Severe Problems Related to Weight Gain And Obesity Across the World - Coursework Example

OBESITY Introduction Over the past few decades, individuals across the world are experiencing severe problems related to weight gain and obesity. Theproportion of healthy individuals to obese and unhealthy individuals is considerably high (Freeman, 2010). From an individual point of view, it does indicate a massive cause for concern because obesity is a part of a long list of diseases and health disorders which have impaired the fitness levels in human beings (Zhao, 2011). Role of Government According to Young (2000), cure to obesity is a major expense in itself which must be borne by governments and health institutes of a specific country. For instance, in the USA, obesity increases eighty billion dollars per annum to the annual medical spending by the government of USA (Yogev, 2009). There are very few estimates for this issue serious issue but one thing is for certain that if not controlled instantly, obesity could be one of the biggest global health issues. WHO (World Health Organization) has predicted that in the years to come, obesity will soon be able to replace severe global health concerns which include malnutrition and other infectious diseases because obesity does not indicate fatness but it certainly indicates poor health. Due to its severity, obesity has been regarded as a severe health issue and has caused a huge increase in public costs and has a massive effect on public health. Health organizations like WHO have certainly been able to understand and realize the factors which are responsible for the increase in obesity in global population. Various solutions have been proposed at changing the factors which are responsible for causing excess consumption of food and energy resources and which deter physical activity in individuals. According to Young (2000), unhealthy eating habits have been common in school children and various methods and strategies have been proposed to mitigate these issues. These efforts include subsidized and nutritious meal programs in schools and they limit direct junk food marketing for children and simultaneously decrease access towards high caloric beverages and fizzy drinks in schools. To increase the promotion of healthy habits and to eradicate obesity, efforts such as an increase in access to parks and pedestrian routes have been highly encouraged. Various countries as well as governments have published reports which relate directly to to obesity. For instance, The Canadian government, in 2006, had published the "Canadian Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) which had focused for the management as well as prevention of obesity in Adults as well as Children. (Walker & Hill, 2009). It was a highly comprehensive approach which had thorough evidence-based guideline which had also addressed prevention of obesity in adults as well as children. The approach of the Canadian government has focused on the fact that weight maintenance is more important rather than weight loss and was recommended for children as well as adolescents and teenagers. The key goal in this regard was not only weight loss rather it was weight maintenance and various additional interventions were implemented in this regard by the government of Canada. Ways that governments should interfere in the obesity issues It is a travesty that the roots of obesity are not merely related to individuals but they are integral to various big corporations. It is evident from the profitability of massive fast food chain including McDonalds, KFC, Subway and rest of the multi-million dollar chains across USA, that obesity has an economical impact implicit with it. Although indirectly, but this does raise a very important fact. Neither the rich nor the poor who are in the clutches of obesity but it is those people who have been living below the poverty line have been constantly gaining weight at a massively rapid pace and are even under a massive threat which can influence them to have various health related problems on a consistent basis. General perception says that being fat does indicate being healthier (Freeman, 2010). However, According to various scientific evidences this notion can’t be true: It could be possible to be fat but still being malnourished and unhealthy. Tough economic and financial conditions force people who belong to middle and lower middle class to eat cheap as well as unhealthy food which badly affects their health. This unhealthy practice does have a bad impact on their health and it causes a highly negative impact on their health. Government across the world, along with other health bodies and NGO’s can implement some very important health measures which can help in controlling the problem of obesity and also in mitigating these critical health issues (Walker & Hill, 2009). Some of these important measures include increasing rate of tax on fast food, enhancing the level of awareness by spreading health education and imposing rigid measures on the branding and advertising of fast food and beverages. It is evident that body weight is synchronized by a highly complex system which focuses on interactions among different components of energy and power balance and work along with feedback mechanisms which are able to regulate human appetite, energy intake as well as high utilization of energy. Among individuals, the excess weight which arises due to energy imbalance is stored as body fat. Obesity brings along with it various other chronic