Obesity in San Diego County; A Winnable Battle. B. Community: San Diego County is located in the south eastern corner of California and lies geographically north of the Mexican Border and south of Orange and Riverside County. (Appendix 1, Fig 1.) It covers an area greater than the states of Rhode Island and Delaware combined, measuring 4,525.52 square miles.("San Diego County," 2010) In addition to San Diego City, the county comprises of 18 incorporated cities. It is has 193 square miles that are home to 18 Native American reservations. While not the largest in population or in acreage, San Diego has most reservations of any county in the country. The county has many diverse and unique district areas, (Appendix 1, Fig 2) which range …show more content…
Nationally the obesity rates have increased 7.2% in females and 29.1% in males over the last twenty years. (Healthy People 2020, 2010) In San Diego, the Health and Human Services Department (SDHHSA) has identified that obesity is an area of focus with a goal of reducing the problem by 20% by 2010 and currently that 34.4% of the county’s population is classified as overweight and 22.1% is obese with a BMI greater than 30. Other findings reveal that there the problem is disproportionally larger in the Hispanic, African American and low income communities. (Appendix 1. Figure 5 & 6) Although San Diego boasts of a climate that encourages outdoor pursuits and an abundance of recreational spaces and parks, 13.9 % of the population report no physical activity and that 25.5 % of children do less than an hour of physical activity daily, which corresponds with a threefold increase in childhood obesity in the last 30 years. Statistical data points to greater consumption of fast food in areas where obesity is highest and that Retail Food Environment Index (RFEI) which is the ratio of grocery stores and availability of fresh produce to fast food and convenience food outlets are higher in areas where obesity levels are greater than the county norm. B3. Heath Concern: Obesity is a condition where an individual’s weight is disproportionate to their height. There are many factors
Obesity is defined as a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduce life expectancy and/or increased health problems. “The problem of obesity is increasing in the United States. Understanding the impact of social inequalities on health has become a public health priority in the new millennium. Social, political, and economic factors now are acknowledged to be "fundamental" causes of disease that affect behavior, beliefs, and biology.” (Goodman, 2003) In the United States today, obesity has become an enormous problem. In the last 3 decades, the number of people overweight has increased dramatically. Obesity has not always been seen as a medical
As time goes by, behaviors and habits alter in society. Along with modern technology such as, smart phones, television and computers are not allowing people to live a healthy lifestyle. It is important to focus on the social, behavioral and environmental factors that contributes to health issues. One health issue that impacts Fresno is obesity, a disorder involving excessive body fat. It is estimated that obesity is responsible for “nearly one of every 10 American deaths, and drain our society of $223 billion a year.” (“Obesity in America,” 2012) In effect, obesity can cause chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.
This overwhelming statistic contributes to the 17% of children that have obesity in the United States. More specifically in Texas, 19.1% of children are considered obese. Furthermore, Texas is tied for the rank of 11 for the highest obesity rates among the United States. Looking at the Brazos County every one in seven person is obese. This statistic accounts for the one half of the population is overweight or obese. In lower-income areas such as parts of the Brazos Valley, obesity rates tend to be higher compared to higher income areas. reveal to have higher obesity rates. This is because majority of low-income families have less access to healthy food and opportunity for physical activity. Lower income neighborhoods offer a higher accessibility to unhealthy food sources. In a study done on low-income areas of Los Angeles, it was shown that a greater number of fast-food restaurants congregate the low income areas of Los Angeles compared to the higher income areas of Los Angeles (Hilmers, et al., 2015). Results for similar studies done on the amount of convenience stores in certain areas show that “Low-income zip codes have 30% more conveniences stores” compared to middle-income zip codes (Hilmers, et al., 2015). Convenience stores tend to carry large amounts of snack food, a variety of beverages, and little produce. Low-income areas also reveal that the portion of recreational facilities in
One of the most commonly discussed issues of America in the last few decades has been obesity. It remains one of the biggest problems in American society and requires a careful, systematic but also immediate solution. Obesity is a term used to describe body weight that is much greater than what is considered healthy. Today, 65% of adults in the U.S. are overweight and half of those are obese. The rates for children are smaller but they are not satisfying either: 15% are overweight and another 15% are headed that way (Lemonick). Besides the aesthetic problems for many people that this condition creates, it is most importantly known as the main cause of serious health problems as well.
Obesity is a highly prevalent condition in America, affecting approximately one third of the adult American population. Obesity can be caused by a myriad of factors: genetics,
Obesity is a medical condition in which excess fats have grown and accumulated to the point of harm, and a shortened life expectancy. Obesity is a problem that has been more prominent in the 20th and 21st century and is now a main concern for both society and the government. It is the citizen’s duty to resolve this epidemic known as obesity in the United States.
