The Obesity Rate Of Obesity Essay

Obesity has been increasingly taking over the nation in the past 30 years or more. Although food choices are different from person to person, the underlying cause is not primarily the individual’s choice, but a combination of predetermined inherent attributes. Race, gender, social class, and age have significant roles in how obesity affects the nation.

Fast food is responsible for the increase of obesity rates in Western nations. In order to curb obesity rates, government regulation from the local level is necessary. The fast food corporations are responsible for the obesity epidemic because they make false health claims about their food and market heavily to children. But critics of regulation state that individuals, along with their food choices are responsible for the obesity epidemic. But regulation proponents believe that fast food needs regulation because of high obesity rates in poor inner city neighborhoods. In order to curb current obesity rates, local governments must intervene by implementing fast food regulations.

To me obesity is a major concern throughout America and has driven our country to become the second most obese country (behind Mexico) in the world. It really didn’t dawn onto me on how big our country is pertaining to obesity until I started my Agronomy class this semester. On the first day of class my teacher informed us on how Louisiana has been ranked the most obese state for the first time in eight years in our nation, and as he went on I started to ask myself, “How could this happen?” Of course I started to ponder about Louisiana’s seafood and other delicate cuisine that people can’t get enough of which might cause an over indulgence of eating but that couldn’t be enough to cause obesity in Louisiana or even the nation. Well my

Obesity is becoming an outrageous and alarming health issue in today’s society. Children are rapidly getting engulfed by this pandemic every day. According to the book Public Health 101: Health People-Healthy Populations, pandemic can be defined as, “An epidemic occurring worldwide, or over a very wide area, crossing international boundaries and affecting a large number of people” (Riegelman, Kirkwood, 2015). The World Health Organization estimates that 43 million children worldwide are overweight or obese, with the United States leading the numbers (WHO, 2016). About one in three children and teenagers in America are obese. Obesity can lead to a variety of other serious health issues, such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma, high blood pressure, and other health risks. Finding effective interventions and programs to reverse obesity rates is essential. Obesity is one hundred percent preventable and treatable.

Obesity rates are soaring throughout North America (What Is Obesity?, 2013). With obesity reaching almost epidemic proportions in the United States, and the threat of a global epidemic, we must watch this alarming increase carefully ( Health Risks of Obesity, 2013). Obesity is defined as: "…an excess of adipose tissue…" (A Report of the Surgeon General, 2014). The two most common measures of obesity are Body Mass Index (BMI is a ratio of weight to height) and relative weight index, such as percent desirable weight (Body Mass Index , 2013). BMI is the most frequently used measure of obesity as it has a strong correlation with more direct measures of adiposity, such as underwater weighing (A Report of the Surgeon General, 2013). Some

Obesity can be defined as an abnormal increase in the proportion of fat cells, mainly in the viscera and subcutaneous tissues of the body (Mosby, 2010). The official medical measure of obesity is the body mass index (BMI), an index of an individual’s weight relative to height. The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines obesity as having a BMI greater than or equal to 30 (World Health Organisation, 2015). New Zealand (NZ) ranks 3rd highest for obesity rates amongst OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries with 1 in 9 children classified as obese (Statistics New Zealand, 2015). The rate of childhood obesity in NZ has increased from 8% in 2006/7 to 11% in 2014/15 (Ministry of Health, 2015). Obesity is of particular concern amongst children due to the association with a wide range of health conditions and an increased risk of early onset illness. Obese children are more likely to be obese adults and have impaired glucose tolerance and hypertension at a younger age. Obesity in children is also associated with asthma and musculoskeletal problems as well as mental health problems due to low self-esteem and depression (Ministry of Health, 2015). This essay will discuss the environmental factors that aid the prevalence of this health issue. Also, discussion will be had about the environmental worldview that is reflected by this situation. Lastly, the role of government laws and policies in the management of this issue will be analysed.

If you were to walk down the street right at this moment and look around, what would you see? You would probably see street signs, animals, buildings and people. However, if you were to look specifically at the people you would probably find that not many people are in good shape, they are either overweight or obese. According to the world health organization, obesity worldwide has doubled since 1980 and in 2014 it was recorded that 1.9 billion adults were obese. Thirty-nine percent of the adults were overweight and thirteen percent were obese. In 2013 it was recorded that 42 million children under the age of five were either overweight or obese. Unfortunately, in today’s society, the obesity rate is exceedingly high and will continue to increase if nothing is done about it. Obesity is caused by an over consumption of unhealthy foods and unhealthy foods are foods that classified as being high in sugar, fat and sodium. Over eating/ drinking these products not only lead to obesity, but also type 2 diabetes. According to www.diabetes.org type two diabetes contributes to a variety of different health issues such as foot complication, kidney disease, high blood pressure, and strokes. The problem with these products is that they have no nutritional value and are very high in bad fat, sugar and salt. This can mean that some people become addicted and can abuse these products. Another issue is that these products are being used as a replacement for healthy, nutritious foods. For

