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Obesity

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Institution

Course

Instructor

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Obesity

My selected topic is obesity. Of many diseases that Americans face today, obesity is

among the illness that poses a severe threat to both young and elderly Americans. In America,

obesity is a significant health concern that causes numerous diseases, specifically increased risk

of certain types of cancer, stroke, cardiovascular diseases, coronary artery disease, and type 2

diabetes, not forgetting increases in early mortality and economic costs. With the health concerns

that obesity causes, the health condition has been a topic that healthcare professionals tend to

address for years, making it my preferred topic to talk about throughout the semester.

Obesity, as a health concern, affects people of all ages. Today, about 65% of adults and

15% of children and adolescents in the unites states are obese or overweight. The physiological

mechanism that causes an increase in obesity is not a mystery: the number of calories that

Americans eat is more than they can burn, and the excess energy is stored in their bodies as fat.

The United States is ranked 12th in obesity, recording 36.2%. The rates of obesity vary

significantly between states ranging from 23% to 38.10%. Healthcare costs for patients who

suffer from obesity are 42% higher than those of individuals with average weight (Chooi, Ding

& Magkos, 2019). The human toll is worse because obesity is not just associated with higher

mortality rates and shorter life expectancy; it also weakens the quality of life.

Position Statement: Obesity is a complex, multifactorial, chronic disease that necessitates a

multidisciplinary medical approach to treatment. It is the second leading preventable cause of

death in the United States and is linked to a wide range of co-morbid conditions.
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Obesity as a health concern poses a threat to health care expenditure. It also imposes

costs in the form of lost productivity and inevitable economic growth due to lost work days,

lowered output at work, mortality, and permanent disability. Additionally, obesity also affects

society in various ways. The social and emotional effects that come with obesity include

discrimination, susceptibility to depression, lower quality of life, and lower wages. Obesity does

not only cause physical diseases and is associated with mental conditions like anxiety,

motivational disorders, sleep disorders, eating disorders, impaired body image, anxiety, and

severe psychiatric disorders. Obese individuals are likely to have abnormal cholesterol levels,

high blood pressure, stroke risk factors, and heart diseases (Csige et al., 2018).

Research Conducted

In my search, I used the words “obesity in America” on a CDC database, and I received

over 100 results. Health care professionals, in collaboration with CDC, urge Americans to watch

what they eat and that they should also engage in physical exercise to keep them healthy.

According to them, choosing more nutritional beverages and foods such as vegetables, whole

grains, fruits, healthy fats, and protein sources is essential. It is also important to limit the

consumption of unhealthy foods (refined sweets and grains, red meat, potatoes, processed meat)

and beverages (sugary drinks). Most obese individuals spend most of their time watching

television, one factor known to be a great contributor to obesity because both children and adults

eat lots of calories from junk foods (like crisps and pizzas) while seated watching television

(Piché, Tchernof & Després, 2020).

Obesity as an epidemic does not have a single or simple solution. It is a complex issue

that needs a multi-layered approach. Policymakers; local and state organizations; businesses;

community and school leaders; healthcare and childcare professionals; and individuals, in
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general, should work together to create an environment that supports healthy lifestyles.

Reversing obesity as an epidemic requires community efforts that work to improve the health of

the public by embracing healthy lifestyles, healthy foods, and healthy habits.
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References

Chooi, Y. C., Ding, C., & Magkos, F. (2019). The epidemiology of obesity. Metabolism, 92, 6-

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Csige, I., Ujvárosy, D., Szabó, Z., Lőrincz, I., Paragh, G., Harangi, M., & Somodi, S. (2018).

The impact of obesity on the cardiovascular system. Journal of diabetes research, 2018.

Piché, M. E., Tchernof, A., & Després, J. P. (2020). Obesity phenotypes, diabetes, and

cardiovascular diseases. Circulation Research, 126(11), 1477-1500.