Web. 1 Dec. 2009.
What Causes Overweight and Obesity?
Lack of Energy Balance
A lack of energy balance most often causes overweight and obesity. Energy balance means that your energy IN equals your energy OUT.
Energy IN is the amount of energy or calories you get from food and drinks. Energy OUT is the amount of energy your body uses for things like breathing, digesting, and being physically active.
To maintain a healthy weight, your energy IN and OUT don't have to balance exactly every day. It's the balance over time that helps you maintain a healthy weight.
• The same amount of energy IN and energy OUT over time = weight stays the same
• More energy IN than energy OUT over time = weight gain
• More energy OUT than energy IN over time = weight loss
Overweight and obesity happen over time when you take in more calories than you use.
Other Causes
An Inactive Lifestyle
Many Americans aren't very physically active. One reason for this is that many people spend hours in front of TVs and computers doing work, schoolwork, and leisure activities. In fact, more than 2 hours a day of regular TV viewing time has been linked to overweight and obesity.
Other reasons for not being active include: relying on cars instead of walking, fewer physical demands at work or at home because of modern technology and conveniences, and lack of physical education classes in schools for children.
People who are inactive are more likely to gain weight because they don't burn up the calories that they take in from food and drinks. An inactive lifestyle also raises your risk of coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, colon cancer, and other health problems.
Environment
Our environment doesn't support healthy lifestyle habits; in fact, it encourages obesity. Some reasons include:
• Lack of neighborhood sidewalks and safe places for recreation. Not having area parks, trails, sidewalks, and affordable gyms makes it hard for people to be physically active.
• Work schedules. People often say that they don't have time to be physically active because of long work hours and time spent commuting.
• Oversized food portions. Americans are surrounded by huge food portions in restaurants, fast food places, gas stations, movie theaters, supermarkets, and even home. Some of these meals and snacks can feed two or more people. Eating large portions means too much energy IN. Over time, this will cause weight gain if it isn't balanced with physical activity.
• Lack of access to healthy foods. Some people don't live in neighborhoods that have supermarkets that sell healthy foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables. Or, for some people, these healthy foods are too costly.
• Food advertising. Americans are surrounded by ads from food companies. Often children are the targets of advertising for high-calorie, high-fat snacks and sugary drinks. The goal of these ads is to sway people to buy these high-calorie foods, and often they do.
Genes and Family History
Studies of identical twins who have been raised apart show that genes have a strong influence on a person's weight. Overweight and obesity tend to run in families. Your chances of being overweight are greater if one or both of your parents are overweight or obese.
Your genes also may affect the amount of fat you store in your body and where on your body you carry the extra fat. Because families also share food and physical activity habits, a link exists between genes and the environment.
Children adopt the habits of their parents. A child who has overweight parents who eat high-calorie foods and are inactive will likely become overweight too. However, if the family adopts healthy food and physical activity habits, the child's chance of being overweight or obese is reduced.
Health Conditions
Some hormone problems may cause overweight and obesity, such as underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), Cushing's syndrome, and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
Underactive thyroid is a condition in which the thyroid gland doesn't make enough thyroid hormone. Lack of thyroid hormone will slow down your metabolism and cause weight gain. You'll also feel tired and weak.
Cushing's syndrome is a condition in which the body's adrenal glands make too much of the hormone cortisol. Cushing's syndrome also can develop if a person takes high doses of certain medicines, such as prednisone, for long periods.
People who have Cushing's syndrome gain weight, have upper-body obesity, a rounded face, fat around the neck, and thin arms and legs.
PCOS is a condition that affects about 5–10 percent of women of childbearing age. Women who have PCOS often are obese, have excess hair growth, and have reproductive problems and other health issues due to high levels of hormones called androgens.
Medicines
Certain medicines may cause you to gain weight. These medicines include some corticosteroids, antidepressants, and seizure medicines.
These medicines can slow the rate at which your body burns calories, increase your appetite, or cause your body to hold on to extra water. All of these factors can lead to weight gain.
Emotional Factors
Some people eat more than usual when they're bored, angry, or stressed. Over time, overeating will lead to weight gain and may cause overweight or obesity.
