A problem I would love to solve in the future when I am capable to do so would be to find the cure to reduce obesity in America. The number of people who are obese began to double in 1980 due to the advancements of technology and the cultural change. In this day and age, we have delivery services such as UberEats and DoorDash. These delivery services will deliver food to your doorstep within minutes by a simple click of a button. Technology advancing is not the only problem we have advancing at a high speed, we also have a social and economic change that forces both adults in a household to work in order to support the family. A study shows that up to 85 million mothers were employed in the United States, 73% of employed women worked full-time jobs, while 27% worked on a part-time basis (Caumont, Andrea, and Wendy Wang). This meant that one person was no longer able to stay in the kitchen and cook healthy meals for the family. Fast food restaurants began to gain popularity which attracted consumers and suddenly cheap appealing food was on the table. It was either choosing cheap and delicious looking meals or taking time out of your day to make a whole meal for your family. In addition to paying for each of the components that make up that meal. Many people assume that obesity is only caused by overeating and physical inactivity when there are many other reasons. The other factors that play a role in obesity are genetics, metabolism, environment, and culture. The medical perspective plays a significant role in this topic because it analyzes what the current practices are in preventing and treating obesity. Alongside that, it also provides insight and evaluates the causes that lead to obesity. There are three body conditions that people often misuse: overweight, obese, and morbidly obese. Being “overweight” is defined as a condition in which a person’s weight is 10%-20% higher than “normal,” as defined by a standard height/weight chart, or as a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 30. Whereas the term “obese” is defined as a condition in which a person’s weight is 20% or more above normal weight, or as a BMI of 30 or more. Lastly, “morbidly obese” means a person is either 50%-100% over normal weight (MacMillan).
Obesity Rates Increasing
Obesity is already a major problem that just keeps on getting worse and does not seem to have an end to it. According to former President Barack Obama, obesity is the most urgent health issue of our time and Americans are the biggest victims (Franck, Caroline). Gary Taubes was acknowledged by the American National Association of Science Writers (NASW) for his research and was awarded an MIT Science Journalism award. Taubes provides information about the alarming statistics of weight in America from 1980 to current day. Currently 22.5% of the U.S population is clinically obese, as compared to only 14.5% in 1980. This obesity epidemic affects all demographic groups, including children. Unfortunately, the end does not appear to be in sight. However, the causes behind the increase are much less clear. Although many researchers blame increased food availability, declining physical activity, and major changes in eating behavior to account for the recent rapid increase in obesity; It has not yet been clearly identified. Katherine M. Flegal, an American epidemiologist, is one of the most highly cited scientists in the field of the epidemiology of obesity. One of her articles examine trends in both conditions of being obese and overweight comparing different years which helps evaluate the reasoning behind the increase in obesity. The article provides a study of 5,555 adult men and women aged 20 or older obtained in 2007-2008 as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Data from NHANES obtained in 2007-2008 was compared with results obtained from 1999-2000 (Flegal, PhD Katherine M). The results that were retrieved helped play a role in visualizing the future growth of the obesity rates. However, the results turned out to have an unexpected twist to them. In 1999-2000, the age-adjusted prevalence of obesity was 33.8% overall, 32.2% among men, and 35.5% among women. The corresponding prevalence estimates for overweight and obesity combined were 68.0%, 72.3%, and 47.2% in 2007-2008.Obesity prevalence varied by the age, racial, and ethnic group for both genders. Over the 9-year period, obesity showed no significant trend among women. However, there was a significant linear trend for men. Thus, her study states that there is not a drastic rise in obesity.
Causes That Trigger Obesity
There are many different causes to obesity, varying from lack of exercise to eating unhealthy. This issue is a controversial topic because some may only agree on one cause and some may think otherwise. John Wilding is Head of the Department of Obesity and Endocrinology at the University of Liverpool. His article provides statistics and information on how the increase of obesity has occurred across every age, sex, and race. He believes that the factors contributed to obesity are both genetic and environmental. For example the recent identification of a rare single gene defect was found, which causes severe early obesity, such as deficiency in hormone leptin. Hormone leptin is a hormone made by adipose cells that helps regulate energy balance by inhibiting hunger (Wilding, John P.H). This demonstrates that genetic factors can be powerful determinants of body mass. However, obesity has been rapidly increasing throughout the world in the last two decades, so it appears unlikely that this change has a genetic basis. It appears more likely that the increasing weight of most populations is an appropriate biological response to an abnormal environment, where there is easy accessibility of cheap energy dense food, coupled with a massive decline in physical activity levels in the population.
Impact/Effect
Obesity may be the most urgent health issue but the process of recovering may even be more difficult. Depression plays a significant role in this situation. Research has shown that there is no clear link between obesity and depression (Dempsey). However, studies have shown that the two feed off each other and viciously fight back and forth. Studies have also shown that obese people are 25% more likely to experience depression compared with those who are not (Dempsey). Obesity can cause poor self image and social isolation, which contributes to depression. Those who are obese can also find themselves ostracized and discriminated against. The extra weight on obese people can result in chronic joint pain, as well as serious diseases like diabetes, which has been linked to depression. Another study found that teenagers with symptoms of depression were more likely to become obese within the next year (MacMillion). The study also found that children who were borderline obese and depressed became obese over the following year (MacMillion).
Ways To Prevent Obesity
There are endless ways to lose weight but one of the best choices to a weight-loss plan is making healthier food choices. It is understandable to have a difficult time making healthy food choices which is why using the app Weight Watchers that was founded by Jean Nidetch could be a simple step to prevent obesity. This app can guide users on which foods to eat every day by the amount of carbohydrates, protein, sugar, and calories that are contained in foods (Schauer, Philip). However, to be able to use this app you would need to pay the base price which is $19.95. Thus, the rise of obesity has been triggered by more than one cause and has had a domino effect on many people. It is now time to find an alternate solution which is accessible to all, regardless of their economic status to decrease the possible chances of becoming obese for the next generation and on forth to put an end to this critical health issue.