Obesity Essays
Obesity is a condition where there is excessive fat accumulation that is contributing to your weight. This fat accumulation is causing your weight to be greater than what is considered to be a healthy weight for a given height (CDC 2016). It develops when the energy intake exceeds the energy outlay. This excess energy is then stored as adipose tissue. âAccording to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data, it showed that the adult obesity rates now exceed 35% in seven states, 30% in 29 states and 25% in 48 statesâ (The State of Obesity 2018). It is a national epidemic that is affecting the lives of many individuals globally. The key factors that are linked to obesity are lifestyle factors, genetic factors and metabolic disorders. In the long run, it causes various complications known as metabolic syndrome. A metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions such as: increased blood pressure, excess body weight, increased levels of cholesterol or triglyceride levels that occur at the same time that increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes (Barbour 2011).
Obesity affects the functionality of most if not all of an individualâs body systems. Researchers in Germany decided to conduct a study on Göttingen minipigs to see the correlations of obesity and diseases. The article Metabolic syndrome and extensive adipose tissue inflammation in morbidly obese Göttingen minipigs had researchers study twenty-six female Göttingen minipigs (GM) over the course of seventy weeks. They were split into two experimental groups: lean and obese. The ration for the lean group was set up to meet the energy and nutrition requirement of normal adult pigs. The ration for the obese group increased consistently every week until the body weight for the GM was 80 to 100 kg. Ultimately, after seventy weeks of being on a high-fat/high- energy (HFHE) diet the obese group showed that there was a correlation between obesity and metabolic syndrome that included hyperinsulinemia, hyperlipidemia and hypertension (Renner S. et al 2018). The study showed hyperinsulinemia and reduced glucose tolerance in the obese group (Renner S. et al 2018). Insulin has many roles which includes telling the cells to absorb and break down amino acids, glucose, fatty acids. The fatty acids are eventually turned into either fat cells, muscle cells, and liver cells. Fat is stored energy. Having fat is not bad but having a lot of fat is bad. Storing excessive fat will result in insulin resistance (Barbour 2011). When insulin resistance is developed, there is an increase in lipolysis that affects fatty acids and further decreases effects of insulin. This can lead to type 2 diabetes, liver, or gallbladder disease and different types of cancer. Researchers found that being on a HFHE diet contributes to obesity. Before the HFHE diet, the lean and obese mini pigs were not as different in body weight. However, after being on a HFHE diet, the obese group consistently increased in body weight, in adipose cells, and Sabah Fatima N17698316 09/30/18 increased in plasma total of cholesterol and bilirubin concentrations (Renner S. et al 2018).
Adipose cells are fat cells whose main role is to act as a fuel tank for storing lipids and triglycerides. Fat cells are found underneath your skin and are found on top of the kidneys, stored in liver and in small amounts in muscle. Elevated plasma levels are correlated with an increased amount of adipose cells (Barbour 2011). Adipose cells cause severe inflammation and necrosis in the visceral tissue which were observed in the obese group. They also noticed a decrease in iron and alkaline phosphatase within the obese group. Lastly, the study observed an increase resting heart rate in the obese group known as hypertension. Being insulin resistant causes a domino effect linking hypertension to diabetes, and obesity. High blood pressure flows through the arteries and if it keeps being persistent, it will lead to various vascular diseases (Barbour 2011). The study showed the resting heart rate for the obese group was elevated compared to the lean group with peak levels of 175 bpm (Renner S. et al 2018). To me, obesity is the result of environment, lifestyle, culture, and socioeconomic status. Behavior and environment cause people to be overweight and gradually gain weight. For example, take someone who is a regular couch potato and decides to binge watch Netflix all day without getting any physical activity in will contribute to weight gain. People are becoming overweight and obese because healthy food is more expensive than fast food. Fast food is more convenient and cheap for many individuals. There are also limited resources when it comes to healthy food options. People in low socioeconomic households tend to buy the cheapest food that is filled with junk and are more than likely to be fat as a result of this. As individuals we are not completely in control of our weight. There are other factors that contribute to your weight such as genetics. The public health goal should not be to end obesity but instead, take into account resources and affordability that can better help our communities. If there were more healthy food options and they were affordable, people would be choosing that route. Being educated on what obesity is and its consequences will help people become aware of how to incorporate health management in their lifestyle and improve this epidemic.
