Steigner 1

Sofia Steigner

Dr. Shivley

CW111BZ

9 November 2022

Obesity

Abstract

Adult obesity is now more common than undernutrition. It is estimated that most of the world's

population lives in countries where overweight and obesity kill more people than underweight.

This paper investigates research by the World Health Organization, the Center for Disease

Control, and the National Center for Biotechnology Information on the prevalence and effects of

obesity and what can be done to reverse it. In addition, it investigates multiple organizations'

efforts to end childhood obesity and make weight loss surgery available to those in need. Lastly,

it explores efforts to provide access to affordable, nutritious foods to those living in places where

healthy food is either unavailable or extremely expensive.

Introduction

The epidemic of obesity is one of today's most important global public health problems.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 39% of adults worldwide are overweight,

and 13% are obese. In other words, 650 million of the 2 billion overweight adults are obese. In

less than 50 years, from 1975 to 2016, the global prevalence of obesity nearly tripled. It is

predicted that 2.7 billion adults will be overweight by 2025 and that obesity will affect over 1

billion adults, 177 million of which will be severely affected (World).

 Youth obesity is also a critical societal issue. In 2016, the WHO estimated that 41 million

children younger than five were overweight or obese. Between 1975 and 2016, the prevalence of

overweight and obesity among children and adolescents ages 5-19 rose dramatically from 4% to

more than 18%. This represents more than 124 million children and adolescents. Adult and

childhood obesity are linked with a wide range of adverse physical and mental health outcomes

and negative societal outcomes (World).

Diagnose Situation:

What is obesity? The World Health Organization (WHO) defines obesity as “abnormal or

excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health” (“Obesity”). The Center for Disease

Control (CDC) classifies people with a body mass index (BMI1) of 30 and above as obese, while

people with a BMI between 18.5 and <30 are considered overweight. Several effects of obesity

include high blood pressure, diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, osteoarthritis, cancer, and

even mental illness (“The Health”). Clearly, obesity can lead to life-threatening and even deadly

medical conditions.

Furthermore, despite the frequent occurrences of overweight and obese people in

everyday life, it is shocking to realize how widespread obesity truly is. The National Center for

Biotechnology Information (NCBI) states that approximately 34% of adults and 15–20% of

children and adolescents in the U.S. are obese. The percentage of obese adults aged 20-74 has

increased in the U.S. from 10.7% (1960-1962) to 35.9% (2009-2010) and is projected to reach

50% by 2030 (Mitchell et al.). Among college-age people, those in their teens and 20s, a

significant increase in obesity and obesity-related disorders has occurred in the past 20 years. A

national survey conducted in 2005 found that 30% of college students are either overweight or
1
BMI = body weight (in kg) / height (in m); see www.cdc.gov
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obese (Sparling). (End here) Popular opinion often perceives obesity as simply a lack of

willpower or personal motivation on the part of the obese person. However, the NIH explains

that there are a variety of dietary and lifestyle factors in obesity, such as sugar-sweetened

beverages, poor diet quality, physical inactivity, prolonged screen time, short sleep duration or

shift work, and built environment characteristics (Hruby). Prolonged screen time can be

especially problematic for children and teenagers who spend more time playing video games

than playing and exercising outdoors. "Built environmental characteristics" means urban sprawl

or walkability. People who live in areas with greater access to parks and physical activity

facilities such as gyms would find it much easier to maintain a healthy body weight by exercising

more than people who do not have access to these opportunities.

Manage Self

There are many ways individuals can combat their own obesity or maintain a healthy

weight. Intermittent fasting can be an extremely powerful method of losing weight. Contrary to

the popular concept of fasting (the deliberate starving of oneself for days or weeks), intermittent

fasting is when a person fasts for a few days of a week and eats normally otherwise. For

example, that person could choose to fast on Tuesday and Thursday or Monday, Wednesday, and

Friday, or they could simply decide not to eat when they do not feel hungry. A daily basis for

fasting is also possible, where one fasts for 12 hours and eats regularly for the next 12 hours or

fasts for 18 hours and eats normally for 6 hours. Fundamentally, intermittent fasting changes the

timing of meals, or when food enters the stomach and begins to digest. This lowers insulin levels

and improves insulin sensitivity, which is beneficial for everyone but can specifically greatly

benefit people with diabetes. Because the body transforms fat into energy when insulin levels are
low, intermittent fasting can help overweight people start to lose weight and become healthier. In

addition, intermittent fasting can significantly lower blood pressure, making this method

appealing even to those who already have healthy weights. Finally, studies show that intermittent

fasting can also considerably decrease appetite, meaning that not eating is actually endurable

("Intermittent").

Alternatively, supplements such as omega-3 products, fish oils, green tea, bitter orange

extracts, and some Chinese herbs may also help people lose weight. However, the National

Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) asserts that these are ineffective and

are likely to have side effects (Tipane). Even more 'alternatively,’ the NCCIH suggests that

approaches that focus on the mind and the body, such as yoga, meditation, and mindful eating,

may help. It recommends finding a qualified, experienced instructor to guide people through

these activities (Tipane). In cases where extreme obesity may cause severe health complications,

bariatric weight loss surgery can be a good option (Tipane).

In addition to losing weight, there are many ways to maintain a healthy weight. For

example, exercising for 200 minutes per week can help sustain weight loss, eating lots of protein

can make a person feel full and reduce hunger, and a low-carb diet may be able to help keep

weight off after losing it (Tipane). Regarding diets, it is crucial to avoid restrictive diets. While

this may seem counterintuitive, too much calorie restriction can slow the metabolism and alter

appetite-regulating hormones, causing weight gain (Tipane).

