The Obesity Epidemic

2288 Words5 Pages

Recently, obesity has become an epidemic in many parts of the world. The condition has accelerated in the past thirty to fifty years, and its health effects are devastating. Obesity is a leading contributor of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, and countless other health concerns. Obesity is also the second leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Currently, around one in three Americans are obese. Now more than ever, obesity prevention in the health field is a primary concern. However, many cases of obese children are related to parents or relatives who are overweight or obese themselves. With this predicament, obesity is a trend that must be stopped before it continues to worsen.

Since there is no definitive weight limit to determine whether or not one is obese, medical specialists use a variety of techniques to diagnose overweight and obesity. One method is measuring an individual’s Body Mass Index, or BMI. The BMI compares a person’s height to their weight. An average weight person’s BMI is 18.5 to 24.9, and obese is considered 30 or above. There are issues with this ratio, however, in that since muscle weighs more than fat, a muscular build can distort a person’s BMI rating. Also, the BMI measurement is only used for people twenty years of age and older. Due to climactic rates in childhood obesity, the BMI test is somewhat ineffective in correctly measuring the general health of a person (Stern, Kazaks 7).

Another inexpensive test used is the skinfold measurement. In this test, calipers are used to pinch a layer of the skin from specific parts around the body. The measurements aim to reflect the amount of subcutaneous fat at these locations (Stern, Kazaks 14). With extr...

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...e death rate for patients undergoing these procedures is 1 out of 200 cases (76). Even with the available treatments and methods of losing weight, success is nearly never accomplished. It is a desire that is more easily said than done.

Obesity is a modern epidemic that needs to be addressed immediately in order to prevent rapidly exponential health concerns in the future. In attempting to stop this trend, it is important to raise awareness of not only the effects of obesity on an individual, but also the effects of obesity in culture and families. On an individual basis, obesity is a driving force in numerous medical issues, and is ultimately a dangerous health concern. However, it is important to notice the role that obesity play in the lives of others. Ultimately, obesity is a concern that must be dealt with before it develops into an irreversible predicament.

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The Obesity Epidemic

Obesity

Weight Management Case Study

Osteoarthritis Essay

The Childhood Obesity Epidemic in the United States

Overview of the Obesity Epidemic

The Pros and Cons of Liposuction