Human Health and Food Industry - Outline Example

?“What contribution can the food industry make to the problem of human health (heart disease, hypertension and obesity) in society. Table of ContentsTable of Contents 2 Chapter one 3 1.0 Introduction 3 2.0 Statement of the problem 5 3.0 Objectives 6 4.0 Research questions 6 Chapter two 6 1.0Literature review 6 Bibliography 9 Chapter one 1.0 Introduction Today food industry has contributed to several health problems in the society. Among them is obesity and it results in other different health problems such as the heart disease and hypertension. These diseases are chronic and long-term. They are also not contagious and are largely preventable. The trend in the current society is that its environment has changed rapidly and the food options and the eating habits have broadened. Several groceries have products of different selection. The foods that are more accessible to most individuals today include those in pre-packed containers, fast food restaurants and soft drinks. Regardless of these foods types being fast and convenient they are harmful to the human health in that they contain high contents of fats, sugar and calories. Hence, consumption of such kinds of foods contributes greatly to the calorie intake that is excessive. Most foods today are marketed as healthy, low fat and fat free; however as compared to the fatty foods they intend to replace they may have high content of calories. Continuous consumption of diet which has high content of calories, fats and sugar can result in obesity (Chambers and Wakley, 2002). According to Keller (2008), obesity is best known to be a medical condition where an individual has accumulation of excess body fat. This may have a significant impact on one’s health hence, reducing an individual’s life expectancy and resulting in other health problems. Obesity increases the chances of other different diseases such as the heart disease and hypertension (Eckel, 2003). An individual is predisposed by these conditions to insulin resistance a case in which glucose cannot be absorbed and utilized by the fat, muscle and other different cells from the blood for energy. The food that are mostly associated with the high levels of blood sugar acquisition and aggravation include diet that is rich in fatty foods such as the processed meats, bacon, soda and drinks that are artificially sweetened, milk, cheese and butter, oily foods, beverages such as alcohol and wine, honey, desserts and fruit juices with high sugar content. In these modern times, the heart disease, hypertension and obesity are common problems. The problem of obesity has to be handled seriously. Societies today have depended highly on energy-dense, big-portion and fast-food meals. The major concern is the connection between the consumption of fast food and obesity. Hypertension has largely been attributed to diet as playing a key role. Hypertension common causes include excessive intake of refined foods such as high cholesterol diet, fried food and fats particularly the saturated fatty acids and excessive common salt intake. Heart disease risk factors are greatly contributed by poor diet which results in overweight and obesity. Heart diseases results mostly from different kinds of unhealthy foods. These include those with high level of cholesterol, unhealthy fats, and excess calories. In addition to this, are the junk foods and those with too much salt and sodium. The risk of these chronic diseases can be reduced by changing the diet. This is possible through the consumption of diet with low fats and sugars and rich in vegetables, fruits and whole grain foods. Due to the global rapid increase of diseases that are nutrition related, food industries have been involved in the search of appropriate solutions. They have been criticized for its contributions to rise of obesity, heart diseases and hypertension. Food industries have provided several options which can enable individuals to eat health in the fight of different health problems. Food industries have tried to reduce the increased calories, sugar and fats contents. Example of products produced in the fight of different health diseases include; high-fiber foods and whole grains such as whole wheat bread and pasta, brown rice, dairy products with low fat content such as skim milk, plain yoghurt and cottage cheese. In addition to these, food industries have also focused on different seeds and few varieties of nuts and proteins of high quality that have low fat content such as turkey, legumes and fish. 2.0 Statement of the problem According to Weiss et al. (1991), most countries are facing difficult problems both medical and psychological. Obesity has gained popularity as a term used for a set of problems that result in premature death and even injury from different diseases. It is a problem which affects both the adults and the children as well (Ostman, 2004). In most cases, childhood obesity adds to health problems and obese and overweight adults’ faces greater likelihood of other health problems such as the heart disease and hypertension. According to Smith, (1999), children who are obese at an early age have greater risk of becoming obese or overweight when they reach adulthood. This problem is greatly attributed to various food industries that are in operation today. They produce variety of foods that are refined and processed with higher content of fats, sugar and calories. Today most people prefer fast and convenient foods especially those which are in pre-packed containers, fast food restaurants and soft drinks. Few people still take advantage of the existing farmers markets and fresh foods that are healthy. 