Introduction
Obesity results from excess body fat. It has become the major and most common health challenge in the US and other developed nations. The body mass index (BMI) scale measures obesity in people. People with over 30 BMI are obese. The condition affects both old people and children. According to National Center for Health Statistics, the rate of obesity in the US has doubled since the 1970s (Ogden, Carroll, Kit & Flegal, 2012).
Obesity is responsible for some deaths. In addition, it leads to other health complications like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart diseases, and some types of cancer. Moreover, obese people also face several health risks.
Risk factors
Several factors contribute to obesity. In most cases, obese people may develop the problem from a combination of several factors. Some of these factors include the following. Genetic compositions are major contributors to obesity. While genetic influences are critical to consider, people have overall control of their body weight, unless the problem relates to rare genetic diseases that could make it nearly impossible to avoid chances of becoming obese.
Some studies have pointed out that physiological factors could also contribute to obesity (Van Grouw and Volpe, 2013). These studies posit that people have certain and predetermined body weights. Hence, they cannot lose weight below such weights. Moreover, people of the same age, sex, and bodyweight have varied metabolic activities.
Studies have linked several cases of obesity to eating disorders and food intake. Foods rich in fats and calories, which are mainly junk foods, have contributed to several cases of obesity (Franck, Grandi, and Eisenberg, 2013). Eating disorders such as night eating syndrome and binge have led to obesity. On the same note, lifestyle also contributes to obesity. People who do not exercise and lead sedentary lifestyles have high risks of developing obesity.
Obesity may also result from the usage of certain drugs. For instance, people who use certain steroid hormones are prone to obesity.
Prevalence
Ogden and colleagues noted that the rate of obesity in the US in adults and children had more than doubled since the 1970s (Ogden et al., 2012). However, current data have indicated that the overall rate of obesity has remained flat or even declined (Ogden et al., 2012). On the other hand, obesity has remained widespread, and it has become among the major public health concerns in the US today (Ogden et al., 2012). In addition, it is difficult to determine the exact rate of declines in obesity because of disparities based on demographic characteristics, geographical locations, and socioeconomic conditions among the affected populations.
Scholars have continued to focus on obesity prevalence in both adults and children. They noted that obesity prevalence varies among African-Americans, Caucasians, and Hispanics in both men and women. Further, most obese people have also increased in weight (Ogden et al., 2012). About a quarter of children aged between two and five years and a third of adolescents are obese in the US (Ogden et al., 2012).
Policies
There is a general public health awareness to reduce the prevalence of obesity. The focus has been on healthy eating habits and exercise. Some experts have proposed the introduction of a tax on junk foods as a way of fighting obesity (Franck et al., 2013).
Conclusion
Obesity has become a major public health problem globally. Although some data have indicated that obesity prevalence has declined slightly or remained flat in the US, it is still widespread in most populations and remains a major cause of deaths and health complications. Several factors have contributed to obesity, including sedentary lifestyles and eating disorders.
References
Franck, C., Grandi, M., and Eisenberg, J. (2013). Taxing Junk Food to Counter Obesity. American Journal Public Health, e1-e5.
Ogden, C. L., Carroll, M. D., Kit, B.K., & Flegal, K. M. (2012). Prevalence of obesity and trends in body mass index among US children and adolescents, 1999-2010. Journal of the American Medical Association, 307(5), 483-490.
Van Grouw, M., and Volpe, L. (2013). Childhood obesity in America. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes., 20(5), 396-400.