Obesity Among American Adults Aged 20 Years and Older

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Currently, obesity is one of the biggest issues in the United States. It is a result of lack of balance between consumption of food and physical activities and is amplified by many other factors (National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute [NHLBI], 2012). It can be very dangerous because it increases the risks associated with certain medical conditions. There are some significant differences from normal physiology that can be noted (Via & Mechanik, 2014).

The number of obese Americans is actually worrying, and some studies indicate that close to one-third of the adult population is affected (Ogden, Carroll, Kit, & Flegal, 2014). The issue is that more than half of adults in the United States are obese or slightly overweight. It is an enormous health problem because it affects the life expectancy and wellbeing of the population However, it should be said that some of the statistics may not be correct because many individuals take medications, and other imperative factors may influence the results (Kaiser, 2009).

The predominance of overweight people has been increasing in every single state over the last few years (Graves, 2010). Oliver (2006) has studied how obesity became so prevalent among Americans in his book Fat Politics: the Real Story behind America’s Obesity Epidemic, and he claims that “until the late 1990s, America’s growing weight received little notice from the media” (p. 36). This means that this condition used to be viewed as non-problematic some time ago. Also, he discusses how it began to spread over the years. What is interesting is that he believes that it is not a medical condition and does not cause any harm itself (Oliver, 38). However, many scientists disagree with him and state that it is a critical risk factor that may lead to severe consequences (Via & Mechanik, 2014).

Ogden et al. (2014) have studied the disparities by demographic variables. Results of the research indicate that this condition mostly affects non-Hispanic white individuals over 20, and it is close to 38% (Ogden et al., 2014). Also, it is more prevalent among males according to the statistics. However, females aged 40-60 suffer from obesity much more often (Ogden et al., 2014). This is happening because males generally have a smaller life expectancy. Non-Hispanic Asian and Hispanic individuals are least likely to be obese (Ogden et al., 2014). It should be noted that there are enormous dissimilarities in the numbers for ethnic groups that can be seen.

Bodea and Popa (2015) have researched the risks that are associated with obesity, and the conclusions are worrying because it increases the probability of cancer and metabolic issues (p. 67). High blood pressure is one of the biggest problems, and it is extremely hard to control most of the time, and the medicines have some serious side-effects. Type 2 diabetes is especially dangerous because it may lead to some grievous consequences if not managed. Osteoarthritis is also very common among overweight individuals, and this condition requires one to take several drugs for pain relief. Also, surgery may be necessary in some severe cases. Some scientists even call it an inflammatory disorder (Graves, 2010). Many diseases should be preventable if one promptly makes changes to diet and attempts to lose weight. Proactive factors should also be considered. Currently, some programs were created to control and prevent obesity. Everyone who is at risk should take necessary measures because the development of certain conditions is very dangerous.

Sarah, Lee, Carrie, and Diane (2013) have studied the complexity of this problem and they claim that “the past few decades have seen a shift towards a socio-ecological view of obesity, in which the individual behavior is situated within a broader social context” (p. 320). In other words, there are different views on the severity of this problem, and how it is perceived by the society. Many believe that obesity should be monitored, and weight loss should be recommended for many individuals that are overweight (Graves, 2010). Overall, it is a severe national issue that should be discussed, and necessary measures should be taken to promote a healthy lifestyle.

There are such predisposing factors as ethnicity, gender, genetics, environment and others. C. Savona-Ventura and S. Savona-Ventura (2015) have researched the inheritance of this condition and they state that “a stronger association has been made between the intrauterine and early childhood nutritional environment of the fetus and young child and the predisposition of childhood and subsequent adulthood obesity” (p. 300). Differently put, the influence of genetics is rather small compared to other significant factors. Also, some medications such as steroids and beta antagonists can cause changes in metabolism. Reinforcing factors should also be discussed. Food supply and hormonal changes can be viewed as the most significant ones. Peptide YY deficiency is one of the leading causes of increased calorie intake and reduced satiety (Le Roux et al., 2006). The behavior of parents also plays a huge role and can be viewed as a reinforcing factor, because obese ones are more likely not to pay attention to the weight of their children (Epstein, Lin, Carr, & Fletcher, 2012). It is necessary to say that there are such enabling factors as traditions and culture. Shugart (2013) has researched the influence of these aspects on the obesity in the South and the Midwest of the U.S. by studying recent news coverage on this problem in these regions. The results of the study signify that there is indeed a connection between obesity, geography, and behavior patterns (Shugart, 2013). Overall, the biggest problem is that the number of obese people is the highest in the United States compared to the rest of the world. Environmental changes should be considered by public health officials, and policies should be introduced.

References

Bodea, A., & Popa, A. (2015). Abdominal obesity – A cardiometabolic risk factor. Romanian Journal of Diabetes Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases, 22(1), 67-72.

Epstein, L., Lin, H., Carr, K., & Fletcher, K. (2012). Food reinforcement and obesity. Psychological moderators. Appetite, 58(1), 157-162.

Graves, B. (2010). The obesity epidemic: Scope of the problem and management strategies. Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health, 55(6), 568-579.

Kaiser, K. (2009). Is all fat created equal? Fort Worth, TX: University of North Texas Health Science Center.

Le Roux, C., Batterham, R., Aylwin, S., Patterson, M., Borg, C., Wynne, K.,…Bloom S. R. (2006). Attenuated peptide YY release in obese subjects is associated with reduced satiety. Endocrinology, 147(1), 3-8.

National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute. (2012). What causes overweight and obesity? Web.

Oliver, J. (2006). Fat politics: the real story behind America’s obesity epidemic. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.

Ogden, C. L., Carroll, M. D., Kit, B. K., & Flegal, K. M. (2014). Prevalence of childhood and adult obesity in the United States, 2011-2012. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 311(8), 806-814.

Sarah, F., Lee, J., Carrie, M., & Diane, F. (2013). Obesity, complexity, and the role of the health system. Current Obesity Reports, 2(4), 320-326.

Savona-Ventura, C., & Savona-Ventura, S. (2015). The inheritance of obesity. Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 29(3), 300-308.

Shugart, H. (2013). Weight of tradition: culture as a rationale for obesity in contemporary U.S. news coverage. Obes Rev, 14(9), 736-744.

Via, M. A., & Mechanik, J. I. (2014). Obesity as a disease. Current Obesity Reports, 3(3), 291-297.

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Obesity Among American Adults Aged 20 Years and Older

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