Smoking
Some people gain weight when they stop smoking. One reason is that food often tastes and smells better after quitting smoking.
Another reason is because nicotine raises the rate at which your body burns calories, so you burn fewer calories when you stop smoking. However, smoking is a serious health risk, and quitting is more important than possible weight gain.
Age
As you get older, you tend to lose muscle, especially if you're less active. Muscle loss can slow down the rate at which your body burns calories. If you don't reduce your calorie intake as you get older, you may gain weight.
Midlife weight gain in women is mainly due to aging and lifestyle, but menopause also plays a role. Many women gain around 5 pounds during menopause and have more fat around the waist than they did before.
Pregnancy
During pregnancy, women gain weight so that their babies get proper nourishment and develop normally. After giving birth, some women find it hard to lose the weight. This may lead to overweight or obesity, especially after a few pregnancies.
Lack of Sleep
Studies find that the less people sleep, the more likely they are to be overweight or obese. People who report sleeping 5 hours a night, for example, are much more likely to become obese compared with people who sleep 7–8 hours a night.
People who sleep fewer hours also seem to prefer eating foods that are higher in calories and carbohydrates, which can lead to overeating, weight gain, and obesity over time.
Hormones that are released during sleep control appetite and the body's use of energy. For example, insulin controls the rise and fall of blood sugar levels during sleep. People who don't get enough sleep have insulin and blood sugar levels that are similar to those in people who are likely to have diabetes.
Also, people who don't get enough sleep regularly seem to have high levels of a hormone called ghrelin (which causes hunger) and low levels of a hormone called leptin (which normally helps curb hunger).
Annotation: This source is beneficial to my paper because it talks about the different contributors to the rising rates of obesity.
2. Schoenstadt, Arthur, MD. "Genetics and Obesity." Editorial. EMEDtv. N.p., 28 Apr. 2009. Web. 1 Dec.
2009.
Final Thoughts
Genetics does not cause obesity. However, obesity and genetics are closely tied together. So the answer to the problem of obesity does not rest on the idea that it is a matter of genetics versus the environment -- clearly, both components are involved. For more information about your particular situation, talk with your healthcare provider. Also, regardless of your genetics, everyone should adopt a heart-healthy diet and increase their physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Annotation: This source is beneficial to my paper because it informs me that genetics does not cause obesity.
3. "Health Statistics Obesity (most recent) by Country." Nationmaster. N.p., 2009. Web. 1 Dec. 2009.
# 1 United States:
30.6%
# 2 Mexico:
24.2%
# 3 United Kingdom:
23%
# 4 Slovakia:
22.4%
# 5 Greece:
21.9%
# 6 Australia:
21.7%
# 7 New Zealand:
20.9%
# 8 Hungary:
18.8%
# 9 Luxembourg:
18.4%
# 10 Czech Republic:
14.8%
# 11 Canada:
14.3%
# 12 Spain:
13.1%
# 13 Ireland:
13%
# 14 Germany:
12.9%
= 15 Portugal:
12.8%
= 15 Finland:
12.8%
# 17 Iceland:
12.4%
# 18 Turkey:
12%
# 19 Belgium:
11.7%
# 20 Netherlands:
10%
# 21 Sweden:
9.7%
# 22 Denmark:
9.5%
# 23 France:
9.4%
# 24 Austria:
9.1%
# 25 Italy:
8.5%
# 26 Norway:
8.3%
# 27 Switzerland:
7.7%
= 28 Japan:
3.2%
= 28 Korea, South:
3.2%
Weighted average: 14.1%
DEFINITION: Percentage of total population who have a BMI (body mass index) greater than 30 Kg/sq.meters (Data for Australia, Austria and Portugal is from 2002. All other data is from 2003). Obesity rates are defined as the percentage of the population with a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 30. The BMI is a single number that evaluates an individual's weight status in relation to height (weight/height2, with weight in kilograms and height in metres). For Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, figures are based on health examinations, rather than self-reported information. Obesity estimates derived from health examinations are generally higher and more reliable than those coming from self-reports, because they preclude any misreporting of people's height and weight. However, health examinations are only conducted regularly in a few countries (OECD).
