Obesity
Currently, there is a general epidemiological shift globally. This shift is characterized by the transition from infectious diseases which were previously the primary source of concern in the health field to lifestyle diseases. The rising prevalence of obesity among other lifestyle diseases presents a significant public health problem. Essentially, obesity is a condition that stems from the build-up of fat in the body to pathological levels. Further, the disease is the starting point of the sequelae of various diseases including type 2 diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, obstructive sleep apnea, and various cancers among other complications (Mancini & de Melo, 2017). Accordingly, this paper dissects obesity as a current health concern, how long it has been a problem, persons at risk, predisposing behavior, its prevention, and possible solutions to the issue.
Obesity is not merely the result of poor lifestyle choices. Rather, the disease is multifactorial, complex, and polygenic and thus chronic and difficult to manage. Consequently, obesity presents a substantial threat in terms of the economic burden. The condition became an issue of concern in the 80’s when its incidences became increasingly common (Tremmel, Gerdtham, Nilsson & Saha, 2017). For more than two decades now, the global prevalence of obesity has more than doubled among adults and tripled among children. The disease poses a challenge to persons of all ages, sexes, ethnic groups, and socioeconomic and educational levels. Considering the immense danger that obesity poses, the condition ceased to be a mere cosmetic concern. The World Health Organization posits that well over thirty percent of the world’s population is obese or overweight and that about five percent of global fatalities are attributable to obesity (Tremmel, Gerdtham, Nilsson & Saha, 2017). Experts project that if the current trends remain unchanged, nearly half of the world’s population will be obese or overweight by 2030 (Tremmel, Gerdtham, Nilsson & Saha, 2017).
Various factors predispose individuals to obesity. Fundamentally, unhealthy life habits and inactivity are at the crux of the occurrence of obesity. Today, many people live sedentary lifestyles devoid of adequate physical activity. This problem is further compounded by the unhealthy eating habits being adopted by people. Scientists have also linked obesity to lack of enough sleep and high levels of stress. Stress has particularly been known to affect the production of hormones that regulate energy balances, hunger, and satiety. The risk of obesity increases with age. Adults with healthy body mass indices gradually gain weight and are likely to attain unhealthy weight levels in their 60s after which they lose weight. Nevertheless, childhood obesity is increasingly becoming a concern owing to the modern lifestyles. Environmental factors have also been implicated in the occurrence of obesity. Some chemicals are known obesogens with the potential to alter hormonal activities and facilitate improper fat deposition in the body. Also, built environment factors that facilitate access to junk food and eliminate the need to walk even the shortest distances are also key in precipitating obesity.
Obesity and overweight are substantially prevalent in particular ethnic and racial groups. Essentially, people of color and Hispanics are at a higher risk of becoming obese as compared to their white counterparts (Arroyo-Johnson & Mincey, 2016). Genetics also comes to play in the precipitation of obesity. Certain individuals carry a variant of DNA associated with elevated BMI. Additionally, genes determine fat storage and distribution as well as one’s ability to burn calories and convert food into energy. Correspondingly, sex is a risk factor for obesity. Women are more prone to gaining unhealthy weight based on their hormonal constitution and metabolic processes. During gestation, a woman’s weight appropriately increases. However, some women find it challenging to lose the weight after giving birth hence increasing their vulnerability to obesity. Further, females with the polycystic ovarian syndrome are even more vulnerable to becoming obese.
Obesity can be traced to some medical causes as well. Patient’s with Cushing’s syndrome, hypothyroidism, and Prader-Willi syndrome often develop obesity. Additionally, conditions such as arthritis that limit physical activity have been known to culminate in inappropriate weight gain. Certain pharmacological agents have weight gain as part of their untoward effects and have thus been implicated in the development of obesity, especially if the patient fails to compensated though activity or diet. These medicines include beta blockers, steroids, antipsychotics, oral hypoglycemics, anti-seizure drugs, and antidepressants (“Overweight and Obesity”, 2018). Persons quitting smoking often experience a period of intense weight gain which could eventually culminate in obesity. Research has also established a connection between socioeconomic factors and obesity. Persons with no safe places to exercise, those with no knowledge of healthy cooking, as well as individuals with no financial capacity to buy healthy food are more likely to develop obesity. Besides, people’s company and contemporaries are likely to influence their feeding habits.
Preventing obesity and bringing the epidemic under control involves a lot more than just encouraging vulnerable individuals or patients to go on a diet. Accordingly, the prevention of obesity requires an integrated approach involving the promotion of healthy eating habits and encouraging physical activity. Additionally, it is imperative to develop public policies that enhance access healthy foods. Further, healthcare professionals should be trained so that they are better placed to support persons that need to lose weight and to advise others to prevent them from becoming obese. It important to emphasize activity and good feeding habits rather than focusing on weight alone. Appropriately, individuals should have a proper exercise plan and ensure that they adhere to it. Part of the good eating habits entails encouraging people to only eat when they are hungry and desist from binge eating. Low-fat foods are diets comprising fresh fruits and vegetables should be encouraged instead of snacks and sweetened drinks.
It would also be necessary for people to understand portion sizes and the calorie content of their foods so that there is a balance between the calories taken up and those that are burnt. Appropriately foods with high energy densities should be avoided. People should also be encouraged to assess their weights regularly by using the relevant screening tools including the BMI and waist circumference to determine their vulnerability to obesity. Since obesity affects all kinds of people, such information should be availed to everyone. A good approach would be to ensure that health care facilities and professionals readily provide such information to their clients (“Overweight and Obesity”, 2018). Additionally, educators and learning institutions should emphasize the need for keeping obesity at bay. Generally, various public forums can be used as avenues to champion healthy living. Also, considering the extensive use of social media and the Internet, experts should avail relevant information online so that the millions of Internet users can be helped.
In as much as obesity is difficult to manage, various strategies can be successfully employed to reduce its burden. The initial phase of treatment involves moderate weight loss through a program that incorporates both physical activity and healthy eating habits (“Overweight and Obesity”, 2018). Imperatively, appropriate dietary changes including cutting calories, meal replacements and restricting unhealthy foods should be made. Treatment of obesity also involves behavioral modification which is often achieved through counseling and involvement in obesity support groups (“Overweight and Obesity”, 2018). In certain cases, weight loss medication can be prescribed. However, the drugs are to be used concomitantly with healthy feeding and exercise. Some of the common medicines used include liraglutide, lorcaserin, topiramate, orlistat, naltrexone, bupropion, and phentermine. Bariatric surgery may also be considered in extreme cases especially if a patient fails to benefit significantly from the other weight loss strategies (“Overweight and Obesity”, 2018).
Overall, the burden of obesity threatens to increase further if no appropriate action is taken given the current trends. The disease has many risk factors but key to its development are unhealthy feeding habits and physical inactivity. Accordingly, a sound prevention strategy should incorporate measures to encourage exercise and healthy eating. Additionally, people can significantly benefit from sound policies and efforts by public health professionals to champion healthy living. Even though it is classified as a chronic disease, it is evident that obesity is preventable and treatable. With proper interventions and the adherence of individuals to the imperatives of healthy living, the obesity epidemic can be controlled effectively.