD,2013). Fig 5: Comparison of Obese population the Major cities and Outskirt regions of Australia (ABS,2012). Fig 6: Figure shows prevalence of Obesity among Indigenous groups in Australia (ABS,2013). Fig 7A: Comparison of Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Male population (ABS,2013) Fig 7B: Comparison of Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Female population (ABS,2013). Obesity and Sociological Theories Erving Goffman: Goffman recognized three different kinds of stigma- one associated with physical deformity, next being the drawbacks of individual character such as weak will or domineering passions and lastly the tribal stigma which is associated with race, class and ethnicity (Goffman,1963, p4). Obesity, is recognized by Goffman as a form of disability, not entirely physical but social as well. Another known theory of Goffman, is the Theory of Dramaturgy which is commonly utilized to understand the microsociological behaviour of everyday life. Much influenced by the theatre, the most important point of the theory is that it considers that “all the life’s a stage” where we are merely acting our parts and that these daily interactions are dependent on the circumstances that one is immediately surrounded by (Haig,2013). Society is drawn towards “labelling” of individuals. Labelling refers to the tag given to individuals who are considered different. Children and adults who are either overweight or obese are often considered unfit by society. Obese children are considered undesirable playmates while obese adults are considered unhealthy, lazy and therefore face social discrimination. According to Goffman’s Dramaturgy theory, the role played by individuals is very much affected by the interactions and is may then be said that the act of labelling has social and emotional effects on the stigmatized individual. According to NHRMC (2013) data 25% of Australian children were found to be obese or overweight and stigmatization is very much prevalent in schools. Obese children as young as three years succumb to social stigma of obesity and these obese children develop a tendency to make judgment about themselves based on negative reactions that they face from others around them (Lewis & Puymbroeck,2008, p577) and often these emotional problems persists into adulthood. Even adults who are obese face the repercussions of social stigma which gradually alters the way they think about or perceive themselves. Yet, in spite of social stigma we find that obesity is on the rise and this is where the impact of interaction plays its role. Labelling of an individual introduces the act of deviance; in fact persistent negative behaviour towards the stigmatized by normal or non-stigmatized individuals enhances the characteristic of deviance within an individual owing to which one loses ability to control normal behaviour and inflicts more damage on one’s own self. Statistics establish increase in the number of mortalities owing to obesity of obesity-related ailments. Goffman (1963) talks about spoilt identity or deviance and subsequent findings suggest that such social tagging and discrimination on basis of weight actually exacerbates obesity and other health problems. Schafer & Ferraro (2011,p81) carried out a longitudinal survey and found that not only did weight based discrimination and labelling pose a threat to health of obese people but also had also aggravated problems with physical functioning and mobility. This is perhaps one of most important reasons for the increase in obesity related problems. Obesity epidemiology shows a clear increase in the number of women affected by weight problems. 50% of women in developed countries are obese and this may be linked to the act of deviant behaviour of the Social sigma theory. Women being highly conscious often feel more reluctant to accept the truth about their fat and find it easier to hide the negativity with binging on food. Also in a male dominated society females often indulge in deviant behaviour to portray confidence. Today, slim figures are favoured by most and those women who are not slim have a tendency to go against this trend and indulge in over-eating and gain of curves. Epidemiological data also show a steady growth rate in the number of obese adults as well as obese children. Since obesity is considered a social disability, obese individuals are automatically treated to a social stigma. Such differentiation often takes the form of anxiety and depression. These forms of stress lead to behavioural problems and eating disorders which ultimately lead to obesity (Torres & Nowson, 2007,p887). Karl Marx Karl Marx‘s beliefs have taken the form of Marxism. Marxism believes that the epidemic of obesity is a direct consequence of Capitalism and class divisions. Therefore one can directly relate ones socio-economic status to the trends of obesity that are visible today. Research studies have shown that children and adults who hail from socially backward or economically backward families tend to be more obese than those who come from slightly well off backgrounds. In Australia higher number of obese people is found to be those who do not earn well and those who live in disadvantaged areas such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait regions. In Australia income inequality is a problem since the richest 10% of Australians control 50% of the wealth of the country (Kuhn,2004).In the last few years there has been a rapid growth in both low income and high income percentages showing that inequality exists (ABS,2012).Food that are cheaper are found to be more unhealthy and fattening than food products which are accepted by society as “healthy”. Figure 8: shows growing inequality based on income (ABS,2012). Another perspective that maybe used to understand the growing problem of obesity is Karl Marx’s conflict theory. In 2011-2012, 63.4% of Australians were either overweight or obese and the number was much lower even 10 years ago (Australian Health Survey, 2012) which shows the growing obesity problem. Conflict theory is heavily based on class divisions which are prominent in some societies. From the perspective of the Conflict theory, the rich and the powerful hold the control and make decisions for the poor or the weaker sections of the society. The latter being weak and having to no power to oppose the decisions of the rich go under the absolute control of the higher elite sections of the society. In most countries today, capitalistic approach is prevalent since today profits and economic gains have taken the centre stage over equality and equal distribution among classes. In Australia social divisions are evident because of the division seen between white Australia and Indigenous population (Pietsch,2004). In almost all societies we see a rapid increase in the number of obese children irrespective of class, age, gender or ethnicity. According to the conflict theory, large companies here are the elite classes or the Bourgeoisie who have control over manufacture and sale of various food products that flourish the markets today (Marx & Engels,1848). These companies have absolute control over the nutritional content of such food products and it has been seen that some companies include more sugar in their products to attract children thereby giving priority to taste and sale than actual concern over nutrition for a child’s health. In such a situation the weaker section are the consumers themselves who have no role to play in the production, management or sale of such products but are always at the receiving end of the negative effects of consumption. Another major role that the companies have on the consumerism of unhealthy stuff is the promotions and availability of such food. Studies have shown that easy access to high calorie food and availability of calorie rich food in the local supermarkets increases risks of obesity (Rahman et al,2011, p49). This is important particularly because such high levels of consumerism aggravates obesity problems and has a negative impact on the individual and on the society as a whole. Conclusion Society, Sociology and epidemiology of health problems such as obesity are intimately connected. The various trends that we see in the epidemiological data of obesity like the increasing trends of weight gain among children and adults can be explained through sociological behaviour of individuals in response to the negative reactions and stigmatization done by society itself. The behaviour of deviance clearly explains that negative helath probelsm such as obesity is a result of stigma and discrimination(Puhl,2010,p1019). Marx’s theories associates class divisions and economics of markets to the change in eating behaviour and choice of food among people. Marx’s theory of Capitalism also explains the growing trend of child obesity where companies target their own growth based on market sales especially targeting children. 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