obesity genetics essay

world, obesity has recently become a growing epidemic and its prevalence is continuing to increase at an astonishing rate. According to Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) and National Population Health Survey (NPHS), between 1985 to 2000 there has been an increase in obesity prevalence from 5.1% to 9.3% in Canadians ages 20-64 (1). Likewise, this has significantly increased the amount of deaths due to obesity from 2,514 to 4,321 from 1985 to 2000 (1). This trend in growth in obesity will continue

The Effects of Genetics and the Environment on Obesity I. Introduction: Many human beings living in the 21st Century are obese or have a problem with obesity. A person is considered obese if they have a BMI of 30 or more. To be obese means you have an excess amount of body fat that can harm your physical and mental health. For most individuals in the population, obesity results from multiple genetic and environmental factors that may interact with, or may be correlated with, each other (Faith

With an optimal, balanced diet, children grow to their fullest genetic potential. However, prolonged undernutrition could stunt growth and negatively affect the child’s development. For example, babies who do not consume enough protein and calories suffer from marasmus. This results in a frail, small child with impaired

Studies in animals have also suggested that obesity has a genetic component. Several ‘mono-genetic’ and ‘poli-genetic’ models of obesity are based on animals. These models are used to stimulate what happens when some chemicals are not produced (like leptin in the ‘ob-ob’ mouse), or when some receptors (like leptin receptors) are reduced or malfunctioning. The set-point theory (Kennedy 1953: Nisbett, 1972) states that after dieting to reduce body weight, an animal eats more and is less dependent on

OBESITY Obesity is a disorder that involves an excessive amount of body fat that increases the risk of diseases and health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. (Mayo Clinic) Obesity is one of the number one causes of premature death in the United States and kills nearly 300,000 Americans a year. (Obesity Society) There are many causes for obesity including inactivity, unhealthy diet and eating habits, genetics, hormonal changes, certain medications, and other medical

contributions to child hood obesity. Genetic factors is one contribution to childhood obesity, but while genetics is a factor it is not the main factor in childhood obesity. Genetic factors cannot be the main contributor to the obesity because of the major increase in obesity in children cannot all be contributed to genetics. There has to other environmental factors mixed with the genetic factor to make the child extremely over weight or obese unless the child has a genetic disorder like Prader-Willi

An obesity epidemic is when there is a constant rise in the number of cases of obesity among a population. Each person in the United States has a different reaction to the types of food they consume. Obesity is influenced more by environmental factors but can also be influenced by genetic factors. Environmental factors include lack of physical activity, individual response to food, the environment itself, television consumption, the ability to super size meals, and consumption of large portion meals

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States and developing countries. Although the trend of decreased physical activity and increased caloric intake is probably responsible for the recent rise in obesity, it is important to understand that these trends are playing out on a background of genetic variation in the population. Each individual's genetic background remains an important determinant of susceptibility to obesity. Discovery of the genes involved in the development of common

causes of obesity are deemed to be multifactorial and are the result of genetic, environmental, behavioral, physiological, social, nutritional and cultural factors . Each of these factors related to the cause of obesity lead to an energy imbalance and promotes an increase in fat deposition. Rankenin et al. dected over 300 genes and gene markers that have a central role in the etiology of obesity but , the specifics on which genes promote obesity and which genes are protective against obesity is unknown

Obesity is now considered an epidemic stated by Hall and Elliman (2010) they also declared how around one to two thirds of children will go onto become obese. To be able to avert obesity there needs to be an understanding of what elements can cause obesity, but also to understand the harm it can have on the health and wellbeing of the child, this allows people to support children with the condition. This essay will delve deeper into this in relation to childhood obesity and how genetic, social and