Abstract
This paper discusses the epidemic of obesity/overweight in details. The first part of the paper consists of the epidemiology and etiology associated with the condition. It gives statistics related to obesity among the American people. It also entails various consequences and health risks associated with obesity in adults and children. Later, the paper offers various legislative approaches and actions that could be taken on a local and federal level to curb the menace of obesity and promote a healthy living lifestyle among the modern-day people. Overall, the paper presents causes, health effects, and recommendations to reduce the obesity levels in the country.
In the contemporary times, obesity has been acknowledged as a major health issue facing the American citizens. At present, thirty-eight percent of adults and seventeen percent of children and adolescents in the United States fall in the obese category (“A State Legislative and Regulatory Action to Prevent”). Obesity is principally caused due to an imbalance in energy over a prolonged period. A number of genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors combine and consequently cause obesity. These factors also determine the epidemic’s complexity in the affected individuals. The body weight is modulated by 3 primary factors i.e. “metabolic factors, diet, and physical activity, each influenced by genetic traits” (Weinsier, Hunter, Heini, Goran, & Sell, 1998).
In adults, obesity is linked to higher risks of grave health issues such as stroke, hypertension, various cancer types, coronary heart disease, and diabetes (type II). In many cases, obesity also results in premature deaths. On the other hand, obesity also causes children to suffer from a number of critical health conditions including respiratory problems, high bold pressure, resistance to insulin, and type II diabetes (Nguyen & El-Serag, 2010). Children also have to go through consistent emotional trauma and bullying due to their physical condition. Such problems lead to social isolation and undermined self-confidence. It also needs to be mentioned here that obesity heavily burdens the economic system of the country. According to estimation, “the United States spent an estimated $147 billion in 2008 dollars on related medical care costs for adults, with 23% of this total financed by Medicare and 19% by Medicaid” (“A State Legislative and Regulatory Action to Prevent”). However, obesity is not a problem solely related to Americans. Most countries in the world are challenged by this epidemic and experiencing hefty toll on their economies.
As a nurse, I believe that it is exceedingly important for the authorities to take appropriate legislative actions for the alleviation and prevention of obesity on a national level. In fact, this pressing health issue needs constant attention from policymakers, researchers, and healthcare community. It is significant for relevant healthcare practitioners and policymakers to devise, introduce, and implement best practices for reducing obesity and make laws and regulations for the reversal of the menace of obesity. For instance, governments (local and federal) may introduce several programs whereby people could be taught to make improvements in their nutritional choices. Also, healthy foods must be made widely accessible. Consumers must be consistently educated to know the difference between healthy and unhealthy lifestyles. It is no secret that technological innovations in the recent years have made people lazy and idle. The authorities need to engineer a physically-challenging environment so that people may become physically active in their day-to-day routines.
It is also required to change the food environment on a national level to decrease obesity and improve healthy eating. Legislative actions may include alteration of comparative food prices, bringing a shift in food exposure, and bringing improvements in healthy food image. Today, the trend of making fast food and unhealthy meals attractive has been on the rise. The authorities need to concentrate on such areas of advertising and focus on elevating the image of healthy food choices.
References
A State Legislative and Regulatory Action to Prevent (n.d.). Retrieved June 21, 2016, from http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpao/docs/chronic-disease-state-policy-tracking-system-methodology-report-508.pdf
Nguyen, D. M., & El-Serag, H. B. (2010, March). The Epidemiology of Obesity. Gastroenterology Clinics of North America, 39(1), 1-7. doi:10.1016/j.gtc.2009.12.014
Weinsier, R. L., Hunter, G. R., Heini, A. F., Goran, M. I., & Sell, S. M. (1998, August). The etiology of obesity: Relative contribution of metabolic factors, diet, and physical activity. The American Journal of Medicine, 105(2), 145-150. doi:10.1016/s0002-9343(98)00190-9
