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Causes of obesity and their effects
Causes of obesity and their effects
Approach for obesity
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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.
Nearly two-thirds of the United States population is overweight. There are several ways to determine if a person is obese or overweight. Experts say that a person’s body mass index is the best way to determine an adults weight in relation to their height. A BMI from 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m2 is considered normal, adults with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 kg/m2 are considered overweight. There are exceptions with peoples BMI, an athlete can have a high BMI and not be overweight or obese. Adults with a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or higher are considered obese. A person with a high BMI can have a normal amount of body fat if they have more muscle tissue. However, the risk of death and disease is increased for adults who are overweight and obese (Kolata 1)
Healthy weight management is more than a diet; weight management is a lifestyle that aims to regulate caloric intake and expenditure in accordance to the amount of physical activity that occurs daily. The goal of weight management is to keep an individual’s body fat content to a healthy minimum, which is important for maintaining overall health and lowering risks of health threats throughout the lifespan (“Assessing Your Weight”, 2015). To measure healthy body fat rates, a Body Mass Index (BMI) is calculated by dividing the weight of the individual by their height squared. Healthy BMI for an individual changes over time
Obesity is a global problem (Tremolieres 1973; WHO 2000) (6). It increases numerous health risks including coronary heart disease, hypertension, stroke (WHO 2000) (7) and is a major risk factor for musculoskeletal pain (Nantel, Mathieu and Prince, 2011) (8) and osteoarthritis of weight bearing joints (WHO 2000; Felson et al, 2000) (9). Obesity rates are growing high every year and in the last 15 years twofold increase is recorded (10). Obesity is categorised on body mass index (BMI). Body mass index is used to measure obesity and is calculated by dividing a person’s weight (in kilograms) by the square of their height (in metres). Overweight is taken as BMI of 25 to 29.9kg/m2 and BMI...
Obesity is defined by Webster’s dictionary as increase body weight due to excessive accumulation of body fat. It is a condition or disease in which the “the natural energy reserve of humans or mammals, which is stored in fat tissue, is expanded far beyond usual levels to the point where it impairs health.” Obesity is most often measured by using the BMI (body mass index). BMI is calculated by dividing the weight in kilograms by the height squared in meters. A desirable BMI for children to sustain a healthy life is between 18.5 and 25. A child with a BMI over 25.0 kg/m 2 is considered overweight. A BMI over 30.0kg/m 2 is considered obese, and a BMI over 40 is morbid obesity. “An estimated 80% of overweight adolescents continue to be obese into adulthood, so the implications of childhood obesity on the nation’s health are huge”. (Survey on childhood obesity, 2014). Obesity is a chronic condition that develops as a result of genetic, behavioral and environmental factors.
There is no doubt that obesity has taken its seat as one of the top disease that strikes the world today. In America, obesity has now spread through the country leaving 2 out of 3 adults either overweight or obese, and worldwide 1.5 billion are overweight or obese (Overweight). The cause of this disease stems from multiple reasons such as the increase in modern food production, putting out ample amounts of food causing the prices for meat, groceries, and especially junk food to plummet. Subsequently, Americans especially were more inclined to purchase more food and showed an increase in the average American house hold food intake by 1,000 more calories a day (Dreifus).
Due to the risk involved, liposuction is not the answer to having a great body. Liposuction is one of the most popular forms of cosmetic surgery today. Those seeking the perfect body seldom understand the risks involved in this invasive surgery. One of the risks of liposuction is that fat cells can grow back in the area where the procedure took place. Another risk associated with this procedure is over-aggressive fat removal. Poor work performed by untrained doctors poses many problems in itself. Pulmonary Thrombosus, Lidocaine Toxicidy, and imbalances of bodily fluids also are serious risks associated with liposuction, not to mention the ultimate danger with any surgery, death. What exactly is this procedure for which so many people are willing to take the chance?
Imagine a world where a school aged child can step out of their school and walk into a McDonalds. A world where soda companies make millions of dollars a year by placing soda machines in schools. A world where 30.5 percent of adults are considered obese. A world where obesity is killing more people than smoking. What if I told you this world is not in your imagination but is the world we live in today?
As a health care professional it is our position statement that obesity should be considered as a disease. Overweight and obese adults are considered at risk for developing diseases such as type II diabetes, hypertension, high blood cholesterol, coronary heart disease, and certain type of cancers. An average of 300,000 deaths is associated with obesity and the total economic cost of obesity in U.S. was about $ 117 billion in 2000. As health care professionals it is our responsibility to increase public awareness of health consequences of over weight and obesity. Obesity as a disease: Obesity fits all the definitions of ‘disease’, that is, interruption in bodily function.
