Obesity

Obesity is an irregular increase of body fat, usually 20% or more over an individual's ideal body weight. The energy intake coming from food is stored as fat because the body does not use it. Obesity is associated with increased risk of illness, disability, and death. This disease has grown to be a global epidemic that has impacted the lives of many, especially in the United Kingdom. The occurrence of childhood obesity is most certainly continuously rising on an international basis (Swinburn et al., 2011). In the United Kingdom, more than 30 per cent of children aged 2 to 15 are classed as either overweight or obese (National Obesity Observatory, 2010). These facts demonstrate the root of obesity which stems from an early age. This trend is as an outcome of unhealthy diets, overeating and insufficient exercise levels. In addition, if children are obese or overweight at their earlier years, they are more prone to adult obesity, which would lead to an earlier mortality rate (Engeland et al., 2004). A number of medical and psychological co-existing diseases are evidently correlated with obesity in both adolescence and adulthood. Whereas the most harmful substantial effects of obesity may not become noticeable until adulthood, increases in blood pressure and cholesterol, raised fat in arteries, and damaged glucose forbearance influences Type 2 diabetes that can be recognized in children and adolescents (Dietz, 1998). Therefore, careful emphasis must be placed on initial steps that one can take when a child is growing up. Primary causes of obesity must be analyzed in order to reduce the effects that were previously stated. Most importantly, it is vital for the core of the matter to be addressed if any changes ought to be made on a wide spectrum. Therefore, the main causes of obesity include environmental changes, lifestyle, genetics, friends and family, and emotions and habits. In this report, a descriptive analysis of the main causes of obesity will be studied further, knowing that it has grown to be a worldwide problem that has caused many

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additional diseases and even deaths to occur. Therefore, careful emphasis must be placed on this matter. Subsequently, environmental changes influence the amount of food that is consumed by society. One way in which the modern environment encourages obesity is by offering more regular opportunities for the consumption of large quantities of food. A variety of highly appetizing, reasonably priced foods are available almost everywhere. Along with this is a growing trend in the United States toward larger portions. Clearly, this is seen in fast food restaurants, whereby the large portions on their menu provide them with the competitive advantage necessary for survival. Cultures perceptible obsession with getting the best value may underlie the increased offering and selection of larger portions and the attendant risk of obesity. In addition to the acceptable change in portion size, the physical activity of these individuals have lessened causing them to retain more body fat that has not been burned off, due to the high-fat diets that the overweight person have adapted to. As time passes by, those who have adapted these changes have moulded it into their everyday life that will be fairly difficult to modify. The environmental changes leads to a lifestyle change that the individuals take on when becoming comfortable and welcoming of such negative environmental implications imposed on the body. Obesity is a natural extension of an advancing economy. As you become a First World economy and you get all these labour-saving devices and low-cost, easily accessible foods, people are going to eat more and exercise less (World Health Organization, 1998). Furthermore, genetics contribute to obesity that influences the eating habits of individuals. Most of the genes associated with obesity are highly expressed or present in the central nervous system. Proteins like GLP-1 and Leptin are released by certain genes which cause the obesity to sustain. The Db gene is responsible for not letting the feeling of satiation to

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set in when obese people consume food. Therefore, the rate of metabolism is reduced in these people allowing the body to survive on stored fats by the Ob gene. Some research studies have found that in 80 percent cases, the off-springs of obese parents are obese themselves. Evidently, studies have proven that genetics does influence the obesity level of certain individuals depending on the fluctuation of genes. Obesity-related genes could affect how we metabolise food or store fat. They could also affect our behaviour, making us inclined towards lifestyle choices that increase our risk of being obese. People with obesity-related genes are not destined to be obese, but they will have a higher risk of obesity. In the modern environment, they may need to work harder than others to maintain a healthy body weight by making long-term, sustained lifestyle changes. Clearly, a persons eating habits can be predisposed by his or her friends and family, due to the reason that they influence the decisions made by the individual from a young age and these are people that are trusted and looked up to. If they eat a lot of high-fat or snack foods, eat at irregular times, and skip meals, the individual is most likely to do the same as well. Also, if they are not physically active, the individual may not be either. Research has shown that by making healthy foods available, frequent exposure will lead to the food becoming more desirable (Faith, 2005). Hence, the vital importance to provide parental education about the value of healthy eating, which foods are desirable and how to get children to eat them, has become increasingly apparent. Good weight control is also associated with an organised and routine eating environment and regime (Boutelle et al., 2007). Moreover, peers not only influence the social aspect of a child or adolescent, but also the eating habits, due to bullying that is widely seen in the United States. For instance, peers may bully an individual due to the physical size of the

