Being obese and overweight is not the same thing. Overweight people can easily become obese at great risk to their health. Obesity
is a condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to such an extent as to cause negative effects on a person’s health.
Cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, obstructive sleep apnea and other diseases can all result from obesity, thereby reducing
life expectancy.
Obesity is caused by consuming excessive calories and not exercising enough to use up the calories. In rare cases, it can be caused by
genetics, medical reasons, or psychological illness. The genetic disposition is rather a case of bad lifestyle and food choices passed on
from parent to child.
The primary treatments for help for obesity are exercise and dieting. Exercise increases the metabolism, causing the body to burn excess
weight for energy. If these treatments don’t work, some anti-obesity drugs may be prescribed. In severe cases, bariatric surgery
may be necessary. In developed countries, people of lower socio-economic classes are more likely to be obese whereas in underdeveloped
countries, people of higher socio-economic classes are more likely to be overweight. In both cases it would be caused by poor food choices
and a sedentary lifestyle.
The main problem in the US is that people tend to eat more fried processed junk food than fresh whole foods like salads and
vegetables. Fast food, which is abnormally high in fat and sugar is popular, and also in abnormally large portions. Furthermore,
people in the US lead a sedentary lifestyle and drive everywhere instead of walk.
Obesity Is A Public Health Problem
The increasing rate of obesity amongst adults and children is seen as a public health problem. Within the last few decades, obesity
has nearly doubled among adults and nearly tripled among adolescents. The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that it will become
more of a public health problem than malnutrition or infectious diseases. It is the disease of affluence.
Obesity is costly to treat due to the numerous negative health effects that it causes.. Public health programs aim at figuring out what
causes obesity and then correcting those problems. For example, public anti-obesity programs include those pushing for more healthy
school lunches that are federally reimbursed and limiting access to junk food and sweets at schools. Governments are also building more
parks and recreational facilities to encourage physical activity.
In conclusion, obesity is a global problem. It needs to be addressed because it is killing us. Now even children are learning the
bad examples of adults in modern society by eating unhealthily and leading a sedentary lifestyle. We must lead more active lifestyles
and eat better in order to end obesity as well as push for more governmental programs that strive to alleviate it. It starts with the
parents. Children learn what they live. Healthy eating habits and lifestyle activities are learnt at home.