Growing concerns of obesity among Americans has been shown because some studies reveal that 50 % of Americans are currently obese (Ferrara 1187). Obesity is defined as an abnormal amount of body fat that is associated with the heightened risk in illness, disability, and death. There are three stages of obesity that include mildly obese, moderately obese, and morbidly obese. This is determined by the Body Mass Index; a “person is considered overweight if his or her BMI is between 25 and 29.9; a person is considered obese if his or her BMI is over 30” (WebMD 2011). The diagnosis of obesity can also be determined by the ratio between the circumference waist and hip measurements; the greater the ratio the more weight-related risks the patient is likely to have. The World Organization has stated that obesity has grown into a “worldwide epidemic” that has caused an alarming increase in the prevalence of diseases (Ferrara 1187). Moreover, obesity has been proven to lead to life-threatening diseases such as hypertension, Type II diabetes mellitus, heart attack, infertility, and breast cancer. As a result, obesity has contributed to the 300,000 deaths in America (Lerner and Lerner 3067). The rate of obesity is growing at an alarming rate and needs to be controlled with necessary exercise, proper diet, and sometimes surgery.
Public leaders have stated that obesity is “the second leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States" (Ferrara 1187). The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 1.6 billion people worldwide over age 15 were overweight and at least 400 million were obese (Ferrara 1187). The cause of obesity is thought to be simply because of the excessive consumption of calories that are not burned. However, obesity is more complex because of the societal, environmental, psychological and genetic factors that play a role in a person’s metabolic rate. In the US, the American lifestyle makes it very easy for people to take in more calories than their bodies use. For example, the US is filled with fast-food restaurants that allow their consumers to buy supersized burgers, fries, drinks, nachos, etc for a very cheap price. In addition people are more inclined to ride in a car rather than ride in a bike or walk. Among teenagers, leisure activities usually include playing games, social networking, or sleeping rather than engaging in physical activities. Psychological factors contribute to the cause of obesity. “30% of people who seek treatment for serious weight problems have difficulties with binge eating” (WebMD 2011). This is because many people eat due to “negative emotions such as boredom, sadness, or anger” (WebMD 2011). In addition, obese people face many prejudices at work, school, and social events. This is because there is an assumption that they are “lazy, gluttonous, stupid, and self indulgent” (Lerner and Lerner 3069). Genetic factors can influence the rate at which a person burns calories and regulates their appetite. Having one or both parents who are obese could influence the lifestyle their children may be adapted to. This is called, inheriting “obesity genes,” where the child’s weight gain resembles that of their guardians (Ferrara 1187). Obesity is ten times more likely in people whose family members are obese (Korsmeyer and Kranzler 157). Environmental, societal, psychological and genetic factors have been studied to be the causes of obesity because they have influenced a person’s consumption and regulation of calories.
Combinations of regular exercise and proper diet have been studied to be healthiest and effective solution to obesity. Weight loss programs have tackled this issue by motivating their buyers to adapt to healthier habits. Aerobic exercises such as, jogging, bicycling, and dancing make a person breathe harder while working their muscles at a regular pace. Aerobic activities have been shown to have the heart and lungs. It takes very little time for the necessary amount of exercise to get done. Furthermore, a person is able to achieve enough exercise within 20 minutes, around three or four times a week. Exercising allows the body to not only burn calories but also strengthen bones and muscles.
Along with diet and exercise, surgery can be accompanied to help aid weight loss under circumstantial situations. Surgically removing a portion of the intestine can significantly impact weight loss by allowing a person to take and absorb fewer calories. Receiving surgery is very risky and can lead to death which is why it is usually performed after there have been many failed attempts at other weight loss strategies. However, patients who have had some variety of stomach bypass have maintained a weight loss of at least 60% at the end of five years (Lerner and Lerner 3070). Surgery is an alternative for those who are morbidly obese and have failed to lose weight by diet and exercise. Once surgery is performed a patient can experience a major decrease in the absorption of excess calories.
Currently the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has funded 25 states to promote their efforts in”[improving] the health of places where Americans live, work, learn, and play, working to build lasting and comprehensive efforts to address obesity and other chronic diseases through a variety of nutrition and physical activity strategies.” (CDC 2011). According to the CDC, about 17% of teenagers are overweight or obese and 33.8 % of adults are obese or overweight. During the past 20 years states have had no lower than 20 % prevalent obese people (CDC 2011). The CDC is providing programs to encourage healthier eating and more exercising. They have made efforts to increase the access to the environment in order to encourage organic eating and physical activities in various settings. Their impact is meant to change the standards and policies of healthy eating and physical activity.
A proper diet usually consists of a varied consumption of grains, lean meats, vegetables, fruits, and low-calorie foods; junk foods should be eaten sparingly. A healthier diet can be easily attained by simply switching to low-calorie foods such as low-fat non dairy products, lean meats, and other fat-free foods. Junk foods contain little to no vitamins and are full of fats and sugars. Eating excessive amounts of junk foods can result in a sluggish lifestyle because fattier foods cause people to become increasingly tired. Everything should be eaten in moderation. This is because too much of a good thing can be a bad thing and too much of a bad thing is a very unhealthy thing. It is important to remember that a nutritionally-balanced diet is what is being achieved rather than a restricting oneself to just health foods. For example, it is acceptable for someone to indulge in fattier foods as long as they can eat moderately to avoid overeating. This is because junk foods are very high in calorie content and can lead to excessive calorie consumption. The National Cholesterol Education Program states that only 30% of calories should be derived from fat, where one about one third comes from saturated fat (Dewitt and Frey 2689). By simply changing to healthier alternatives and moderate eating habits, this can lead to lower calorie consumption.
Obesity is a chronic, metabolic disease that has been prevalent in America as well as the entire world. Staggering surveys have shown that approximately “54% of adults, about 11% of adolescents of ages twelve to seventeen years, and more than 14% of children of ages six to eleven years in the United States are over-weight” (Lerner and Lerner 3069). Excessive amounts of body fat can lead to many life threatening diseases. A combination of exercise and diet can significantly impact the health of an individual. Surgery can also be resorted for those who are severely obese. Obesity is an epidemic that has been increasing at an alarming rate and lifestyle changes should be made to prevent the grave risks. It is better to not think that weight loss success comes from the numbers that show on a scale but rather as a lifestyle change a person has made to exercise regularly and consume moderately. A safe and healthy goal should be losing no more than a pound a week. Moreover, obesity experts suggest for a patient to monitor their fat consumption rather than count their calories. Obesity has been widespread in America as well as around the globe. Furthermore, the risks related to obesity should prompt patients to make healthier lifestyle changes in order to prevent life-threatening perils.
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