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Energize Others & Intervene Skillfully:

There are many organizations committed to energizing others and combating the obesity

epidemic. The Boston Children's Hospital and New Balance Foundation Obesity Prevention

Center share a mission to end the childhood obesity epidemic. The New Balance Foundation

Obesity Prevention Center at Boston Children's was established to empower families to lead

healthy and active lifestyles through a comprehensive program of research, education, state-of-

the-art patient care, community partnerships, and advocacy (New). Since 2017, Boston

Children's has partnered with youth development organizations to provide reliable guidance on

healthy living via the Boston Children's fit kit, with resources on five key topics that directly

impact children’s health: nutrition, fitness, sedentary time, sleep, and stress. Their mission is to

prevent childhood obesity for a healthier tomorrow, and their vision is for every child to grow up

with access to nutritious foods, fun physical activities, and caring adults who model healthy

lifestyles (New).

The Weight Loss Surgery Foundation of America works on awareness, fundraising,

support, and education. The Weight Loss Surgery Foundation of America (WLFSA) is a

volunteer charitable organization that helps people receive weight loss surgery. Powered by the

support of weight loss surgery patients, medical professionals, and industry partners, the WLSFA

funds grants for the medical treatment of obesity and post-weight loss reconstructive surgery

("Saving"). Since its formation in 2010, the WLSFA has funded over twenty surgeries for people

denied access to the medical care they need. Their mission is to end obesity to empower people

to move from surviving to thriving through weight loss surgery, education, and support; perform

charitable services and support research to find solutions to enhance the quality of life of the

morbidly obese community and raise awareness and funds for surgery ("Saving").
 Since its inception, the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity has been clearly

established in national and international circles as where science and public policy intersect and

where innovation linked to action is a guiding philosophy (UConn). The Rudd Center for Food

Policy & Obesity is a non-profit research and public organization devoted to improving the

world's diet, preventing obesity, and reducing weight stigma. The Center serves as a leading

research institution that adds to our understating of the complex forces affecting how we eat,

how we stigmatize overweight and obese people, and how we can change. The mission statement

of the Rudd Center is that every child, regardless of who they are, where they live, and what they

look like, deserves the opportunity to eat healthily (UConn). This is not the reality today. The

Center is committed to interrupting this cycle of inequity by conducting research to inform

advocacy and policy and supporting evidence-based solutions. The Center also challenges the

status quo by holding the food industry, media, government, and others that affect the food

environment accountable for their actions (UConn).

These efforts are important and necessary, but it is also vital for the public to push back

against food manufacturers that add excessive, unnecessary amounts of added sugars to their

products. Food deserts, rural areas where people do not have access to affordable healthy and

nutritious foods, are also significant contributors to obesity. While most areas have convenience

stores and/or gas stations, most available foods are unhealthy "junk" foods high in sodium and

cholesterol. Healthy foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables are rare and often extremely

overpriced (Food). Although the price difference between healthy and unhealthy food is most

noticeable in food deserts, it is actually present everywhere. For example,, at McDonald’s, two

chicken sandwiches cost $2.50, but a turkey sandwich (the healthier choice) costs $10. As a
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result, many end up eating cheap, unhealthy foods instead of more expensive, healthy foods to

save money for bills, housing, and for college students, tuition, and fees.

One organization working toward making healthy food more accessible is the Food

Empowerment Project (F.E.P.). The goal of F.E.P. is to raise awareness about how people's food

choices can change the world. People can make a difference and take a stand against abuses by

making informed and ethical food choices. Using their outreach and website, F.E.P encourages

people to use their individual choices to eat with their ethics and use their collective voices to

help bring about positive change (Food). Dedicated to looking at food justice from a local and

global perspective, F.E.P. also considers the impact that racism has had on equal access to

healthy foods in the U.S. Knowing that Black and Brown communities and low-income

communities lack access to fresh fruits and vegetables, which are critical to one's health and

enable people to go vegan. F.E.P. only goes into communities when invited, and their work is to

ensure the voices of the community are heard. When asked, F.E.P. works with community

members and conducts focus groups with local organizations in Black and Brown communities

and low-income communities. They use their reports to inform public officials of their findings

and encourage policy changes. Their work on the lack of access to healthy foods over the years

has allowed them to collaborate with various community organizations as well as governmental

bodies. In addition, their reports have been cited by the United Nations Human Rights

Committee and are a resource for many schools and universities across the globe. In 2017, the

city of San José, CA, and the city of Vallejo, CA, recognized and honored F.E.P. for their vegan

food justice work, including their access work within their cities. In the City of Vallejo, F.E.P. is

working with community members to start a worker-owned cooperative in one of the most

impacted areas. Currently, they are also using their corporate campaign, Shame on Safeway, to
pressure Safeway/Albertsons to change their unjust policy that can leave neighborhoods without

a grocery store for more than a decade (Food).

This paragraph it is important, but it is too long, divide in other two paragraph.

Conclusion

Obesity is a global societal issue. There are many factors of obesity, including physical inactivity

or a sedentary lifestyle, prevalent and easily accessible fast-food restaurants, constant advertising

for said restaurants, and food manufacturers' excessive addition of unhealthy sugars into

otherwise nutritious foods. Those living in food deserts or similar areas are severely affected by

the lack of access to fresh, healthy, and affordable foods. However, many individuals,

communities, and foundations are working together to combat the multifaceted problem of

obesity.

Final words

Your paper it is great! You choose an interesting topic, and you have a good vocabulary. I did

not focus on grammar, too much because I am not good but that is something that Word can help

you with the Editor tool. However, punctuation in Spanish and English are similar, so that is

what I corrected. Your paragraphs where there is important info, you make it too long, divided

into more parts.

 Steigner 9

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Accessed 18 October 2022.

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