Obesity: Definition
Obesity is a serious condition that occurs when you accumulate excessive fat in the body.
Statistics and Facts
- The number of persons with obesity has doubled since the year 1980.
- In 2010, over 34 percent of adults in the world were reported to be overweight. Around 11 percent were suffering from obesity (Scherer & Hill, 2016).
- Obesity is a leading cause of death in both the developed and developing nations.
- Over 2.7 million people aged between 18 and 55 die annually due to conditions or illnesses associated with obesity (Scherer & Hill, 2016).
- Diabetes, cancer, stroke, and hypertension can be caused by obesity (Scherer & Hill, 2016).
- Body mass index (BMI) is used to monitor the development of obesity.
- Obesity affects over 40 million children below the age of eight globally (Scherer & Hill, 2016).
- The condition is preventable.
Potential Causes
These factors catalyze the development of obesity in adults:
- Physical inactivity
- Overeating
- Genetic makeup: This is the case because an individual whose parents were obese have increased chances of developing the illness
- Diseases such as insulin resistance and Crushing’s syndrome
- Psychological factors such as anger, boredom, and stress.
Health Problems and Challenges
Obesity will trigger numerous health problems. The common ones include:
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)
- Gallbladder disease
- Stroke
- Premature death
- Sleep apnea
- The inability to achieve one’s potential
- Cardiovascular disease
- Hypertension
- Mental illnesses such as anxiety, stress, and depression
Obesity Prevention and Management
Obesity has become a major epidemic that affects many people (Taylor, 2018).
You should embrace the power of an integrated model in order to deal with it. Such a strategy can be characterized by these practices:
- Engage in exercises
- Embrace healthy habits (such as balanced diets)
- You should be eating vegetables, whole grains, and nuts
- Avoid sugary and fatty foods
- Consume oil-based fats
- Monitor your BMI regularly (should be below 25)
- Governments should implement powerful programs to educate people about the dangers of obesity
- Monitor conditions such as stroke, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease regularly
Useful Resources
The Obesity Medicine Association (OMA): This is an association of clinicians. The agency offers meaningful insights and ideas that can guide you to prevent and manage this condition. The web-link to the resource is “https://obesitymedicine.org”.
The American Obesity Association (AOA): This agency acknowledges that obesity should be identified as a serious disease. This resource educates more people about the challenges of obesity and the best preventative measures. You will find the association meaningful and informative. The web-link to this source is “https://obesity.procon.org/”.
References
Scherer, P. E., & Hill, J. A. (2016). Epidemiology of obesity and diabetes and their cardiovascular complications. Circulation Research, 118, 1723-1735. Web.
Taylor, M. M. (2018). The obesity epidemic: Why a social justice perspective matters. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan.