Obesity: causes, consequences, and public health responses

¶ … health issue of obesity is gaining attention from diverse groups in society nowadays. For some years now, the many cases of health problems resulting from obesity have been the focus of research and studies of many scientists from different countries. Today, due to the increasing percentage of obese people in many nations, obesity research is among the major programs considered by health service groups and governments.

Obesity is a health problem that refers to excess fats in the body resulting to being overweight. Usually, obesity is caused by improper diet. Some critical illnesses that toll life are associated with obesity. Studies have shown that being obese causes an individual to lose a few years from his life expectancy.

Currently, countless of health articles, news, and journals regarding obesity are disseminated to bring attention to the public about its consequences. Because of this, questions have been raised if such exposure of issues on obesity is appropriate.

Distribution of information on obesity is essential for the benefit of everyone's health. Perhaps, this is what the publications intend. Nonetheless, for whatever reasons it may be, it is important to know and be aware of health matters and issues. Questions such as "What is obesity?," "What causes obesity?," "What are the consequences brought by obesity?," and many others, are important factors in bringing awareness in us.

Governments have regarded the issues of obesity by providing policies and strategies, and by supporting conventions of various health services. In fact, governments are allotting budget, aside from budgets to other health cases, for the cause of delivering solutions to health problems concerning obesity.

Public Health and Obesity

The population of people who are at risk of becoming obese increases yearly. From statistics carried out on nations such as the United States and European nations, there is a growth of 5 to10 percentage of obese men and women. Alarmingly, obesity rate annually increases in adults and children alike.

Obesity is caused by a number of factors such as genes, environment, and psychological status of a person. Some illnesses and drugs, leading to uncontrollable eating habits and disorders, also cause obesity. This includes depression, neurological disorders, and intake of stimulants and steroids.

Genetic factor is the foremost cause that demands vital attention to prevent obesity. People with families who have history of obesity are in more possibility of becoming overweight due to inherited imbalanced genes. This type of genes is capable of absorbing more calories than burning the necessary amount of calories. Slow metabolism is generally related and identified with such disorder. To prevent the imbalances of calorie intake and release, and to overcome the influence of hereditary genes, it is important to consider a strict habit of taking preventive dietary measures.

Environment factor is another element that causes obesity. Sometimes obesity is visible within members of one family, not because of genetic factors but, because they share the same foods and lifestyles. One member's behavior of eating too much, or the energy of eating from time to time, can influence the behavior of another. Building the habit of moderation in eating and providing physical activities that help burn fats in the body are some of the techniques that can lead an individual to divert his lifestyle from the influences of his environment.

Obesity can also result from psychological factors. Some people tend to release their emotions, such as depression, boredom, stress, sadness, or even gladness, in eating.

In our culture of relating celebrations with eating, the growth of obesity is not impossible to increase every year. The rise of fast food chains providing instant and ready-to-eat meals that usually contain high fats and cholesterols contribute to the increase in number of people who develops obesity. This is due to the incorrect habit-formation of individuals in over-eating high-fat foods from easy-to-access fast food chains. Malcolm Simmonds, in his article The Growth of Obesity, indicates a Japanese professor's research regarding obesity and fast foods.

Japanese professor calls the trio of obesity, diabetes and heart disease the 'McDiseases', because fast food is seen as a cause of rising levels of disease.

The health of individuals affected and at risk of becoming obese is in threat of experiencing obesity-related diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressures, and heart diseases. Accumulation of such diseases can become illnesses that run within families through genetic transfers. Hence, as years go by, the number of individuals with diverse diseases is also threatened to increase resulting to low public health. Malcolm Simmonds indicates the serious consequences of obesity in the United States and other nations.

The JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) reported that 300,000 Americans die annually from obesity related illnesses. These are mainly diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart and artery disease.

Certainly, diabetes is increasing rapidly alongside obesity. The number of diabetics has risen by 11% worldwide in the past 5 years. India has 32 million diabetics, China 22 million, USA has 15 million and the UK 1.4 million.

Consequences of Obesity

The consequences of obesity cost a number of health problems, government funds, and life mortalities. Stressing on the consequences of obesity, in BBC News article entitled Warning Over UK Obesity Levels, Dr. Susan Jebb explains the need for concern on the strain obesity brings on an individual's health, as well as the costs it brings on National Health Service.

Aside from diabetes, cancer, and heart diseases, the article Understanding Adult Obesity states the following health problems related to obesity.

Gallbladder disease and gallstones.

Liver disease.

Osteoarthritis, a disease in which the joints deteriorate. This is possibly the result of excess weight on the joints.

Gout, another disease affecting the joints.