Childhood obesity is an increasing problem here in the United States. According to Schuab and Marian (2011) “Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions” (P.553). The prevalence of child obesity and overweight has increased over the last 30 years all over the United States, becoming one of the biggest public health challenges (Moreno, Johnson-Shelton, & Boles, 2013). The purpose of this paper is to give a background of the obesity epidemic, a review of current policy, and make a policy recommendation.
In our society today, there are many people that are overweight and want to lose weight fast. Some people consider liposuction, a technique in cosmetic surgery for removing excess fat from under the skin by suction. It is the most popular form of cosmetic surgery, and both men and women are using liposuction. It was introduced in 1982, and liposuction’s popularity increased as they improved the technique, and the recovery time. In 2002, there were 372,831 liposuction procedures performed in the United States, approximately 13% of all plastic surgical procedures. Now most liposuction surgeries are being done as outpatient surgeries, so after the surgery the patient can go back home. To some patients this might be beneficiary, since they don’t have to take so much time of work, or have kids that they need to take care of. The shorter the recovery time the faster the person can go back to their daily activities. Liposuction techniques may be used to reduce localized fat deposits of the thighs, hips, buttocks, Abdomen, waist, upper arms, back, inner knee, chest area, cheeks, chin and
However, these side effects can be avoided with the proper amount of vitamin and mineral supplements. Up to 20 percent of patients who undergo the operation will require follow-up surgeries to correct complications. Common problems include abdominal hernias, breakdown of the staple line and stretched stomach outlets. There’s rapid regain of weight and all sorts of medical problems. From vitamin deficiencies to constant illness, stomach upsets, diarrhea, fatigue and horrible wound infections. Many people don’t want to admit they’ve had problems because they’re so happy to be thin; “People who have had the surgery the past couple of years are in a honeymoon state”, states Guthrie, Catherine. The author of “Bariatric Surgery: A Radical Obesity Fix. They is so thrilled to be thin. They believe being thin at all costs is more important than their own lives. Even if the patients have problems although these are some complications, most patients undergo only one surgery and there's an 85 percent success rate.
Obesity is a physiological condition characterised by an excessive accumulation of body fat, specifically the build-up of adipose tissue beneath the skin. In recent years, the number of people diagnosed with clinical obesity has increased dramatically, with governments desperately trying to tackle the obesity epidemic and its associated consequences (McLannahan and Clifton, 2008). Studies have found that the prevalence of obesity once stood at an estimated 9.8% (Kelly, Yang, Chen, Reynolds & He, 2008), a considerable figure representing almost 400 million individuals worldwide. Even though obesity has now been recognised as a major problem the number of people affected is increasing rapidly, with almost 300,000 deaths attributable to obesity in the USA each year (Allison, Fontaine, Manson, Stevens, & VanItallie, 1999). Excessive amounts of fat can prove dangerous as the condition has a very high comorbidity rate with other long term health issues such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and cancer (Pi-Sunyer, 1993). Numerous examples of media, medical journals and educational literature concerning obesity refer to the condition as a disease, with an increasing use of the word ‘Epidemic’ to describe the somewhat recent surge of obesity cases in western societies (Boero, 2007), however there is little material available that offers evidence for obesity meeting specification for disease. Instead it has been proposed that obesity is alternatively a risk factor for developing other potentially harmful diseases, influenced by a variety of other factors i.e. genetics, cultural ideals and biological impairments.
Obesity is a very common disease in America. An estimated one third or 12.5 million of children in the United States are overweight or obese. Out of this number an estimated four to six percent of children and teens are severely obese. Children are determined to be overweight or obese based on where they are on the body mass index (BMI) growth charts. Children that are in the 85th to 95th percentile are considered to be overweight. Children that are above the 95th percentile are considered obese. Doctors are advised to calculate their patients BMI and weight-to-height ratio at least once a year. If they find that their patient is overweight or obese, they are typically help to create an exercise plan, tell their patient to moderately cut back on calories, and send them to health counseling. The side effects that go along...
Obesity is one of the leading causes of death in the world; in fact, it is responsible for 300,000 adolescent deaths each year. From 1980 to 2000 alone, teen obesity rates went up 10 percent. Although obesity does not seem like a big dilemma, it is a problem that’s growing every year, affecting children and their lives. Teenage obesity can result from many factors and prove hazardous to a person’s health, yet it is controllable with proper treatment and care.
Obesity occurs in all countries and it is one of the gravest problems in modern society. Obesity problems have become one matter of concern for individuals all around the world. What is more is that Obesity rates continue to rise all around the world. One of the chief causes is unhealthy diets. Obesity is also due to lack of exercise and lack of education and awareness. Therefore obesity has various effects including the risk of suffering from a range of health conditions, increased expenditure on health care and lack of self-esteem.