It is a clear issue that obesity is a worldwide problem that affects many people with statistics showing that there are about three hundred million people in the world who have been clinically diagnosed to be suffering from obesity. The issue of obesity is rampant and there is no place, where one can claim that the population is free from overweight individuals. In America for example, the number of obese individuals is over 30 percent of its population and this shows that there is a dire need for people to change their ways of living and begin taking control of their eating and exercising habits. The question we need to ask ourselves is on how one ends up being obese and what are the contributing factors to this issue. What can one do to change the situation and does ones’ living style contribute to their weight and eventually the outcome? These questions are important for anyone concerned with their health and those who want to take a bold step in ensuring that they are free from health related problems caused by being overweight, (Wolin, Jennifer, 34)
It is important to note that obesity is not a disease in itself, but it results in many health issues that affect one’s life and others who are around them. Knowing that obesity is not a disease on its own is not an excuse for a person to go eating in the many fast foods restaurants located everywhere in the country. The causes of obesity vary from personal choices to others that are caused by indirect effects from the society and the environment. The choice however, lies with the person, as one needs to know that the person who will suffer from the health effects of being obese is him or herself and those close to them. It is, therefore, important for everyone to take control of their eating and living habits in order to ensure that they do not become obese. Have you ever asked yourself why the fast food restaurants are opening more joints all over the world yet they do not provide healthy nutritious diets? It is because they have many customers who are willing to rush there and get a quick snack and do not care whether the quick food is healthy and the ingredients used are good for human consumption or not. The likes of McDonalds and other fast food restaurants are not producing healthy nutrit6ious foods and there have been many cases of complains where environmental and consumer groups are trying to get them to produce nutritious and safe food for human consumption. However, one cannot blame the McDonalds for recording the huge profits seen in the recent years, the people to blame are those who rush to a fast food joint and grab a quick bite because they do not have the time to go prepare a healthy meal at home or get to a restaurant that provides nutritious food. It is therefore, up to us as consumers to take a keen look at what we consume and take control of our diets, (Wolin, Jennifer, 37)
However, some may be wondering what they ought to do if they are already overweight and need to cut down on their weight or deal with the health effects associated with obesity. I believe that one can always go back to the correct weight when they use the body mass index weight to determine whether their height and their weight are proportional. This entails taking control of ones eating habits, this begins with taking a keener look at the diet one takes, and the effects of the food you consume on your weight. Many obese individuals find it difficult to go back to leading a healthy lifestyle because they are used to eating anything anywhere without caring how it affects their weight and eventually their health. In this case, I believe that having an inner drive and desire to lead a healthy lifestyle is the only key to return to a healthy weight that does not have negative health effects. People need to rethink their priorities when it comes to the choices they make. The effects of obesity are numerous and it hinders ones abilities and the levels of output. This is because an obese person has many health issues that hinder them
It is important for anyone who loves their body and those who want to live longer and lead healthy lives to maintain a healthy weight. One needs to be fit mentally and physically if they have the desire to live a long and healthy life and this cannot be achieved with being overweight. However, with obesity one cannot enjoy the fitness they desire because of the stress that obesity put on the body. The heart for example undergoes double stress as it tries to pump blood fast to other parts of the body because of the accumulation of fats in the body. This may result to bursting of the arteries because of the pressure and the accumulation of cholesterol in the arteries. The person with weight issues are at a high risk of developing high pressure and diabetes. Well diabetes comes in because the accumulation of fats in the body tissues leads to insulin resistance by the cells because they do not get the energy required, (Metcalf, Gena, 67). The other health effect of obesity is cancer. Now, it is up to an individual to weigh the effects of obesity and those of having the right weight. The effects of obesity are numerous and they are not worth struggling with when one can avoid becoming obese in the first place.
The health issues associated with obesity do not have cure as in the case of diabetes, high blood pressure and cancers. These diseases are among the leading causes of death in the world and people are not focusing on the underlying causes of these cases. The only way to avoid the problems resulting to these cases is to lead a healthy lifestyle where regular exercising and eating healthy nutritious diets is the order of the day. The good thing about obesity is that it can be cured unlike other diseases, which cannot be reversed. The only thing one needs to focus is their daily routine and implementing simple changes in the routine that will help reduce the risks of gaining weight, (Barbour, 90).
There is a close relation between the self-esteem of an individual and the physical appearance of the person. In this case, an obese individual is not in a good physical state and most of the time they have a low self-esteem because they feel that they are too big for their age and some look older than their real age. This is mostly common among teenagers who feel inferior to the others of the same age. This affects the performance of the teenager academically and socially as he, she will withdraw from others, or some are even discriminated against.
In conclusion, I can only say that one needs to weigh the effects of being obese, take control of their lives, and learn to eat healthy and exercise regularly. This way the number of obese individuals and the health effects resulting from bad eating habits and lack of exercise will decrease and as a result people will be healthy physically and mentally. It is important to note that obesity is a temporary and reversible unlike other health issues that can never be treated.
Works Cited
Barbour, Scott. Obesity. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2011. Print.
Metcalf, Tom, and Gena Metcalf. Obesity. Detroit: Thomson / Gale, 2008. Print.
Wolin, Kathleen Y., and Jennifer M. Petrelli. Obesity. Santa Barbara, Calif.: Greenwood Press, 2009. Print.
