Causes and effects of obesity - Essay Example

19th June Causes and effects of obesity: Obesity has become quite common in the contemporary age. This paper looks into some causes and effects of obesity. Obesity is the result of the modern way of living and causes many upsetting psychological and physical consequences. The modern life has become so mechanical that people find it hard to find time for cooking at home. Although the standard of living has improved in general, yet many people have to spend most of their day at the workplace in order to make both ends meet.

In such a hectic routine, purchasing ingredients from the market and cooking food at home is not only a time consuming activity, but also proves far more expensive than a burger with coke and French fries at a nearby restaurant. Therefore, most of the working people opt for fast food. Fast food owners sell their business on the theme of upsizing. People do not realize but the fast food adds kilos of fat under their skin in no time. In addition to consuming junk food, people’s lack of tendency to exercise and work out regularly also makes them gain weight.

Most people do not have a habit of going on a walk or doing exercise because it feels just too boring and tiresome to adopt as a habit. Whenever people find some time in the busy routine, an obvious choice is to watch a new movie or enjoy ice-cream at the nearest parlor. People eat not because they are feeling hungry. Instead, they eat because they want to kill the time in an enjoyable manner. Also, in the contemporary age, eating junk food has become more of a fashion than a hobby. People consume junk food not just because they like it, but because it is “inn”.

As a result of this, people gain weight. Obesity can ruin an individual’s social life, particularly if he/she is excessively sensitive about the way he/she looks. The way an individual looks inculcates a feeling in him/her of content or discontent. When one looks good, one feels good and one’s self esteem is raised. On the other hand, bad looks shatter one’s confidence which may have many bad consequences. The individual may consequently suffer from the body dysmorphic disorder and may put himself/herself into social exclusion.

Apart from the psychological effects of obesity, it also ruins the physical health of the individual. An obese person feels lethargic, and is not able to do intense work. Obesity increases an individual’s susceptibility to the problems of heart like the coronary artery disease and heart attack. The fat deposition in the veins obstructs the supply of oxygenated blood to the heart as a result of which, an individual may suddenly have a heart attack and die. Thus, obesity may prove fatal in extreme circumstances.

A potential reason that makes fast food a usual choice of people in many advanced countries of the world is the fact that it is cheap and is easily available in all commercial areas. People are so immersed in their works that there is no time for home-cooking. Also, eating has become a means of enjoyment. The first bad thing that obesity does to an individual is ruining his/her looks which may upset the individual psychologically. Obesity also increases the individual’s susceptibility to heart diseases.

Thus, obesity has many unfortunate psychological and physical consequences for the sufferer.