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person and the conceptions they have endured. Therefore, friends and family ought to notice their actions around those who are susceptible to taking on the same lifestyle changes. In addition, emotions and habits are main contributory factors towards obesity. Emotional stress, anxiety, or illnesses such as depression or chronic pain can lead to overeating. Some people eat to calm themselves, to avoid dealing with unpleasant tasks or situations, or to dampen negative emotions. In fact, obese people are vulnerable to their feelings which influence their eating habits, causing them to overeat. There are emotional reasons that forces individuals to eat when they are not hungry. For example, some use food as a defence mechanism to stop unwanted feelings. Food is used as a tool to overcome feelings of boredom, worry, guilt, sadness and loneliness. Eating helps to procrastinate the beginning of a job one does not want to do. The bad habits endured by these individuals may include a vast consumption of high fat foods and limited exercise. These issues must be monitored in order for the obesity rate to decrease. If the causes of obesity are not addressed, then there will be consequences to the habits these individuals have tolerated. Subsequently, the consequences of unhealthy insinuations have been incurred by obesity. Consequences of this disease include heart disease, diabetes, cancer, sleep apnea, arthritis, reproductive complications, and other additional health consequences. The incidence of heart disease (heart attack, congestive heart failure, sudden cardiac death, angina or chest pain, and abnormal heart rhythm) is increased in persons who are overweight or obese. High blood pressure is twice as common in adults who are obese than in those who are at a healthy weight. Most certainly, obesity is associated with elevated triglycerides (blood fat) and decreased HDL cholesterol. A weight gain of 11 to 18 pounds increases a persons risk of developing type 2 diabetes to twice that of individuals who have not gained weight. Over 80% of

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people with diabetes are overweight or obese. Overweight and obesity are associated with an increased risk for some types of cancer including endometrial (cancer of the lining of the uterus), colon, gall bladder, prostate, kidney, and postmenopausal breast cancer. Sleep apnea (interrupted breathing while sleeping) is more common in obese persons. In addition, for every 2-pound increase in weight, the risk of developing arthritis is increased by 9 to 13%. Knowing that arthritis can be improved with weight loss is prevalent to the betterment of the individual. Obesity during pregnancy is associated with increased risk of death in both the baby and the mother and increases the risk of maternal high blood pressure by 10 times. In addition to many other complications, women who are obese during pregnancy are more likely to have gestational diabetes and problems with labour and delivery. Overweight and obesity are associated with increased risks of gall bladder disease, incontinence, increased surgical risk, and depression. Obesity can affect the quality of life through limited mobility and decreased physical endurance as well as through social, academic, and job discrimination. Also, they are obese barriers to the quality of life and emotional consequences seen in this disease (World Health Organization, 1998). Clearly, all these negative attributes of such disease much be reduced if it were to occur for the betterment of the person. Thus, essential treatment for this obesity epidemic must be implemented. Slow and steady weight loss of no more than 1-2 pounds per week is the safest way to lose weight. Too rapid weight loss can cause one to lose muscle rather than fat. It also increases the overweight persons chances of developing other problems, such as gallstones and nutrient deficiencies. Making long-term changes in eating and physical activity habits is the only way to lose weight and keep it off. It is essential to improve ones eating habits in order to yearn for a healthy living. The overweight should eat a variety of foods, especially pasta, rice, wholemeal bread, and

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other whole-grain foods in moderation to reduce the fat-intake. Fruits and vegetables are necessary in the diet. Making physical activity a part of ones daily life is an important way to help control weight issues. Approximately 30 minutes of exercise done most days of the week will improve this vital problem. Intense activity is not necessary all at once. Slowly introducing a variety of exercises will assist the body in accepting such physical activity (National Obesity Observatory, 2010). In conclusion, some of the known main factors contributing to obesity include environmental changes, lifestyle, genetics, friends and family, and emotions and habits. Assessment of these initial factors includes the use of standardised analysis which can be used to indicate the greater causes in obesity. However, a greater body of research is still needed to evaluate the reasons and cognitions behind the unhealthy behaviour choices with the aim of reducing the prevalence of obesity in the young and improving the physical and psychosocial health of those affected.

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References: Boutelle, K.N., Birkeland, R.W., Hannan, P.J., Story, M. & Neumark-Sztainer, D. (2007). Associations between maternal concern for healthful eating and maternal eating behaviours, home food availability, and adolescent eating behaviours. Journal of Nutrition, Education and Behaviour, 39(5), 248256. Dietz, W. (1998). Health consequences of obesity in youth: Childhood predictors of adult disease. Pediatrics, 101(3), 2, 518525. Engeland, A., Bjorge, T., Tverdal, A. & Sgaard, A.J. (2004). Obesity in adolescence and adulthood and the risk of adult mortality. Epidemiology, 15(1), 7985. National Obesity Observatory (2010). National Child Measurement Programme: Changes in childrens body mass index between 2006/07 and 2008/09. Retrieved April 16, 2012 from www.noo.org.uk/uploads/doc/vid_6540_NOO_NCMP_v1.pdf Swinburn, B., Sacks, G., Hall, K., McPherson, K., Finegood, D., Moodie, M. & Gortmaker, S. (2011). The global obesity pandemic: Shaped by global drivers and local environments. The Lancet, 378, 804814. World Health Organization (1998). Obesity: Preventing and Managing the Global Epidemic. Retrieved April 17, 2012 from http://www.psychology.hku.hk/ftbcstudies/refbase/docs/thewhoqolgroup/1998/71_TheW HOQOLGroup1998.pdf