Psychology
Psychology
What one eats determines whether one gains or losses weight. Gaining weight beyond one’s age and height requirement can predispose one to overweight and even obesity. (Childhood Obesity and the Built Environment 2013) posits that improper nutrition and physical inactivity are the significant contributors to overweight and obesity among young children and students. Obesity has often been associated with morbidities like hypertension, hyperlipidemia, cardiac disease and diabetes mellitus. Thus, an obesity awareness program needs to be reviewed and integrate evidence-based approaches to management of both childhood and adulthood obesity. According to Hellmich (2013) report, 35% of Americans were obese in the year 2012 while in 2010 36% were obese. This indicates a decline of only 1% in proportion of the population who are obese. In other words, a significant proportion of Americans still remain to be obese up to date.
Obesity is assessed by determining an individual’s body mass index (BMI). BMI is a ratio between a persons weight [Kilograms] and height [metres] . For this reason, an individual is considered obese when he/she has a BMI of 30 and above. also adds that BMI has become an international standard of determining overweight and obesity. Therefore, this submission will pay emphasy on the psychological, physical and environmental risk factors for obesity and propose at the end management strategies for obesity.
Psychology health issue
(Collins and Bentz 2009) indicate that obesity can be classified as both a physical and psychological issue. Individuals with psychopathology and personality disorders have been linked with obesity. Thus, may need psychological evaluation and psychosocial support.. Some psychological factors like eating disorders, anxious states, depressing conditions, solitude, and frustrations. Individuals experiencing such psychological conditions have been found to have problems with controlling amount and rate of food consumption as well as exercising.
(Wiley 2011) also indicates that depression and anxiety makes predisposed individuals to engage in senseless eating especially foods and drinks rich in calories. Night eating and binge eating have been considered as abnormal psychological behaviors that can often lead to obesity. Obese individuals constantly endeavor to lose weights so as to esacape forms of discrimination and stigma from the society. Thus, they are equally at risk of depression, frustration, and hopelessness and ther mood disorders. For this reason, obesity awareness and education programs should also focus on psychological analysis and evaluation of individuals.
Characteristics most affected individuals
According to ‘Childhood Obesity and the Built Environment, (2013) website, an individual’s environment has an impact on one’s nutrition and physical activity. Families with obese individuals were found to live in close proximity to supermarkets, food vendors and farmers’ markets. Living near food markets limits an individual’s physical activity and exercise. That is, close sources of food prevents one from walking (form of exercise) or even running. In addition, living close to food sources promotes frequent eating. Cumulatively, such factors can contribute to getting obesity.
The ‘Social factors and obesity: An investigation of the role of health behaviors’ (2002) website suggests that there exists a relationship between obesity and social factors like weight control, alcohol intake, diet, and physical activity. From the findings of its survey, it was established that there is a relationship between body mass index (BMI) and sociodemographic characteristics. Thus, weight and height monitoring can be encouraged during obesity awareness programs
Genetics among other factors has been linked to obesity. Genetics plays a critical role in determining how the body metabolizes and stores fats. For this reason, some individuals have a high Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) while others have a low BMR. One cannot control genetics but can delay onset of obesity if he/she is genetically predisposed. Mayo Clinic Staff (2013) also adds that families have a tendendency of having similar eating and activity habits. Thus, there is likelihood of children becoming overweight and even developing obesity if their parents are obese.
Social habits like smoking and alcohol have also been associated with weight gain.The Mayo Clinic Staff (2013) website states that prolonged tobacco and alcohol use can lead to a significant weight gain, which when combined with other environmental factors can often lead to obesity. Lack of sleep and certain medications (antidepressants, steroids and diabetes drugs) have been found to cause changes in body hormones. Consequently leading to increased appetite and craving for certain foos with high calories. Hellmich (2013) adds that medical conditions like Cushing’s syndrome and polycystic ovary syndrome have been associated with overweight and obesity.
Controlling risk factors
Controlling the myriad world of obesity risk factors requires robust and integrated multidisciplinary efforts. It also calls for behavior modification for positive health outcomes. Engaging in activities like bicycle riding, walking, and sports enhances one’s physical activity that often leads to burning of fat. Weight loss programs like “slim possible”, residential obesity management programs have been proposed during obesity awareness programs. Another control strategy is psychological assessments and counseling which have been found to be effective parts of multidisciplinary interventions in treating obesity.
Behavioral therapies have been suggested in the management of psychological factors that predispose the population to obesity. Other psychological approaches that have been used in controlling and preventing obesity include classical conditioning, operant condition, behavioral and cognitive therapy. Behavioral and cognitive therapy can be used in modification of exercise and dietary habits. Classical conditioning has been used to treat individuals with eating behaviors while operant conditioning is used to reinforce positive habits.
Socio-cultural, gender and developmental impact on the health issue
It is reported that the rate of obesity is higher among both men and women but more common among black adults than white and Asian adults. Klein et al (2012) indicate that obese persons are highly discriminated and face forms of stigma in the society. Such prejudice has even extended to social institutions like hospitals, education and work areas. This individuals have reported to be facing unfair treatment, and denied some advantages in the society.
