According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), obesity is defined as having a body mass index over 30 for adults. As of 2008, the CDC estimated that approximately one-third of the U.S. adult population met this definition. There are a variety of factors that contribute to obesity, but regardless of its cause, obesity is a potential catalyst for very serious health problems.
Significance
Obesity, according to the National Institute for Health, raises an individual's risk of morbidity from conditions including hypertension, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, dyslipidemia, respiratory problems, cancer, gall bladder disease and sleep apnea. Additionally, obese individuals may find themselves stigmatized in a society that glorifies the thin, athletic physique. Consequently, obesity may bring emotional and psychological distress. Finally, obesity is places a tremendous financial burden both on the obese individual and on the health care system in general.
Energy Imbalance
The simplest explanation for obesity is an energy imbalance. A person who is gaining weight is taking in more calories than their body is using. A person who is losing weight consumes less calories than they use. A calorie is a unit of energy supplied by food. Calories are used to maintain the body's basic physiologic processes like respiration and sleep, but are also the "fuel" needed for exercise. The energy equation is very simple, but challenging to implement.
Genetic Influences
The energy equation is influenced by several variables. For instance, recent research has shown that genetics play an important role in the development of obesity. One popular theory reported by the CDC is the "thrifty gene" hypothesis. This theory suggests that the human body evolved to conserve energy in the form of fat during times of plenty to avoid starvation during scarcity. Our thrifty genes have not yet adjusted to modern society where high fat, high-calorie food is always readily available.
Environment
The World Health Organization explains that although genetics can account for part of the obesity epidemic, the availability of high-sugar, high-fat food for very low prices is also to blame. Unfortunately, in our society it is often cheaper to buy a burger and fries than it is to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables. Ironically, obese individuals are often malnourished because despite their high-calorie diet, they fail to take in the essential nutrients found in fresh food.
Solutions
There is no quick fix for obesity. Weight loss takes hard work and requires the commitment to a radical change in lifestyle. Education is perhaps the best tool for fighting the obesity epidemic. Providing children and adults with information about how to maintain a balanced diet on a budget and incorporate exercise into their daily schedule is an indispensable weapon in the battle against the bulge.
References
- Centers for Disease Control: Overweight and Obesity
- National Institute of Health: Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Obesity and Genomics
- World Health Organization: Overweight and Obese
- Medical News Today: Obesity and Malnutrition Exist Side-by-Side
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