The Obesity Epidemic By Mya Anders

Mya Anders

English 1302

Spring 2018

Professor Hammett

The Obesity Epidemic

Introduction

“By 2030, more than half of Americans could be obese, resulting in millions of new cases of diabetes, coronary heart disease, and stroke” (Braun 1). Obesity is a growing issue, in fact, “Worldwide obesity has nearly tripled since 1975” (“Obesity and Overweight” 1). This constant growth and prevalence among children qualifies it as an epidemic, and makes finding a solution imperative. Obesity leads to diabetes and heart disease. Multiple pills a day, hospital visits and bills, and a greater risk of dying and amputation are inevitable for someone who is obese, along with, stares in public and humiliation from trying to fit into places that were not made for people of this size (“Diabetic Foot Ulcers” 3). A poor quality of life, and health complications are just a couple of burdens that come with obesity (3). The issue of being extremely overweight can’t be disregarded because we will not start to see a decrease until people are given the right tools to prevent it. Obesity can be avoided, we just have to put in the effort to stop it.

History

Today we have numerous diets and television shows dedicated to losing weight. You would assume that with these new steps taken, obesity rates would decrease, but we continue to see them grow. In 1991, there were no states with an obesity rate over fifteen percent (Levi 1). This statement comparing present to past obesity rates shows just how significant the growth has been: “The state with the lowest obesity rate would have the highest rate in 1995” (1).

Today, “Adult obesity rates now exceed 35 percent in five states and top 30 percent in 25 states”(“Obesity Rates and Trends 1”). These increases can be attributed to our increasing love for fast food; “In the 1970’s people in the united states spent $6 billion on fast food annually. In 2000, they spent $110 billion” (Butler 1). Another factor in obesity could be high fructose corn syrup, which came about in the 1970’s (1). “The introduction of high fructose corn syrup appears to have coincided with the increase of obesity in America, points out a Princeton University research team.” (1)  New technology in the 1980’s was where children spending an excessive amount of free time inside began (1). Because of these new technologies, kids are playing outside less, meaning that they are not as active as they use to be. Portion sizes at restaurants have grown much more than what they use to be. In 1955, McDonalds only served a seven ounce cup of their soda (Shah 1). Now they sell a 32 ounce drink, and the convenient store Seven Eleven has 40 ounces in their Big Gulp drinks (Edwards 1). In the past, “Chronic malnutrition has been the norm. Only after the technological advances of the eighteenth century, which led to what Fogel calls the second agricultural revolution, did a gradual increase in food supply become available.” (Eknoyan) This quote means that as advances in technology made production more efficient, we continued to consume more food. Now that we have quick access to food and technology, obesity and our lifestyles today look completely different from the past and even a few years ago.

Social Effects

Obesity can cause numerous health issues, but that is not all. It also effects finances, child development, and mental health. (Segal 1).

Obesity can make a person have to visit the hospital and doctor’s office frequently. These visits soon start to pile up medical bills, putting another burden on those effected by the disease. Medical cost for obesity are now more than smoking (Begley 1).  In fact, heath care costs in the United States caused by obesity, “Currently, estimates for these costs range from $147 billion to nearly $210 billion per year” (Segal 1). These cost make companies who are looking to employ think twice about who they are hiring.  “Employers want to operate businesses in places with healthier populations – with a workforce that is more productive and has lower health care costs,” which would leave obese people with a harder time finding a job (1).

Child development and their overall adolescent experience is heavily impacted by obesity. Since they are bigger than other children, they may get stares and can be treated differently. While healthy kids have a childhood filled with fun and games, an obese child is plagued with doctors’ visits and a struggle to change their lifestyle. Researchers have noticed that, “Childhood obesity is correlated with poor educational performance” (Segal 1). Although, they are still not sure how exactly obesity and education are directly related (Gardner 1). When a child is obese their life can be taken over by the disease.