Marital status has been associatied with overweight. Tremendous weight gain has been observed among the married couples than unmarried individuals. Individuals in with lower status of employment for example part-time workers also have been linked with a higher body mass index (BMI). Lower fat and low energy food has also been found to increase BMI.
The Mayo Clinic Staff, (2013) enumerate that risk of obesity develops when an individual takes in more calories at a a higher rate than what the body can metabolize especially during physical activities like exercise. As a result, the excess calories are not eliminated, instead, they are stored in the body as fat (adipose tissue). The Mayo Clinic Staff (2013) website also adds that sedentary lifestyle prevents individuals from burning calories. It predisposes individuals to unhealthy eating habits like eating high-calorific and fast food/drinks. For this reason, family-based counselling on causes and effects of childhood obesity should be integrated in health education program to encourage healthy eating, weight control and management and exercise.
Treatment options and health promotion strategies
The ‘Obesity Prevention’ (2012) and The Mayo Clinic Staff (2013) websites insisit obesity intervention strategies should shift focus from programs to policies that address nutrition, exercise and psychological matters among other obesity predisposing factors. (Obesity Prevention, 2012) website further adds that current priorities in health policies, research and health programs should be towards nutrition, overweight and prevention, and treatment of obesity especially among school and college students. According to school health programs and policies should be reviewed to include nutrition policies that encrourage healthy eating and physical education policies that encourage exercise among students. Healthy eating prevents development of overweight and cosquently obesity.
Physical activity among elementary students for 150 minutes per week and 225 minutes per week for students in middle schools has been advocated. Other policies that have been suggested by ‘Social factors and obesity: An investigation of the role of health behaviors’ (2002) and ‘Childhood Obesity and the Built Environment’ (2013) websites include school wellness and food fending policies, sports and physical fitness policy, healthy food and beverage policy and exclusive breasfeeding policy. In addition, promoting reduced screen time and encouraging field time is an approach that was suggested by Hellmich (2013). Reduced screen time prevents children from ‘mindless eating’ as they watch while field time promotes burning of fats and expenditure of calories.
Behavior modification on self-control and management of eating disorders is another health promotion strategy that can be adopted. Psychological characteristics have played a role in perpetuation of obesity and psychological therapies like cognitive and behavioral therapy have been equally used in the management of psychological causes of obesity. It is essential to confront childhood overweight. This is because it has potential to cause obesity in adulthood. Therefore, intervention at early an age is vital in averting risks associated with obesity during life course of and individual. Social support measures like psychological support.
According to Wiley (2011) two approaches that can be taken in the fight against obesity. One of the approaches should be an intervention-based strategy that targets those with overweight and obesity. This group of persons are at high risk for developing obesity related complications like cardiomyopathy and diabetes. The other strategy is a prevention-based strategy that targets those who have not yet developed overweight or obesity but may still be at risk of developing it. Such group of persons may include children borne of obese parent(s), persons with sedentary work, tobacco and alcohol users, and individuals with psychological disorders like mood and depressive illness among others .
Conclusion
Obesity as a non-communicable condition is a growing public health concern. This condition is more common among families and populations with limited physical activity and unhealthy eating habits. It is, therefore, essential for health promotion programs to channel resources towards primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of obesity. Some of strategies that have been proposed including changing from programs to policies that focuses on physical education, nutrition and food marketing, and psychological management.
References
'Childhood Obesity and the Built Environment'. (2013, March 4). Childhood obesity and the built environment. Retrieved November 15, 2013, from www.llu.edu: http://www.llu.edu/public-health/cpe/healthypeople/2014/program/childhood-obesity-and-built-environment.page
Collins, J., & Bentz, J. (2009). Behavioral and Psychological Factors in Obesity. The Journal of Lancaster General Hospital , 4 (4), http://www.jlgh.org/Past-Issues/Volume-4---Issue-4/Behavioral-and-Psychological-Factors-in-Obesity.aspx.
Hellmich, N. (2013, October 17). U.S Obesity rate levels off, but still an epidemic. Retrieved November 15, 2013, from www.usatoday.com: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/10/17/obesity-rate-levels-off/2895759/
Klein et al. (2012, September 6). Cardiometabolic Risk and Waist Circumference : a consensus statement from shaping America's health:Association for weight management ans obesity prevention. Retrieved November 15, 2013, from onlinelibrary.wiley.com: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1038/oby.2007.632/full
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2013, June 17). Risk Factors. Retrieved November 15, 2013, from www.mayoclinic.com: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/obesity/DS00314/DSECTION=risk-factors
'Obesity Prevention'. (2012, July 13). Obesity pevention. Retrieved November 15, 2013, from www.heart.org: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Advocate/StateIssues/StateandLocalPolicyPriorities/Obesity-Prevention_UCM_425228_Article.jsp
'Social factors and obesity: An investigation of the role of health behaviors'. (2002, October 25). Social Factors and Obesity: An investigation of the role of health behaviors. Retrieved November 15, 2013, from www.nature.com: http://www.nature.com/ijo/journal/v27/n3/full/0802237a.html
Wiley, J. (2011). Health Psychology. Arizona: The University of Phoenix ebook Collection Database.