During 2011-2014, over one-third of adults in America had obesity (Ogden, et al. 1). Politicians and tax researchers have come up with a plan to reduce the prevalence of obesity, by implementing an excise tax on items containing an excessive amount sugars. On average, sugar adds almost two-hundred kilocalories to a person’s diet, and these sugars provide no nutritional value (Brownell, et al. 1599). Type two diabetes and obesity link to consumption of sugary beverages, which is a reason they are a target. There is a debate about how the United States should handle the recent rise in obesity. Some Democratic legislators across the country propose an excise tax on items containing sugar. Opponents of the excise tax believe people will naturally stop drinking sodas because they will become educated about the effects of the sugars over time. In contrast, proponents believe the excise tax is more feasible than waiting for citizens to learn about the effects of a high sugar diet. Moreover, the tax would be beneficial to the obesity epidemic by encouraging consumers to buy the healthier options, decreasing the cost of Medicare and Medicaid, and investing the revenue in programs that are proven to help people with obesity.

The start of my obesity issue was when I was in 2nd grade, and I found my dad’s hidden collection of the most desirable candies known to man. He had juicy, caramel snickers bars, and the most delicious jellybeans that I have ever had. From that moment on something clicked in my mind and candy was all I could think about. I was not like the usual 4th grader who would love to play around, jump, run, hula-hoop, and participate in games. There were other 2nd graders who were like me and did not like to play sports, but they all had other interests like: arts and crafts, musical instruments, or theater. I did not like any of those activities. I would sit on the bench in the schoolyard and eat all the candy that I stole from my house, the night before. Once I finished all my candy, that I stole, I would go through all the other kids bags and take theirs. This was my daily routine for the rest of my 2nd grade.

Over the past several decades, the prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased in the United States of America. Many of the results related to obesity considered to be an adult disease in the past, now obesity also affects young peoples ' body healthy. In children and adolescents, obesity increases the risk of adult obesity with complications. For example, hypertension, diabetes and heart disease are well known. Obesity in children and adolescents will be a prevalent and costly disease. Overweight and obesity are highly prevalent in adults and children at global level.

In the United States, obesity has become an enormous problem, both literally and figuratively. This extra weight has become a burden, taking its toll on the health of Americans by making them vulnerable to a range of diseases, including type 2 diabetes, stroke, atherosclerosis, osteoarthritis, and reproductive problems. As a result, public health officials, policy makers, and large parts of the health community are paying increasing amounts of attention to this issue, from the formulation of school lunch policies that ensure healthier options are available to children, to the implementation of “diet” or “low fat” products to counter the ever-growing spread of obesity. Although obesity has become a hot topic among today’s policy makers and health officials, it is not a new problem, with trends of obesity being noted as far back as 50 years ago. Douglas Coleman, a pioneer in the field of pathophysiological causes of obesity, noticed that “excess fat affect[ed] health and disease” in mice (Wood 16). This research, was in part, catalyzed by the numerous changes in diet that occurred at the time, which led scientists to establish tentative links between these new food consumption trends and newly rising obesity rates. After half a century and the combined research resulting from thousands of experiments, these shaky links have evolved into much stronger relationships. In the past fifty years, changes in food consumption have led to a marked increase in the rates of American

From the surveillance report, the rate for adult aged 18years and above met the guideline for aerobic physical activity and muscle-strengthening activity increased by 23.6 % hence, exceeding Healthy people 2020 target of 20.1%. But this did not reflect on the rate of obesity among 20 years and over whose rate increased by 13.9% (Chin, Kahathuduwa & Binks, 2016). On physical activity, the report indicated 18% of above 18 years met the federal physical activity guideline (Setiadi & Witjaksono, 2013). Additionally male adult had the higher rate of 40% compared to female (26.3%). On the education, the report indicated the higher rate of meeting physical activity by 18-24 years compared to 25-64 years. There was also a case where the adult had

I originally wanted to enter into the field of dietetics after writing a 10 page research paper on obesity in America. After completing the paper I found I was very interested in nutrition and decided to see if there was a career I could make of it. Once I found that Kent State offered a program in Nutrition and Dietetics, I switched my major and immediately started enjoying the major. The hard sciences such as Biochemistry and Physiology fascinated me the most; learning about how the human body functioned was incredible. Then furthering my learning about macro and micronutrient utilization I found it amazing the way the human body works to utilize these nutrients and the key roles they play in the body. This past year I started volunteering at Campus Kitchen where we prepare meals for those less fortunate. Here I found my place quickly, helping the kitchen managers with the day to day activities such as instructing volunteers and delegating work duties to volunteers. I have also helped the managers plan meals and take a lead role when it came to a few injuries. Campus Kitchen helped me to realize my love for leading others and cooking, this is what has pushed me towards the food service field and looking forward to becoming a food service director.

36.5% of Americans are considered to be obese (Adult obesity facts, 2016, September 1). This does not include the many more that are considered to be overweight. This breaks down to 35% of people are obese in 4 states, 30% in another 25 states, and all states have at least 20% of people being obese (Obesity rates and trends, 2016, September). These are staggering amounts.

According to Gary D. Foster, author of the article Primary Physicians’ Attitudes about Obesity and it’s Treatment ,this disease become epidemic in the society and not being solved as the patients’ fears to treat obesity is mainly due to their negative approaches towards this problem.