Obesity and issues that come with it can have devastating effects on a person’s mental health. They have to face stereotyping and name calling. Also glares from others when out in public. Kids that are obese have to deal with bullying from their peers, which can make them depressed. This causes low self-esteem from a young age. “Obese children are more likely to become obese adults than are their thinner peers” (LH 1). This means that someone could be struggling with obesity their entire life, and consequently their mental health.

Examples

Obesity is caused by certain events depending on the individual. The most well-known reason is simply eating an unhealthy amount of foods that do damage to your body and not exercising. It is hard for some people to find the time to get active and prepare healthy meals so they continue to gain weight. There are different kinds of obesity that are classified by what causes it. For example, someone who is depressed or has a mood disorder may start to overeat as a response (“Obesity Types”). Having a mood disorder may not be the sole reason for someone being obese, but it can add to it and make it more difficult to become healthy. Childhood obesity is another example of a form of obesity. This is caused by the well-known actions stated like overeating and not getting active at a young age.

Secondary obesity is a type of obesity that is caused by a preexisting medical condition. Examples of these are, “A deficiency in thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism) and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)” (Day 1). There are also other rare medical conditions that can cause obesity.

You can also rank the severity of obesity. It can split them up into three sections. Class one has a body mass index (BMI) of 30 to <35, class two has a BMI of 35 to <40, and class three has a BMI of 40 or higher (“Defining Adult”). Class three would be morbid obesity which is the worst type.

Solutions

Our drive to find solutions to obesity looks a lot different today than what it looked like in the past because it was not a great issue. Today there is always a new diet and superfood to try.

One solution to obesity is simply educating people, especially children, on obesity. Children are highly impressionable, so educating them at a young age can help them later in life. It is important to not only teach them about healthy eating, but also, the dangers of obesity. If kids start to understand nutrition they may want to try healthy foods for themselves. Steps must be taken in order to educate others:

Prevention will require upgrading of school health education, teacher educators and medical curricula. It must begin early in childhood by addressing the cognitive, psychomotor and social–emotional domains. The aim of this review is to educate stakeholders on the need to cooperate and coordinate with each other to create community‐based treatment protocols. (Levy 1)

Another solution given by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention is local and state programs and community efforts. Funding from the state can be very beneficial. For example, the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health program (REACH), “Gives funds to state and local health departments, tribes, universities, and community-based organizations. Awardees use these funds to build strong partnerships to guide and support the program’s work” (“Strategies”1). Programs like REACH bring awareness to factors of obesity. It has been effective: “From 2009 to 2011, cholesterol screening increased among African Americans 74% to 78%, Hispanics 58% to 71%, and Asians 53% to 72% in REACH communities” (1). These percentages show that REACH has impacted the way people feel about their health.

Local efforts can help as well because they are encouraging a person in their everyday life. Schools can simply encourage  kids to drink water instead of, “Sugar-sweetened beverages and ensure access to free drinking water as an alternative to sugar-sweetened beverages before, during, and after school”(1). Schools can also help out by ensuring they have a number of healthy options for students at lunch. Local efforts do not stop at schools, they can also be found on worksites. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention explains, “The Food Service Guidelines for federal facilities is a set of voluntary best business practices that can be used to increase healthy and safe food options for employees” (1). One of their main goals is that, “Healthier foods and beverages are available and encouraged at federal facilities” (1).  If more workplaces, states, and communities started to follow these guidelines and programs, we may start to see a decrease in obesity.

A final solution to obesity is getting more exercise. It can be difficult to find time to get active, but it is a crucial part in decreasing obesity. There tips to introduce activity into your life. The Mayo Clinic suggests to, “Schedule time to exercise as you would any other appointment. Plan to watch your favorite show while walking on the treadmill, read while riding a stationary bike, or take a break to go on a walk at work”(“5 Steps” 1).  Another tip when beginning to exercise is to start by, “Designing your fitness program” (1). This allows someone to start a balanced routine and to progress at a steady pace. Exercising gets tiring so it is important to find ways to do it that are entertaining. Having a music playlist to listen to can add enjoyment to activities. For children, they can become part of a sports team to keep active. This is a great way for them to have fun with friends while getting the recommended amount of exercise. One way or another people have to find a way to get active in order to lose weight and decrease obesity.

