Fast Food between Australia and Saudi Arabia - Case Study Example

Fast Food (Obesity) Between Australia and Saudi Arabia Name Institution Date Fast Food (Obesity) Between Australia and Saudi Arabia Introduction Obesity and overweight are a result of energy imbalance in the body. A high consumption of energy rich fast foods and beverages promote harmful weight gain. The increasing occurrence of obesity all over the world in both developed and developing countries is a reason as to why it is being regarded as a pandemic. In Australia, it is estimated that more than 50% of the population is obese or overweight (Reidpath, Burns, Garrard, Mahoney, & Townsend, 2002). The major causes being: consumption of fast foods and lack of adequate physical activities. In Saudi Arabia Obesity and overweight cases are on the rise with an obesity prevalence of 35.5% with a higher prevalence in females (Mansour, Yaqoub, & al, 2005). A good number of Saudi nationals misconceive being overweight and obese to being healthy rather than seeing it as a serious health condition associated with life threatening diseases such as coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus and stroke.This paper seeks to look at factors that cause obesity with attention to fast foods, the consequences of obesity on the individual’s health and social life and finally look at the efforts being made to curb the disease locally and internationally. Background It is ironic that while people in other parts of the world are starving and suffering from malnutrition, others are battling with obesity and overweight issues. Worldwide, obese population has doubled since 1980 (World Health Organisation, 2013). In 2008, over 1.4 billion adults, 20 years and above were overweight with almost 300 million women and 200 million men being obese. In 2011, more than 40 million children below five years were overweight (World Health Organisation, 2013). More ironic is the fact that 65 % of the world’s population live in countries where obesity and overweight conditions and related diseases claim more lives than underweight condition. In the United States, national population data indicates a rise in obesity cases from 12.8% in 1960 to 27% in 1994 with around 61% of adults being overweight or obese. In the United Kingdom obesity prevalence increased from 6% in 1986 to 16% in 1993 among the women of its population. Saudi Arabia has 53% obesity prevalence. Such data is an indication of an ever increasing global epidemic. Obesity is caused mainly by an energy imbalance between calories consumed and calories expended i.e. energy intake exceeds the energy required for metabolism resulting in a positive energy balance. The excess energy accumulated over time combined with lack of adequate physical activity results in obesity. Obesity affects both rich and poor. With higher cases reported in urban areas all over the world where cheap high calorie fast foods are sold. The junk foods contain high levels of salts, sugar or fat that is detrimental to human health. Effects of obesity Obesity and overweight individuals are at risk of contacting heart diseases and stroke which according to WHO was the leading cause of death in 2008, diabetes mellitus, musculoskeletal disorders such as osteoarthritis and cancers such as endometrial, breast and most common, colon cancer (World Health Organisation, 2013) (Amin, Al-Sultan, & Ayub, 2008). The Harvard School of Public health lists unhealthy cholesterol, asthma, sleep apnea, gallstones, kidney stones, infertility, and 11 types of cancers, including blood cancer, breast, and colon cancer as diseases caused by obesity (Harvard School of Public Health). Obese children experience breathing difficulties, hypertension, insulin resistance and psychological problems. They also risk at risk of premature death and increased chances of disability in adulthood. Obese children usually have low esteem issues due to their abnormally large bodies (Amin, Al-Sultan, & Ayub, 2008). Other than health effects, obesity impacts negatively on society’s economy, and national productivity and on the national defence (Harvard School of Public Health). Health care costs on obesity in United States were $190 billion in 2005, and is projected to increase in the coming years given the increasing obesity cases. Other costs are high insurance premium on individuals with obesity and low wages from employers. In the U.S, the disease has affected recruitment of soldiers with almost 30% of youths being above the average weight required to join the forces. Obese individuals suffer public stigma in a society where lean anorexic models are adored. They need therapy to improve self esteem with higher risks of suicide. Girls with obesity are likely to have early onset of puberty and late puberty for boys. Issue Analysis According to the Conversation.com, one in four children in Australia is overweight or obese (Peeters & Backholer, 2013). Fourteen million Australians are overweight and five million of these are obese. If current conditions persist, by 2025, almost 80% of Australian adult population will be obese or overweight. The situation is worsened by the fact that obesity is now the leading cause of early and preventable deaths in the country overtaking smoking tobacco (Monash Obesity and Diabetes Institute , 2013) a threat to life expectancy. Childhood obesity is the likely cause for children who are suffering from type 2 diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure and sleep apnea. Heart and kidney diseases as well as diabetes make 25% of diseases in Australia’s population and account for almost two thirds of the country’s deaths (Monash Obesity and Diabetes Institute , 2013). Obesity in Australia is more prevalent among populations with low incomes and less educational and environmental resources (Peeters & Backholer, 2013). This may be attributed financial constraints that prevent them from accessing healthy foods and nutritional education. Factors that lead to consumption of fast foods These are food subsidies that encourage consumption of unhealthy foodstuffs which are cheaper than healthy ones; multinational food companies supply cheap fast foods with no nutritional values. Despite a drop in global food prices, healthy options are expensive and unaffordable to majority world poor. Supermarkets and food vending stores offer discounts on bulk purchases of fast foods which encourages consumers to buy lots of it. Adverts on television are persuasive and enticing especially to teenagers and young children. Adverts use lean bodied individuals making children feel they will look like that too if they