Obesity: Epidemiology and Health Consequences

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The overwhelming amount of various goods, such as information, products, services, created related issues in the world. One such problem that requires extreme attention lately is obesity as the percentage of the condition increases. Society needs to learn to use the resources consciously to prevent unfavourable consequences such as environmental issues or various diseases. By understanding the well-known factors such as physical activity and diet, and less examined factors such as neighbourhood environment, one can explore the impact of obesity on society and health and develop strategies to prevent and reduce the obesity rate.

The well-known risk factors that contribute to the development of diabetes are decreased physical activity among people and diet. Regarding the cases related to food consumption, overall caloric content is to blame for a population gain. According to the hypothesis in the study conducted by Ravussin and Ryan (2018, p.9), overconsumption of calories has been triggered by an increase in the consumption of highly processed and cheap food.

Such food includes an excessive amount of sugar, fat, and salt that is not associated with a healthy diet. The second perspective compares physical activity and states that occupational activity has changed even though formal exercise remains at the same level, which means that people entered a zone of low energy expenditure. The authors also emphasize that environmental changes resulted in improved health as the number of infectious diseases decreased. At the same time, the changes contributed to the development of chronic diseases, and new epidemics are taking place.

Even though the risk factors such as decreased physical activity and diet contribute to the development of diabetes, they may not be the only contributors that require attention. Hence, other risk factors that have been studied less extensively cannot be underestimated as they have proven to have an impact on obesity levels. Firstly, the neighbourhood environment is connected to the increasing obesity rate as a lack of green spaces or a higher number of fast-food restaurants impact the obesity level.

Secondly, the neighbourhood social environment influences the obesity level even though it has not been studied that extensively. Such factors as “constructs of social capital, collective efficacy, and crime, is associated with obesity among both adults and children” (Why the Neighborhood Social Environment Is Critical in Obesity Prevention, para. 3). may also contribute to the development of obesity. The factors create an inability to use resources that would help to perform physical activity on a daily basis.

Neighbourhood poverty is a significant factor that contributes to the development of obesity as such regions have less economic resources for building sidewalks or high-quality supermarkets. Hence, the elements are connected as poverty is associated with a higher level of crime and social cohesion, which is associated with obesity. Consequently, social factors and the environment is vital to consider when discussing the risk factors for obesity. It is crucial to see the connection between various factors to develop practical steps towards eradication and prevention of the disease.

Obesity is a significant issue as it influences the pregnancy and complicates the process itself, and may contribute to the development of related diseases. Poston et al. (2016, para.2) state that women who have obesity have an “increased risk of congenital fetal malformations, delivery of large for gestational age infants, shoulder dystocia, spontaneous and medically indicated premature birth, and stillbirth.”

Scholars also emphasize the possibilities of late pregnancy complications and difficulties during labour and delivery that can lead to long-term consequences and impact mother’s and child’s wellbeing. Therefore, obese women require more supervision during pregnancy and improved management, which creates another issue for healthcare professionals and requires further investigation and intervention.

Except for the risk of the development of many diseases, it is also a significant social factor as people with obesity may face issues with perceiving themselves among others adequately, which creates obesity labelling and discrimination of individuals with obesity. The study suggests that people who are overweight are perceived as lazy or less competent as they may be lacking self-discipline, which makes them feel worthless. Such framing can lead to unfavourable consequences as people may have lower self-esteem that influences their interpersonal relationships and refrain them from having a fulfilled life.

Moreover, people with obesity cannot perform certain physical tasks that can lead to the perception of them as different and not fitting in the society. Therefore, people face prejudice and discrimination. The study conducted by Jackson (2019, p.2) shows that weight-related discrimination is the fourth most widespread after sex, age, and race discrimination. The statistic explains why people who have overweight report discrimination in the workplace that includes refusal of being hired or rejection in the promotion due to their appearance.

A person’s personal life may also be complicated due to the women’s dating prospects. The studies emphasize that people who are discriminated against due to their weight do not feel encouraged to lose weight. In contrast, they are more likely to support a behaviour that leads to disorder eating and an increase in weight. Therefore, it creates a need to change society’s perception of people with overweight as this factor can contribute to the prevention of obesity.

An understanding of the risk factors associated with the environment can help to develop new, effective ways of preventing the development of obesity by the implementation of a healthier environment. As obesity levels increase among children, a healthier school environment can result in enhancement. A study monitored student for three years through middle school in an urban district in randomized conditions.

The purpose of the trial conducted by Ickovics et al. (2019, para.4) was to implement nutrition and physical activity policies. An intervention in the nutrition policies included alternatives to food-based rewards. It showed an improvement among students in their food choices, as they showed a decreased consumption of sweet beverages and fast food.

Such implementation can be crucial for the school as children tend to develop certain nutrition habits that influence their food consumption daily. Reduction and management of food consumption in school can have a positive, long-lasting effect on the prevention of diabetes. However, physical activity intervention that included opportunities for physical activities during or after school did not prove to be as effective. Body mass index has not changed among participants and all the other students, which allows concluding that further investigation of the intervention of the physical activities needed.

Obesity has become an epidemic in the modern world and requires further investigation and steps towards preventing the disease. It creates social, economic, and environmental issues that relate to the person’s wellbeing. Eradication and prevention of obesity rates can contribute to the development of a healthier environment and can allow people to have a more happy and fulfilled life. The prevention of the disease should include intervention on a social level and be implemented in educational institutions to promote healthier behaviour regarding food and physical activities. Understanding of various risk factors and the impact it has on the person’s life leads to awareness in the society, which can become the first step towards improvement.

Reference List

Ickovics, J. R., Duffany, K., Shebl, F. M., & Peters, S. M. (2019). Implementing School-Based Policies to Prevent Obesity: Cluster Randomized Trial. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 56(1). Web.

Jackson, S. E. (2016). Obesity, Weight Stigma and Discrimination. IMedPub Journals, 2(1:6). Web.

Poston, P. L., Caleyachetty, R. L., Cnattingius, S. L., Corvalan, C. L., & Uauy, R. L. (2016). Preconceptional and maternal obesity: epidemiology and health consequences. ScienceDirect, 4(12). Web.

Ravussin, E. H., & Ryan, D. H. (2018). Three New Perspectives on the Perfect Storm: What’s Behind the Obesity Epidemic?ProQuest, 26(1). Web.

Suglia, S. F., Shelton, R. C., Hsiao, A., Wang, Y. C., & Rundle, A. (2016). Why the Neighborhood Social Environment Is Critical in Obesity Prevention. Journal of Urban Health. Web.

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Obesity: Epidemiology and Health Consequences

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