The number of obese citizens in the United States is growing greatly. In a recent study, over 35% of Americans are not only overweight, but obese. While overweight just means you’re over the normal weight for your height, weight, and/or sex, obesity is a disease marked by excessive generalized deposition and storage of fat with a body mass over 30. Obesity is most commonly found in low-income families. The families that struggle to afford healthy food resort to fast food restaurants which are cheaper, low quality and high-fat foods. Low-income neighborhoods lack the proper farmers market and grocery stores that can give these families alternatives other than KFC, Popeyes, McDonald’s, and Burger King. The reason why many of these families
Obesity: one of the nation’s most critical health problems. “Overweight is defined as having excess body weight for a particular height from fat, muscle, bone, water, or a combination of these factors. Obesity is defined as having excess body fat” (“Centers for Disease Control and Prevention”). When energy input and output get out of balance, obesity arises. Many factors can cause someone to become obese such as genetics, metabolism, level of physical activity, and more. “Overweight and obesity are the result of “caloric imbalance”—too few calories expended for the amount of calories consumed—and are affected by various genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors” (“CDC Features - Obesity & Genetics”). “When a person eats and drinks more calories than he or she burns, the energy balance tips toward weight gain, overweight, and obesity” (“Understanding Adult Overweight and Obesity”). Obesity is increasing throughout the United States due to lack of healthy behaviors, big health risk, genetics and increasing in children and adults.
Obesity is the terminology used when an individual has too much body fat. Obesity occurs over time when people eat more calories than they use. The balance between calories in and calories out differs from person to person. Other factors that might affect a person’s weight include their genetic susceptibility, overeating, eating high fat foods, and lack of physical active. Being obese increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, arthritis, and some cancers. Although, the attention of the health profession, the media, and mass educational campaigns about the benefits of healthier diets and increased physical activity, the prevalence of obesity in the United States has doubled over the past three decades. In the United States obesity
Obesity is described by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as unusual or extreme fat growth that presents a risk to a person’s health. Obesity is a complex disease with multiple drivers such as
Although many individuals are uncertain about the increasing statistics associated with obesity, more than seventy percent of men and virtually sixty-two percent of women within the United States adult population are overweight or obese (Wilmore, Costill, & Kenney). Obesity refers to the condition of having an excessive amount of body fat. If an individual’s amount of body fat becomes too excessive, he/she is at a much greater risk of developing life-altering diseases such as heart failure, hypertension, type II diabetes, cancer, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, etc. (Wilmore, et al., 2008).
Obesity is a major problem in the United States that has been increasing over the years. It is not only a problem in the States, but it is a problem around the world. It is an issue because obesity is a public health problem; therefore, obesity can lead to an unhealthy lifestyle and may cause relatable diseases and even death. It is a well-known health problem in U.S. due to the growing population. According to OAC (Obesity Action Coalition), “obesity is a condition that has to do with having an excess of body fat, this is defined by genetic and environmental factors that are difficult to control when dieting”.
Obesity has rapidly emerged as a serious health issue in America. The cause of obesity results from America’s social injustices. Today, food advertisements are in all places promoting an unhealthy lifestyle. Considering the great expense of healthy foods, low income families can barely afford fruits and vegetables. These two factors contribute to the increasing obesity rate in the United States. Unfortunately, it has taken an excessive amount of Americans to become obese for America to become aware of the issue and take action. Although obesity is still an increasing problem, America is fighting to reduce the number of obese citizens. As a result of low income and the media advertising unhealthy lifestyles, America is in the midst of an obesity epidemic.
Obesity is a growing health concern in the United States. According to Porth (2015), obesity is defined as having excess body fat, enlarged fat cells, and/or having an increased number of fat cells. National Institute of Health 2016 also describe obesity as weighing excessively higher than what is considered a healthy weight for a given a stature. Obesity is increasing rapidly in adolescents and children. Obesity is a major risk for diabetes mellitus type 2, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea and respiratory problems, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2015). Contributing factors to obesity include genetic, hormonal imbalance, metabolic disorders, immunological
Obesity is the buildup of excess body fat, caused by the ingestion of more food than the body can use in which the extra calories are stored as fat. Obesity is measured by taking BMI, or body mass index of the person which is their height and weight and putting it into a formula. As stated by The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica, “A BMI between 25.0 and 29.9 equates with overweight and 30.0 and above with obesity. Morbid obesity (also known as extreme, or severe, obesity) is defined as a BMI of 40.0 or higher” (“Obesity” Britannica). In the United States, obesity is one of the easiest medical conditions to recognize but one of the most complicated diseases to cure. Obesity is often cured by taking pills and having surgeries done to the