consume the foods yet the result is the total opposite. The liberalised food markets are also to blame as it allows flow of unhealthy food across countries cheaply. The figures above indicate that obesity is a pandemic in Australia that needs to be addressed. Several efforts have been made to counter it but seem they are not adequate. Several countries have successfully reversed this condition in their countries. For instance, Norway did it by employing multiple measures of food subsidies, price manipulation, nutrition labelling and raising public awareness targeted at individuals (Shah, 2010). U.S.A’s reduction of obesity in low income neighbourhoods’ children was achieved by combining a number of approaches targeted at the poor and introduction of school nutrition that could be accessed by the children. Australia has put in place federal initiatives to curb marketing of fast foods but is set back by lack of structural policies that lead to failure of the policies. A study by Monash University students revealed that 87% of schools surveyed served pies on their menus while 69% of them served salads. The average price of pies was $ 3.17 and salad was $ 3.83. In some states, the difference between pie and salad was a whole dollar with the salad being on the higher side (Monash University, 2013). The statistics show that Australian children are at risk of childhood obesity driven by social inequality. The COAG national partnership agreement is providing funds to states for obesity prevention initiatives. Healthy Together in Victoria state and OPAL in South Australia use system wide approaches and add to them local activities that address physical activity and nutrition (Peeters & Backholer, 2013). International World Health Organisation started obesity campaigns in the 1990’s by organising discussions with experts. Public awareness campaigns then followed aimed at sensitising concerned stakeholders such as medical practitioners and policy makers (World Health Organisation, 2013). WHO is also working with University of Sidney to evaluate the economic impact of obesity globally. Globalisation and socioeconomic transitions such as urbanisation have been mentioned as some of the causes of obesity. WHO is working in collaboration with New Zealand’s University of Auckland to assess the impact of such transitions on nutrition. It is also seeking to find out factors that promote ‘obesogenic’ environments (World Health Organisation, 2013). The World Health Assembly adopted the WHO Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health in 2004. It gives measures that if implemented at local, regional and international levels, healthy diets and regular physical activity pattern can be achieved. WHO has the “2008-2013 Action plan for the global strategy for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases” which was set to offer assistance to people who are battling lifelong illnesses and prevent secondary problems (World Health Organisation, 2013). Summary and Conclusion The cause of obesity is not clear in regard to fast food consumption. Fast food cheap prices in food stores may be a result of the demands of the obese population and not them being the cause of obesity. Lifestyle characteristics and other factors could be to blame. World Health Organisation recommends consumption of fruits and vegetables which are energy-dilute foods instead of foods high in fat, sugar and starch. Fruits and vegetables reduce calories consumed and boost micronutrients intake in the body (Sanigorski, A, & Swinburn, 2007). In Australia Healthy together Victoria provides healthy lifestyles plans in children settings, neighbourhoods and at work. OPAL works in South Australia neighbourhoods providing information and provides nutrition and sports facilities. With such initiatives in place obesity levels in Australia could drop. The government needs to support the regional efforts and provide a nation-wide policy. There is a public outcry from consumer groups and doctors over adverts that promote junk foods for kids. There were numerous calls for the government to ban such adverts as they are a cause of increasing obesity rates. The industry stakeholders are not likely to respond to the cries because they are likely to incur losses in their businesses and instead are blaming individuals for their choices. They are right in way as healthy lifestyle measures can be taken by individuals if they choose to. WHO recommends individuals to consume legumes, whole grains, legumes and nuts and reduce fats and sugars from diets. Regular exercising for at least 60 minutes a day for children and 150 minutes every week for adults. The community can assist individual effort by providing political commitment and making healthy diets affordable and accessible exercising facilities especially to the socioeconomically disadvantaged. National action plan to combat obesity in Australia were developed in 2004-2006 but were not funded for implementation. The only thing done so far is state and federal funded adverts on television that are not effective and community-based programs. Queensland state has been successful in implementing policies in regard to foods sold in school canteens by doing a nutrient profiling of foods and identified harmful foods that can be sold only twice a term in schools (Swinburn, 2008). Conclusion Obesity has caught the attention of the public and the political class. The stigma associated with obesity is overwhelming making the medical professions to put pressure on individuals to change their lifestyles and government to make policies to accelerate practical actions to solve obesity menace. Putting in place tough legislations and regulations that reduce obesogenic environments will be appreciated. References Amin, T. T., Al-Sultan, A. I., & Ayub, A. (2008). Overweight and obesity and their relation to dietary habits and socio-demographic characteristics among male primary school children in Al Hassa Saudi Arabia. European Journal of Nutrition , 310-318. (Electronic document). Harvard School of Public Health. (n.d.). Harvard School of Public Health » The Obesity Prevention Source » Obesity Consequences. Retrieved 09 06, 2013, from Harvard School of Public Health: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/obesity-prevention- source/obesity-consequences (Online article) Mansour, A.-N. M., Yaqoub, Y. A.-M., & al, e. (2005). Obesity in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Med Journal , 824-829. (Journal Article) Monash Obesity and Diabetes Institute . (2013, 08 06). Obesity in Australia | MODI:. 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