Pulmonary (breathing) problems, including sleep apnea in which a person can stop breathing for a short time during sleep.

Reproductive problems in women, including menstrual irregularities and infertility.

Relating to cancer, obese individuals are more likely to die from cancer of certain types than non-obese individuals. Also, they are more likely to acquire health problems.

Obesity leads to some psychological problems due to the physical appearance it brings. According to studies, obese individuals demonstrate low self-esteem leading to incapacity of interacting socially with others. Sometimes, they are the subject of teases, prejudices and social discriminations. Obese children are seen to perform less in education and are usually unable to complete school. Sometimes, they are also unable to go to college due to discrimination they experience during entrance application.

Another consequence of obesity is visible in job employment. Some studies show that obese applicants are regarded to have poor work habits. Often, illnesses caused by obesity such as diabetes become a negative factor for them, resulting a negative feedback from employer due to health issues.

The Health Services

Obesity and the health problems it causes are currently the biggest crisis faced by the health services in Britain. Top-notching the health problems is diabetes in which the prominent causing factor is obesity. To bridge the solutions and problems to global health, diverse programs and conferences are being held by health organizations worldwide particularly from nations across Europe.

A few months ago, a conference was held by the top scientists in Europe to discuss problems causing obesity and come up with vital research programs and key solutions that will end its increasing rate. The conference was headed by Aberdeen's Rowett Institute and was supported by the European Union.

The rapid population growth of obese individuals in Britain has alarmed the health services and parents alike. Surveys and medical researches on obesity population rate in both adults and children have been conducted at the National Audit Office and Medical Research Council. The National Audit Office advertises warnings on the disturbing increase of obesity in Britain. They address information to health organizations, government, food industries, and all the people in Britain. From Disability UK, public health minister Yvette Cooper states

There are clear links between obesity and our biggest killers, heart disease and cancer. The NHS Plan, the national cancer plan, and the national service framework for coronary heart disease include action to address obesity, diet and nutrition, and physical activity. Work on guidance on prevention and management of obesity at a local level is already under way."

Medical nutrition specialists demonstrate their concerns by advertising and providing information on the causes and effects of obesity. From Obesity and Overweight in Britain, Dr. Andrew Hill, chairman of the Association for the Study of Obesity, stresses a need for encouragement to lose weight, especially those whose lifestyles are in a "fast pace" environment and society.

The Media on Obesity

Advertisement is a form of media that is believed to partly contribute to the growth of obesity.

The bad eating habits of children are said to be the effect of advertisements promoting foods that lack healthy ingredients. However, from the studies conducted by the British Social Affair Units, advertisements do not easily influence children (Simmonds, Malcolm). Also, a survey of 5000 parents presented a result that advertisement is not included in the top 5 elements that influence children causing obesity (Simmond, Malcolm).

Recently, obesity has been the subject of most articles on health issues in Britain. The rise of obesity in Britain where the rapid increase of obesity rate almost equals that of the U.S. has alarmed not just the government and health services but the media as well. To some, the articles on obesity over-expose the subject, while to others it's just merely a factor of raising awareness to the public.

The role currently served by the media in the issue of obesity is to provide information to the public. Though there have been quite a number of articles on obesity publicly released and published, the contents of which are all supported by interviews, studies, and researches from concerned groups and sectors such as the government, health organizations, and medical professionals.

The media contributes to the government and health services in addressing the nation the goal of preventing obesity. Through the articles on obesity, information is disseminated to the public while the importance of health awareness is conveyed.

Conclusion

Obesity is a global health problem faced by many nations worldwide. The most widely affected nations of obesity are the U.S. And European nations, with Britain being the highest populated of obese individuals in Europe. Caused by obesity, related illnesses such as diabetes, heart diseases, and cancer are threatening public health.

Despite of the prevailing increase in the rate of obese individuals, Britain's government and health organizations continually support the search for solutions against obesity. This is through the health programs, studies, and researches conducted by medical specialists from nations worldwide. The upward trend of obesity population brings challenge to medical sectors such as the Department of Health, the National Health Service, and diverse associations of medical professionals.

The government has also placed importance in promoting proper health care in schools through diet management and physical activities that can reduce and burn calories in the body. Encouraging adults who live in "fast pace" environments to have healthy lifestyles is also promoted by the government and health organizations. With the combination of such guidance to proper practice of caring for one's health, and the cooperation of every individual to follow a healthy living, the problem of obesity and obesity-related illnesses can be minimized. Sooner, reaching a disease-free and healthy nation will not be impossible to achieve.

Bringing and providing enough health information to a nation is essential. Health awareness is an important factor that enables an individual know how to care for his body properly. Such is a step in the development of a good lifestyle and habit.