The fast food industry has experienced an impressive growth in recent years, becoming an undeniable phenomenon. The rapid expansion is worrisome, with McDonalds now being highly probable to be located within a 4 mile radius of any household in the country. Moreover, it can be contended that this is already the case worldwide and will […]
Alice Davies discusses the growing problem of childhood obesity in America, examining its causes, potential solutions, and resulting impacts. She presents extensive data and insights regarding children’s lifestyles. The article’s title, “‘Extra Large,’ Please,” underscores the severity of the issue by highlighting the significant food orders made by obese individuals. In her article “Extra Large,’ […]
On June 18 the American Medical Association voted to categorize obesity as a disease, moving the condition above its past designation as a major health concern. I disagree with this decision. The AMA said in a memo that more widespread recognition of obesity as a disease âcould result in greater investments by government and the […]
Everyone knows that they are plenty of benefits of exercise in the morning, but specifically what are they? This article will give you an overview about early morning exercise. Exercising not only ensures physical fitness, but improves our overall mental health and wellness. The crisp morning air not only rejuvenates the mind, but wakes you […]
In the United States, there is a growing issue of obesity and overweight individuals. The prevalence of these conditions continues to rise annually. According to Anonymous (2011), approximately 33.9% of American adults are considered obese, while 34.4% are categorized as overweight but not obese. Consequently, more people are actively seeking alternative methods to shed pounds. […]
In modern society, the media plays a dual role by presenting both advantages and disadvantages. Its main objective is to captivate specific demographics. Regardless of location, consumers are constantly exposed to advertisements, which can be found prominently displayed on walls, boards, and store windows along city streets. Even in crowded areas, billboards successfully manage to […]
In the Paleolithic era, Homo-sapiens relied on hunting and gathering as their main source of food. They utilized tools like the nd axe, chisel, arrow and spearhead, and grinder to improve their abilities. These tools were also used in creating sculptures such as the Venus of Willendorf, an artwork that depicted a perfect female form. […]
Diabetes is a disease that afflicts millions of people worldwide each and every year. For many, diabetes has been with them for their entire lives, others however develop diabetes as they grow older. According to the World Health Organization, (WHO, 2011) 346 million people worldwide have diabetes. Approximately 3.4 million people died from consequences of […]
Halloween celebrations, known for substantial candy consumption, together with upcoming holidays laden with enticing sweets, could explain why the average American’s annual sugar intake reaches an impressive 150 pounds. Although this statistic may surprise certain people, it might seem predictable to others. Currently, I’m centering my conversation on high fructose corn syrup and the most […]
Basing your analysis on both quantitative and qualitative tools, what evidence is there that quality is getting better? Pod Weight control According to Pod Weight control chart in Appendix, the pod weight performance variability is within the control limit (between 2. 774 – 2. 835), which means the process is in control. This indicates the […]
The high prevalence of obesity and overweight problems in our culture means much more emphasis is placed on losing weight rather than gaining weight. It is easy to forget about people who have the problem of being too thin. Being underweight can result from eating disorders and chronic diseases, and it is also a concern […]
The global food system is facing criticism on various fronts. These include opposition to globalization, concerns about the environment, reports of health issues linked to food consumption, and challenges faced by developing nations. The criticisms encompass both individual worries like deteriorating health standards and cultural changes, as well as worldwide problems such as severe environmental […]
Childhood obesity, associated with a multitude of health issues, is an escalating problem. This scenario can lead to physical, mental and social health challenges and it demands collective action for its prevention, management and reversal. Various strategies including government regulations and media campaigns can be employed to fight this public health threat. To effectively address […]
Hypertension awareness, treatment and control are major health promotion initiatives spurred on by the Joint National Committee for Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. Initiatives have improved over the last three decades but have slowed since the JNC V guidelines were published (JNC VI, 1997). Because treating hypertension almost always involves making lifestyle […]
Should the size of sugary drinks be restricted? Sugary drinks are popular especially among adolescents around the world. Not only are sugary drinks tasty and cheap, they are also widely available everywhere, even in most primary and secondary schools. New York City Mayor Bloomberg recently proposed to restrict the sale of big size sodas and […]
In this assignment I will be providing the results from the Harvard-hosted Implicit Associations Test that I recently completed online. I will share my personal results from the test, and provide answers to the questions that were provided in the course syllabus Implicit Association Test An Implicit Association Test (IAT) is a psychological assessment that […]
Despite the belief that television commercials have an impact on children’s food choices, they are not solely responsible for childhood obesity. Society tends to blame television and its commercials for the increasing rates of childhood obesity, but there are other factors involved as well. Inadequate physical activity, unhealthy food choices made while watching television, and […]
Crister raises the issue of child obesity as a growing epidemic plaguing America and the world and proposes that in order to fight this crisis the American public needs to stigmatize the idea of overeating. By stigmatizing overeating children will be less likely to overeat, thus having positive a effects and reducing the percentage of […]
The Green coffee diet, The Beverly Hills diet, and The Junk food diet are several types of diets that numerous people use today. Whether reasonable diets or radical diets, we could say we’ve tried them all. Although, how is it that we’re still trying to lose weight we should have lost on the first attempt? […]
The elderly do need exercise but a small amount such as walking while people who are middle age should do more especially in order to maintain their body fat and heart condition. However, as young people are very active and have the rest of their lives to live, having large amounts of exercise in their […]
Introduction The number of âlifestyleâ diseases currently affecting the populations is quite astounding. In the recent years, cases of diabetes, hypertension, cancers and other cardiovascular diseases have been on the increase amongst people of all races and ages, and from all walks of life. All these cases have been attributed in one way or another […]
The human body possesses a complex communication system among its organs, tissues, cells, and systems that coordinate physiological functions. The seamless cooperation of these roles is truly impressive. Even during periods of relaxation, the body remains energetically active. Engaging in exercise prompts nerves to stimulate muscles into contracting, necessitating increased oxygen intake, nutrient supply, and […]