diseases which include diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, sugar, cancers and also health as well as eating disorders (Wadden, 1999). It is still interesting to note that causes of obesity are relatively complex. The combination of Diet along with physical activity is integral to energy balance, but they are also influenced directly by a wide range of social, cultural, environmental, genetic and physiological factors. Obesity is more of a psychological issue because for individuals across the world, weight lose is relatively difficult to avoid and extremely difficult to maintain. It is important for individuals who are obese to design which can help them to use at a level which can help them in eliminating obesity and also help in acknowledging the fact that individual choices can also be shaped through in a much wider context. For adults, it is difficult to adapt to a multi-component lifestyle because it requires intense discipline and self control but this approach can certainly brings a plethora of health benefits with it. Along with it, various other intensive interventions which include low-energy diets as well as health medication will certainly help people in reducing their weight and will assist in motivation level while also continuing along with lifestyle change which is integrated with weight loss and weight control (Zhao, 2011). Comparison between the actions taken by both the UK government and the French government French Government The problem of obesity in France is considered a highly critical health issue and various steps have been taken in recent years by the French government to mitigate this issue. It is considered a serious political and legal issue in France. In 2005, The French government had implemented a law which focused on banning soda and fizzy drink making machines from schools and even proposed a ban on advertising and marketing of Soda and Cola drinks. The French government also imposed a 1.5% tax on advertising budgets as well as food companies which are against healthy eating (Sciolino, 2006). However, in 2008, France became the first European Union country which stated that childhood obesity rates within the country have leveled off significantly. On the contrary, there has been a huge increase in childhood obesity in several other European countries (Lambert, 2008). UK government The government of United Kingdom has taken several measures to mitigate the issues arising due to obesity. In 2000, British Prime Minister Tony Blair implemented certain crucial steps which focused on improving school lunches and proposed a ban on food which was unhealthy for children. Not only that, the British government also injected almost £280 Million which would later on help in the school meals plan (Wang & Veugelers, 2008). In 2011, UK Prime Minister David Cameron had told media reporters that his government is planning to implement a Fat-tax, which will focus on eradicating obesity from UK (Campbell, 2013). The proposed plan gained immense popularity in the future years and various British doctors had demanded at least 20% Fat tax to be implicated on cola and fizzy drinks and proposed healthier eating habits for the citizens of UK (The Guardian, 2011). Conclusion It is evident from the research that the prime reason why obesity occurs in individuals is due to unhealthy eating habits as well as very limited or negligible physical activity. This does indicate the fact that we as humans are capable of preventing obesity but do not take the full responsibility for eradicating it. Not only individuals but also governments as well as corporations are directly capable to prevent as well as reduce obesity. Due to this reason, it is highly important that governments across the world are able to tackle this serious issue with optimum care. It is also important for people across the world have to realize the fact that taking care of health is extremely important to live a prosperous life. It is highly important for Governments, Medical institutes and individuals across the world to form a mutual alliance which creates a win-win situation. REFERENCES Campbell, D. (2013). "Obesity crisis: doctors demand soft drinks tax and healthier hospital food". The Guardian (London) Guardian (2011), "UK could introduce fat tax, says David Cameron". The Guardian (London) Freeman, S. (2010). "Obesity still eating away at health of the nation", Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 18 December 2010 Lambert, V. (2008), "The French children learning to fight obesity", London: The Telegraph. Retrieved 5 July 2010 Sciolino, E. (2006), "France Battles a Problem That Grows and Grows: Fat", New York Times, Retrieved 28 June 2010 Wadden, T. (1999), Behavioral treatment of the overweight patient, Baillieres Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab 13(1): 93–107. Walker, L. & Hill A (2009), Obesity: The role of child mental health services. Child Adol Ment Health 14: 114–20. Wang, F. & Veugelers, P (2008), Self-esteem and cognitive development in the era of the childhood obesity epidemic. Obesity Rev 9: 615-23. Yogev, Y (2009) Obesity, gestational diabetes and pregnancy outcome, Sem Fetal Neonatal Med 14: 77–84. Young, T. (2000) Childhood obesity in a population at high risk for type 2 diabetes. J Pediatr 136(3): 365–69. Zhao, G. (2011) Waist circumference, abdominal obesity, and depression among overweight and obese U.S. adults: national health and nutrition examination survey 2005–2006. BMC Psychiatr 11:130. Read More