The Obesity Epidemic Essay - 2302 Words

Recently, obesity has become an epidemic in many parts of the world. The condition has accelerated in the past thirty to fifty years, and its health effects are devastating. Obesity is a leading contributor of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, and countless other health concerns. Obesity is also the second leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Currently, around one in three Americans are obese. Now more than ever, obesity prevention in the health field is a primary concern. However, many cases of obese children are related to parents or relatives who are overweight or obese themselves. With this predicament, obesity is a trend that must be stopped before it continues to worsen. Since†¦show more content†¦It is also important to note that, â€Å"not all body fat, such as intra-abdominal and intramuscular fat, is accessible to the calipers, and the distribution of subcutaneous fat can vary significantly throughout the human bodyâ €  (14). While skinfold and BMI tests are easily attainable, they do not provide the accuracy needed to determine definite overweight or obesity. They are, however, a relatively good indicator of whether or not an individual should lose weight, and are still used in doctors’ offices around the world. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 66 percent of Americans over the age of 20 are overweight or obese, and three out of ten are obese. The CDC began gathering data on obesity in 1960, and at that point, thirteen percent of Americans were obese. Obesity slowly began to increase until the 1980’s when it began to rise rapidly. Now, the number of obese people has nearly tripled since then (Stern, Kazaks 15). These trends continue to increase, and now, more than ever, organizations and institutions are pushing to create a healthier America. The problem with obesity is that is preventable, but difficult to overcome due to certain circumsta nces. Many factors play a role in determining the likelihood of an individual becoming obese. These circumstances include poor diets, poor energy balance, culture and family history, and environment among other things. Many people in theShow MoreRelatedThe Epidemic Of The Obesity Epidemic Essay1488 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction The World Health Organization (WHO) defines obesity as the excessive accumulation of fat that puts the person’s health at risk (Lenzi et al., 2015). The prevalence of obesity has increased worldwide over the past three decades. According to Holtz (2016), obese people have outnumbered the undernourished, with the World Health Organization estimating that 1.9 billion adults are overweight, out of which about 600 million are obese. Given the recent trends, it is estimated that 1.12 billionRead MoreObesity : The Obesity Epidemic1509 Words   |  7 PagesThe Obesity Epidemic What is obesity? According to the Health Reference Center Academic, â€Å"Obesity is a clinical condition characterized by an excess of body fat†. Obesity causes serious and life-threatening diseases. Obesity can be calculated using the BMI or Body mass index. The higher the BMI the more obese a person is considered. More than 1 third of the population in the US is obese. Medical costs for treating obesity were estimated at $147 billion in 2008. Non-Hispanic black and Mexican AmericanRead MoreThe Obesity Epidemic Of Obesity1133 Words   |  5 PagesObesity has always been a topic that many have had due to the increase attention it has received. Across America, there has been a lot of attention on the obesity epidemic. In America and the inner cities, more people are eating meals away from home in addition to consuming larger portions from fast food restaurants. At this rate, gaining weight is the likely outcome. High energy dense food has become convenient and affordable. Fas t food is almost everywhere in America and, contributes to the growingRead MoreThe Obesity Epidemic Of Obesity967 Words   |  4 Pagesthe issue. There has been substantial encouragement, which has pressured governments and politicians to implement restrictions on the publicising of unhealthy foods, particularly those targeting children. (Jolly, R. 2011) Researchers of the epidemic of obesity are inclined to emphasise environmental aspects, including the convenience of high-calorie appetising junk foods in conjunction with the influence of television programming, video games, computers and tablets that discourage exercise. TheoreticallyRead MoreThe Epidemic Of Obesity And Obesity1319 Words   |  6 Pages There’s an appalling epidemic in today’s society sweeping across not only the United States, but all across the globe. This horrible epidemic isn’t the bird flu, or any type of sickness, rather obesity. Today, obesity rates are at an all time high in America. This disease, obesity, is being passed down the family both genetically, and by the terrible eating habits developing in the US. Kids growing up in this generation are facing frightening issues such as increased risk of heart disease, diabetesRead MoreThe Obesity Epidemic Of Obesity2517 Words   |  11 Pagesof obesity in children is on the rise in America. One in three children in America is obese (Kelly). Anyone can recognize there is a problem with the growing numbers of children overweight, however, no one has come up with a way to stop the obesity epidemic. This epidemic in children has been caused by numerous factors now numerous solutions can stop this if they are put in use. Children are weighing more than they ever have. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says, â€Å"Obesity hasRead MoreObesity : The Obesity Epidemic2984 Words   |  12 PagesThe Obesity Epidemic What is obesity? A condition characterized by the excessive accumulation and storage of fat in the body; obesity is when someone is so overweight that it is a threat to their health (â€Å"What is Obesity?†). Obesity is an increasing global health problem. Corpulence is an important matter because of the astounding magnitudes that this disease has reached in the past 30 years (â€Å"Health and Aging†). Obesity is the reason for nearly 10 percent of the national medical budget, whichRead MoreObesity : The Obesity Epidemic Essay1321 Words   |  6 Pagesevidence that Americans are among the most overweight across the globe, this issue is constantly ignored. We hear about obesity being one of the most prevalent issues in America yet through the years this issue seems to worsen. Although Obesity may not be taken seriously by many, it is one of the leading health issues in America today. Many don’t understand the causes of this obesity epidemic, but being educated on this topic is the best way to prevent and control this issue. A recent study from the NationRead MoreThe Obesity Epidemic : Obesity Essay1696 Words   |  7 PagesThe obesity epidemic proves to be an issue in America and continues to grow with time. In simple terms, obesity is a disorder where the subject has increasing amounts of fat, leading to health problems in the future. This epidemic has steadily increased in American bodies for decades and researchers have tried to find the root causes of this problem. Though there is controversy as to what is the primary cause of this rising epidemic, it is clear that there are many factors that contribute to theRead MoreThe Obesity Epidemic Of Obesity1540 Words   |  7 PagesThe Obesity Epidemic is a topic widely studied and mentioned in several contexts’ both medical and social. Obesity is described by Boero (2012) to have exploded in meaning Post- World War II to be more than a â€Å"physical flaw.† Weight concern became an idea that debuted in magazines mainly targeting women and emphasizing â€Å"natural thinness.† The disappearance of the normally worn â€Å"corset† and popularization of the typical 1920’s â€Å"boy catching† flapper, increased the production of diet products and the