American Obesity - Essay Example

American Obesity Despite continued warnings by health care professionals and the media, along with nationwide educational campaigns regarding the dangerous health consequences caused by an unhealthy diet and being obese, the majority of American adults continue to be overweight. The number of overweight/obese adults has doubled in just the past 40 years. The genetic composition we inherited from our hunter/gatherer ancestors does not match their lifestyles or diet. They had to stalk and kill their entree and grow their side dishes. Their meals consisted of low-fat, protein rich meat and grains. They ate too excess during times of feast, storing fat for times of famine. Times have changed. The U.S. experiences few, if any, famines, our diet are vastly different and we live comparatively sedentary lives. People find many reasons to eat such as at social gatherings, for emotional fulfillment and as an "activity" while bored in addition to simply being hungry. People who live in poor areas have a more difficult task of retaining a healthy weight. Grocery stores in the area stock necessities rather than the more expensive fruits, vegetables and other healthy alternatives and outdoor exercise is difficult in unsafe neighborhoods. Being an increasingly overweight/obese nation is making us sick, negatively affecting every aspect of health. Nearly 70 percent of Americans are overweight; more than a third are obese. An adult with a BMI (Body Mass Index) pf 25 to 30 is considered overweight, higher than that is considered obese. To demonstrate, a healthy weight range for a man 59" is 125 to 168 lbs., up to 200 is overweight and more than 200 is obese. ("Defining," 2012). Among children aged two to 19, nearly a third are overweight, 17 percent obese. ("Statistics," 2014). Being obese greatly increases the chance of having many devastating, deadly diseases including heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes in addition to crippling depression and cognitive disorders. Obesity guarantees a lower quality of life and a shorter life expectancy. The risk of developing heart disease, the number cause of death in the U.S., increases proportionately with BMI. Heart disease refers to the blocking of arteries following a build-up of plaque thus restricting or preventing oxygen-rich blood from flowing to the heart. Obesity causes arteries to narrow therefore increasing blood pressure (hypertension). If it continues to remain elevated, damage to the heart and blood vessels will occur greatly increasing the chance for a stroke and heart attack. Symptoms may not be obvious until a catastrophic event occurs. The second leading cause of death is cancer. Its been proven that being overweight or obese increases the risk for gallbladder, endometrial, (uterus) breast and colon cancers likely along with several other types yet to be conclusively confirmed. Unsurprisingly, being obese is hard on the joints in the hips, knees and lower back. It aggravates a condition known as osteoarthritis, a common ailment among all persons. The extra weight causes excess wear on joints and excess pain particularly those with arthritis. Sleep apnea is another common disorder. It describes when a person pauses one or more times during normal breathing while asleep. Having excess fat around the throat area narrows the air passageway making breathing more difficult and increasing the dangers associated with sleep apnea. Obesity is the only cause of Obesity Hyperventilation Syndrome, a breathing disorder caused by weight inhibiting the natural breathing process. Too much carbon dioxide is retained while too little oxygen is taken in due to fat in the throat area. Obese women often have, among other issues, menstrual and infertility problems. ("What," 2012). A direct connection exists between obesity and diabetes. Of those adults diagnosed with diabetes at least 80 percent are obese. According to researchers "obesity causes stress in a system of cellular membranes called endoplasmic reticulum, which in turn causes the endoplasmic reticulum to suppress the signals of insulin receptors, which then leads to insulin resistance." ("Why," 2004). Essentially, the body is being overloaded with food, therefore the endoplasmic reticulum with insulin, and it refuses what it doesnt need, building a wall of resistance. Obesity forces this system to perform a task it wasnt designed to do and it looses its ability to do its original job correctly. It can no longer release sugars successfully form the body and eventually making it resistant to insulin. Diabetes is the result, a serious disease that contributes to heart and kidney disease along with other issues. Obesity and clinical depression share a dual link. One causes the other in a vicious circle of misery. Several combined studies indicate that those who are obese are more likely than people who maintain a healthy weight to be depressed. The analysis of more than a dozen long-term studies involving 58,000 people found the obese were 55 percent more likely to develop depression. Alternatively, those with depression experienced a 58 percent higher chance of being obese. Though a definite biological connection between depression and obesity has not been established, its possible changes in bodily, cultural and/or social mechanisms are at work. Regardless of the specific connection, a clear association is apparent. Regarding another depressing condition, body weight, whether too low or high, has been linked with dementia and Alzheimers disease. (Health Risks, 2014) The costs of obesity in terms of personal health are vast, numerous and deadly serious. The financial costs are vast as well, ultimately affecting everyone. Estimates put the number at more than $100 billion wasted on a controllable condition. Obesity related health care expenditures are super-sized. Direct costs of obesity include inpatient and outpatient services in addition to indirect costs such as lost work days meaning a loss of total productivity, higher insurance premiums across the board and lower wages for obese persons. In an early study involving medical costs associated with obesity, six common conditions were examined; high blood pressure, colon and breast cancer, gallbladder disease, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. The study, conducted in 1986, found