3.0 Objectives i. To determine the health problems caused by unhealthy foods ii. To establish how poor diet contribute to different health problems iii. To establish the kind of products that food industry may make to reduce the health problems 4.0 Research questions i. What are the health problems that results from different unhealthy foods? ii. How does poor diet contribute to various health problems? iii. What are the food products that are produce by the food industry with the aim of reducing the health problems? 5.0 Significance of the study The study will be of great significance in that it will enlighten communities on various diseases and problems caused by unhealthy eating habits. Hence, will help them to be able make informed decisions on the kind of foods they consume. The study also becomes literature review for scholars who may wish to study more. Chapter two 1.0 Literature review Food industry has contributed greatly to different health problems in the world today. Individuals in Society are faced with different challenges such as obesity, hypertension and hearth diseases. According to Gumbiner (2001), obesity is known to be a condition where individuals have a high proportion of fat that is abnormal. In most cases, people who are overweight and obese are more likely to suffer from heart diseases and hypertension. Strong correlation exists between obesity and heart disease. Among other risk factors contributed by obesity towards this condition are high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Individuals can handle their weight in different ways such as exercises, healthy eating habits and even diet pills. However, first it is important to know the main causes of obesity as it helps one to know how to handle the problem. The first cause is overeating unhealthy diet from food industries and this contributes greatly to an individual’s bulky body. Sedentary lifestyle also plays a key role in one’s bulkiness. Nowadays, most people are inactive and have become lazy. They are involved in work that involves less physical activity. Mechanized transportation and the labor saving technology in homes have increased dramatically. Among the children, physical activity has reduced greatly due to minimal walking and physical education. People today are involved in leisure activities that do not require much of their energy. Among both the adults and the children, the risk of obesity is also linked to the time spend in viewing television. There is increased childhood obesity rate due to increased media exposure. Finally, obesity has also been attributed to genetics and environmental factors. Hence, considering all these factors together with the current type of foods from different food industries the lives of many individuals is faced with great danger. Possible solutions have to be sought, and food industries have to play a key role. Industries should reduce on unnecessary fats and calories considering that most individuals today are inactive. Work has been simplified and people no longer use a lot of energy to perform the activities they are involved in. Individuals also have to be keen on what they eat in order to reduce problems concerning their health. Whether trying to loose or maintain one’s weight, it is important to check on the eating habits and improve on them. Individuals should consider taking variety of foods such as whole grain foods and plenty of fruits and vegetables. These kinds of foods are low in calories as compared to foods with high content of oils and fats. Bibliography Chambers, R, & Wakley, G 2002, Obesity and Overweight Matters in Primary Care Radcliffe Publishing, UK. Eckel, R 2003, Obesity: mechanisms and clinical management, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, USA. Fletcher, G, et al. 1999, Obesity: impact on cardiovascular disease Wiley-Blackwell, USA. Garde, A 2010, Obesity Prevention: Role for the European Union, Kluwer Law International, Gumbiner, B 2001, Obesity, ACP Press, USA. Institute of Medicine, 2005, Committee on Prevention of Obesity in Children and Youth: Preventing Childhood Obesity: Health in the Balance, National Academies Press; Washington. Keller, K 2008, Encyclopedia of obesity, SAGE, London. Ludwig DS, & Nestle M 2008, Can the Food Industry Play a Constructive Role in the Obesity Epidemic?, vol. 300, no. 15, pp.1808-1811. Ostman, J 2004, Treating and preventing obesity, Wiley-VCH, USA. Sattar, N & Lean, M 2007, ABC of Obesity, Wiley-Blackwell, USA. Smith, C 1999, Understanding childhood obesity, Univ. Press of Mississippi,USA. Weiss et al. 1991, Health at work, Routledge, London. Yach D, Feldman Z, Bradley D,& Khan, M 2010, Can the food industry help tackle the growing global burden of under nutrition?, vol. 100, no.2, pp.240-6. Read More