Analyzing Childhood and Adult Obesity

Childhood and Adult Obesity

Obesity can be described as a condition when a person has accumulated excess body fat, which might be detrimental for his health. According to statistical records by the World Health Organization (WHO), there are at least 300m obese people in the world and this figure is increasing rapidly. Obesity was not a government concern until the mid-1970s when reports regarding increasing obesity were produced by Bray in the U.S. and UK, asking the government and the Medical Research Council to carry out research on obesity. However, the governments then, took no cognizance of this issue, but instead, eventually, it did lead to the establishment of research centres. From 1980s onwards, this matter had evinced interest in doctors who specialised in this field, and the United Nations organized a panel to discuss the issue. The government still chose to remain silent. (Branca et al., 2007)

The WHO started the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF). The function of this organization was to carry out a census of people's weights and heights on a global basis. Its job was also to study the causes of premature deaths and disability and to study the diseases caused by obesity. This organization had four main objectives for preventing and controlling obesity:

To raise awareness regarding the problems associated with obesity among the communities. To publicise how obesity has negative effects on the population as well as the economy.

To act towards preventing the growth of this problem by introducing several strategies

To ensure that the government, which is the policy maker, ascribes to this strategy

To promote the growth of national, regional as well as global structures which allows and backs the execution of proper conduct against obesity (James, 2008)

In order to conduct the survey, the WHO needed to know the ideal average body weight for each age group. A standard deviation of the mean weight range as well as the estimated statistical records of disease and death rates by the WHO enabled the obesity records to be assessed; if there was any increase above the ideal average weight, the person must be tested for all the major diseases that had been listed in the findings by IOTF. The research and analysis of these results showed that both in the high-income and middle-income countries, adult BMIs were in the top 10 risk factors for the burden of disease. (WHO, 2000)