the indirect and direct costs of these illnesses were $39 billion or about 5.5 percent of total medical expenses. Along with Americas waistline, this number has grown significantly. In a similar study in 1998 by the U.S. Medical Expenditure Panel Survey obesity costs topped $42 billion, six percent of medical expenditures and $86 billion by 2006, nearly 12 percent of total expenses. "Looking ahead, researchers have estimated that by 2030, if obesity trends continue unchecked, obesity-related medical costs alone could rise an additional $48 to $66 billion a year in the U.S. Countries with lower obesity rates than the U.S. spend a smaller share of their healthcare dollars on obesity, but the burden is still sizable." ("Economic Costs," 2014). Of course, money is a secondary issue in the discussion of health issues related to obesity but still is a real concern for present and future taxpayers. The reasons for people being overweight/obese are many but the cause of weight gain, at its most basic, is a matter of mathematics. If a person eats more than they need an excess occurs. Another way to express this simple concept is in terms of an energy imbalance. If the energy, or calories, taken in exceeds energy exerted during activity such as walking, digesting, breathing, exercise, etc. an imbalance occurs, a fancy way of saying if you eat too much you get fat. Modern man isnt as active as our hunter/gatherer ancestors or likely even our grandparents. Modern man in America watches lots of television. Its been demonstrated that watching just two hours every day contributes to obesity. Many Americans also work and do homework from a sitting position. As calories become more easily available, we are becoming an increasingly sedentary society, a formula for an obese nation. "People who are inactive are more likely to gain weight because they dont burn the calories that they take in from food and drinks. An inactive lifestyle also raises your risk for coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, colon cancer, and other health problems." ("What Causes," 2012). Our surroundings, living circumstances factor significantly in health outcomes. People who live in impoverished areas face many difficult challenges, one of which is waging an uphill battle against obesity. Lack of safe places to walk/jog, neighborhood pools or recreation centers, parks or dedicated bike lanes, for example, inhibit physical activity. In addition, grocery stores in poor sections of town do not stock a large selection of the more expensive items such as fruits, vegetables, and specialized diet products. On top of these specific challenges to those living in poor neighborhoods, this portion of society also has similar dietary obstacles as those in other areas of town. Work/school schedules are not always conducive to eating properly. Time and distance commuting, working overtimes and at odd hours, etc. leads to eating "on the run," many times at the fast food drive-through window, never a healthy option. At the local fast food restaurant portions are super-sized and made with high-calorie, low-nutrition ingredients. To "work off" a Big Mac, fries and sugary drink requires more exercise than most Americans are willing or have time to exert. Junk food advertising appeals to adults desire to save time. Dollar menus are popular which adults are drawn to as well. Impressionable children who are unaware of the health consequences, and probably arent too concerned at that age anyway, are especially targeted with commercials featuring cartoon characters and toys in the packaging. "The goal of these ads is to sway people to buy these high-calorie foods, and often they do." ("What Causes," 2012). Genetics play a role in obesity. Studies documenting identical twins raised in separate homes show a genetic connection. Also, if both parents are obese their children tend to be overweight too. However, that data could be skewed and not necessarily reflect a genetic cause due to the specific reasons the parents are overweight. If they have bad eating habits, their children naturally will too. A hormonal imbalance such as an under-active thyroid could be a contributing factor. "Lack of thyroid hormone will slow down your metabolism and cause weight gain. Youll also feel tired and weak." ("What Causes," 2012). Certain drugs including seizure medication and antidepressants can cause weight gain as can emotional factors and natural muscle loss as we age. Obesity is a chronic health condition which affects short-term comfort and well-being, contributes to serious illnesses and shortens the normal lifespan. It is a costly condition in terms of personal health and medical costs for everyone. Obesity is preventable for the vast majority, however. Happily, losing just 5 to 10 percent of excess weight improves health in a meaningful way. Of course, its easier to gain weight than to shed it but not impossible and certainly worth the effort, that is if the person "weighs" the benefits. Works Cited "Defining Overweight and Obesity." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2012. Web. December 4, 2014 http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/adult/defining.html "Economic Costs" Obesity Prevention Source. Harvard School of Public Health. 2014. Web. December 4, 2014.http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/obesity-prevention-source/obesity-consequences/economic/ "Health Risks." Obesity Prevention Source. Harvard School of Public Health. 2014. Web. December 4, 2014. http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/obesity-prevention-source/obesity-consequences/health-effects/ "Overweight and Obesity Statistics." Weight-control Information Network. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney. 2014. Web. December 4, 2014.  http://win.niddk.nih.gov/statistics/ "What Are the Health Risks of Overweight and Obesity?" National Institute of Health 2012. Web. December 4, 2014.  http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/obe/risks "What Causes Overweight and Obesity?" National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. 2012. Web. December 4, 2014.  http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/obe/causes "Why Does Obesity Causes Diabetes?" MedicineNet. 2004. Web. December 4, 2014.  http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=39840 Read More