Camus and Absurdity

Camus was a French author and philosopher who wrote The Plague. He believed that life had no meaning and found the way we search for purpose in life absurd. He also thought that religion was just a way to rationalize what was happening in the world. Absurdity somewhat ties into obesity because some people find it ridiculous that a person could eat themselves into terrible conditions. Unlike the bubonic plague or yellow fever, obesity is brought on by the person. They know that they are harming their bodies but they continue with their habits anyways. With several resources to get healthy they believe that an obese person should be able to lose weight. Camus said, “I do not want to believe that death is the gateway to another life. For me it is a closed door” (Aronson 1). This means that he believes that there is no life after death. This quote makes it seem like Camus would find obesity to be foolish. If you are doing something that makes life more difficult and painful, then you are wasting it instead of making the most of it. The outcome of obesity is eventually death. Camus would probably think that since obesity shortens life, it is senseless because you are taking away from what little time we have.

Conclusion

Obesity is an important topic because it continues to effect a growing number of people. It leads to so many health complications and overall causes a stressful life. We see that more children are obese and most of the time that carries over into adulthood. This means a lifetime of health issues for those kids. This is why childhood prevention is significant. Some may find it absurd that this disease is brought on by the individual, but its immense growth means we cannot ignore it. There are solutions to obesity and great information on how to prevent it. If people are provided with the proper resources, obesity can be reduced.

Works Cited

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Aronson, Ronald. “Albert Camus.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Stanford University, 10 Apr. 2017, plato.stanford.edu/entries/camus/.

Begley, Sharon. “As America's Waistline Expands, Costs Soar.” Reuters, Thomson Reuters, 30 Apr. 2012, www.reuters.com/article/us-obesity/as-americas-waistline-expands-costs-soar-idUSBRE83T0C820120430.

Butler, Alia. “How to Relieve Anxiety Without Medication.” LIVESTRONG.COM, Leaf Group, 14 Aug. 2017, www.livestrong.com/article/181497-how-to-relieve-anxiety-without-medication/.

Day, Jo Ann. “Secondary Obesity.” The Johns Hopkins Digestive Weight Loss Center, 3 May 2017, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/digestive_weight_loss_center/conditions/secondary_obesity.html.

“Defining Adult Overweight and Obesity.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 June 2016, www.cdc.gov/obesity/adult/defining.html.

Eknoyan, Garabed. “A History of Obesity, or How What Was Good Became Ugly and Then Bad.” Advances in Chronic Kidney Disease, 2006, www.ackdjournal.org/article/S1548-5595(06)00106-6/fulltext.

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Levi, Jeffrey. “20 Years Of Obesity: Tracking Changes, Finding Solutions.” The Huffington Post, TheHuffingtonPost.com, 9 July 2011, www.huffingtonpost.com/jeffrey-levi/americans-obesity_b_892110.html.

Levy, Luba Zuk, and Karen Petty. “Childhood Obesity Prevention: Compelling Challenge of the Twenty‐First Century.” Taylor and Francis Online, 23 July 2008, www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03004430600852072.

LH, Epstein, et al. “Childhood Obesity.” Pediatric Clinics of North America, europepmc.org/abstract/med/3887305.

“Obesity Rates & Trends.” Obesity Rates & Trends - The State of Obesity, stateofobesity.org/rates/.

“Obesity Types.” Obesity Types, IAC Publishing, LLC, 7 May 2016, www.symptomfind.com/diseases-conditions/obesity-types/.

Segal, Laura, et al. “Obesity Rates & Trends.” Obesity Rates & Trends - The State of Obesity, stateofobesity.org/rates/.

Shah, Khushbu. “McDonald's Soda Cups Are Four Times Larger Than They Were in 1955.” Eater, 9 Sept. 2015, www.eater.com/2015/9/9/9297609/mcdonalds-sizes-growth-since-1955.

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“The Hollowverse.” Albert Camus' Religion and Political Views, hollowverse.com/albert-camus/.