Obesity is defined as an excessively high amount of body fat in relation to lean body mass. Genetics, nutrition, physical activity, and family routines are all leading causes of the increase in American obesity. If one parent is obese, there is a 50% chance that the child will be obese, this study shows how obesity is carried down, being the reason obesity is increasing
(National Heart, Lungs, and Blood Institute, Health Risk 1). Day to day money is directly spent on medical care and prescription drugs related to obesity. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, obesity is becoming a national epidemic, with the Center for Disease
Control, noting that around 15% of children and adolescents are now overweight. In the last forty years, the percentage of Americans who are overweight has doubled, meaning that an abundance of people have been affected negatively by these following health issues: diabetes, sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease and joint problems (1).
Diabetes is a drastic effect of obesity. Statistically, overweight people are twice as likely to develop type II diabetes as people who are not overweight. Metabolic Syndrome is the name given to a group of risk factors that raise the risk for both diabetes and stroke. There are six major components of Metabolic Syndrome, which include abdominal obesity, elevated blood cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, insulin resistance with or without glucose intolerance, elevated of certain clotting factors in the blood. According to “The National
Cholesterol Education Program”, Metabolic Syndrome has the complex risk factor for cardiovascular disease (Stanford Hospital and Clinics, Health Effects of Obesity 1). Ischemic stro... ... middle of paper ...
... Whether a person is trying to lose or maintain their weight you are still helping your overall health
(Everyday Health, Obesity Dangers 1).
Works Cited
Stewart, Kristen. "The Dangers of Obesity." EverydayHealth.com. Everyday Health
Media, 4 Aug. 2009. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.
"Obesity Information." Obesity Information. American Heart Association, Feb. 2014. Web. 19 Apr. 2014.
Mayo Clinic Staff. "Obesity." Definition. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.
"Health Effects of Obesity." Stanford Hospital & Clinics. Stanford Hospital & Clinics, n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.
"What Are the Health Risks of Overweight and Obesity?" - NHLBI, NIH. National Institute of Health, 13 July 2012. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.
"Health Risks." Obesity Prevention Source. The President and Fellows of Harvard College, n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2014.
Obesity remains an extremely serious issue worldwide. Once considered a problem for wealthier counties, overweight and obesity are now dramatically increasing in low and middle income countries (WHO, 2011). In American, the rates of obesity continue to soar. CDC (2009) recognizes obesity as a risk factor for diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and other health problems. According to NHANES over two-thirds of the US are overweight or obese, and over one-third are obese (CDC, 2009). Treatment for this illness varies; it may include the incorporation of diet, exercise, behavior modification, medication, and surgery. Since there is no single cause of all overweight and obesity, there is no single way to prevent or treat overweight and obesity that will help everyone (CDC, 2009).
Those who are observing the concerns of medicalization have brought up the fact that the pharmaceutical industry can and will increase the preventive measures for health care and affect many. Obesity is one of the most deadly public health crises of the 21st century. Globally, at least 2.8 million adults die each year as a result of being overweight or obese [24]. In the United States, it’s the second leading cause of preventable death (WHO,
"Treating Obesity Vital For Public Health, Physicians Say." Science Daily. 2006. Web. 10 May 2014. .
“Obesity Information.” American Heart Association Obesity Information. American heart Association, 27 February 2014. Web. 04 Apr. 2014
Amongst one of the bigger health issues in United States children is obesity. Obesity is a condition in which a person has accumulated an excess amount of body fat that it has become detrimental to their health. To track this health professionals use the term “obese” when a person has a body mass index (BMI) of over 30. Although BMI should not be the only determining factor of whether or not you child is obese as it only takes into account of height and weight, it is one of the better known systems of telling whether or not a person is overweight or obese (Nichols). Obesity comes with a range of other health conditions that can include but are not limited to cancer, diabetes, and depression. Not only do children and teens who suffer from obesity acquire many health diseases, they also tend to get failing grades and are bullied amongst peers. Most Americans correlate being obese with having an unhealthy lifestyle, but according to a 2006 Fox News article there may be other factors that attribute to obesity that include smoking, medicine, pollution, technology and lack of sleep. (“10 Causes of Obesity Other Than Overeating”). One part that does although indeed play a role in to child obesity rates is economics.
Understanding how obesity is affecting American adults and American children, will help prevent future problems with obesity.
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).
Since the 1960?s obesity in America has more than tripled regardless of sex or race. Today 30.5 percent, or 69 million, American Adults are considered obese (?AOA Fact Sheets? np). In addition, 13 percent of children aged 6-11 years old are considered overweight, and well on their way to becoming obese. Obesity causes over 300,000 deaths a year and costs the country $117 billion dollars, prompting health care providers and the government to label it an epidemic (?Overweight and Obesity?? np).
...clude, obesity epidemic in America has become a real threat for the American children and first who can stop it are the parents” (Childhood Obesity Epidemic)
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) about “17% (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged 2-19 years are obese” (Moreno et al., 2013 P.157). “Surveys administered in 1976-1980 and 2007-2008 show that the prevalence of obesity has changed from 6.5% to 19.6% among children 6-11 years old age and from 5.0% to 18.1% for those aged 12-19 years (Moreno et al., 2013 P.157).
Childhood obesity is a serious problem among American children. Some doctors are even calling childhood obesity an epidemic because of the large percentage of children being diagnosed each year as either overweight or obese. “According to DASH sixteen to thirty-three percent of American children each year is being told they are obese.” (Childhood Obesity) There is only a small percentage, approximately one percent, of those children who are obese due to physical or health related issues; although, a condition that is this serious, like obesity, could have been prevented. With close monitoring and choosing a healthier lifestyle there would be no reason to have such a high obesity rate in the United States (Caryn). Unfortunately, for these children that are now considered to be obese, they could possibly be facing some serious health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and some types of cancers. All of these diseases have been linked to obesity through research. These children never asked for this to happen to them; however, it has happened, and now they will either live their entire life being obese, or they will be forced to reverse what has already been done (Childhood Obesity).
The present public health problem has become a great public concern and the future of these children and future adults has also been brought to attention. For example, "as obese children are more than likely to become obese adults, they are at an increased risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, and several cancers" (Gollust, 2014). Research has also indicated that the current generation of children are on track to have shorter lives than their parents because of increasing rates of obesity (Gollust, 2014).
When one hears the word obesity thoughts that may come to mind are overweight, big, or even unhealthy. "Obesity is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of greater than 30" (Obesity).
Obesity occurs in all countries and it is one of the gravest problems in modern society. Obesity problems have become one matter of concern for individuals all around the world. What is more is that Obesity rates continue to rise all around the world. One of the chief causes is unhealthy diets. Obesity is also due to lack of exercise and lack of education and awareness. Therefore obesity has various effects including the risk of suffering from a range of health conditions, increased expenditure on health care and lack of self-esteem.
Obesity, also referred to as being overly overweight, is a condition caused when one eats excessive amounts of food leading to storing more calories than one burns. These calories are stored as fats1. Obesity can develop from several causes and is usually influenced by genetics.