Annotation: This source is beneficial to my paper because it gives me the statistics of obesity in different countries throughout the world.
4. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/05/health/main591325.shtml
CHICAGO, Jan. 5, 2003
Fast Food Linked To Child Obesity
Study: One-Third In U.S. At Risk Of Obesity
By Jaime Holguin
(AP) Every day, nearly one-third of U.S. children aged 4 to 19 eat fast food, which likely packs on about six extra pounds per child per year and increases the risk of obesity, a study of 6,212 youngsters found.
The numbers, though alarming, are not surprising since billions of dollars are spent each year on fast-food advertising directed at kids, said lead author Dr. David Ludwig, director of the obesity program at Children's Hospital Boston.
The findings suggest that fast-food consumption has increased fivefold among children since 1970, Ludwig said.
The nationally representative study included boys and girls from all regions of the country and different socio-economic levels.
The highest levels of fast-food consumption were found in youngsters with higher household income levels, boys, older children, blacks and children living in the South. The lowest levels were found in youngsters living in the West, rural areas, Hispanics and those aged 4 to 8, but more than 20 percent of youngsters in each of those groups still reported eating fast food on any given day.
Fast-food lovers consumed more fats, sugars and carbohydrates and fewer fruits and non-starchy vegetables than youngsters who didn't eat fast food. They also consumed 187 more daily calories, which likely adds up to about six pounds more per year, the study found.
The results are based on children questioned in government surveys from 1994 to 1996 and 1998. The study lacks data on the children's weight.
Children's current levels of fast-food consumption probably are even higher because of an increase in the number of fast-food restaurants and in fast-food marketing since the late 1990s, Ludwig said.
The study appears in the January issue of Pediatrics, published Monday.
The nation's obesity epidemic has focused attention on fast-restaurants, and while recent class-action lawsuits attempting to blame McDonald's Corp. for making people fat have failed, many chains have begun offering healthier fare.
Recent data suggest that nearly 15 percent of U.S. youngsters and almost one-third of adults are obese.
The new study results bolster evidence that fast food contributes to increased calorie intake and obesity risk in children, Yale University obesity researcher Kelly Brownell said in an accompanying editorial.
Brownell said the study refutes a July report from the U.S. National Chamber of Commerce, which includes fast-food companies, that suggested fast-food restaurants "are not a chief culprit in the fattening of America."
Brownell said there are encouraging signs that policy-makers are taking action to protect children from the fast-food trend, including efforts to limit soft drink and snack food sales in schools, and to curb food advertising aimed at children.
Annotation: The source is beneficial to my paper because it gives more statistics about children and fast food consumption.
5. http://www.speakout.com/activism/issue_briefs/1333b-1.html
The Super-sizing of America: Are Fast Food Chains to Blame for the Nation's Obesity?
by Jenny Murphy
Thursday, June 15, 2000
Americans are getting fatter and fatter every year. It is estimated that as many as one in five Americans is obese, a condition defined as being more than 30 percent above the ideal weight based on height. Even more alarming is that fact that obesity rates for children have doubled over the past 20 years, and overweight children are being diagnosed with obesity-related illnesses such as diabetes, sleep apnea and respiratory illnesses that in the past have only afflicted adults.
As the health care costs of treating obesity-related illnesses mount, some are looking to place the blame for increasing obesity rates on the purveyors of fast food. Facing fierce competition for customer loyalty, fast food chains such as McDonalds, Burger King and Wendy's have promoted their over-sized burgers, extra-large servings for fries, and buckets of soda, all at low prices. Busy and cash-strapped families increasingly rely on take-out food for family dinners, and regular consumption of over-sized portions of fatty foods can leads to widespread obesity.
Some trial lawyers, fresh from a $90 million (and growing) windfall from the tobacco lawsuits, have set their sites on fast food companies. Following the tobacco lawsuit model, some argue that these companies should be held liable for the health care costs of treating illnesses associated with obesity, since they peddle dangerously unhealthy foods to unwitting consumers. The combination of the staggering number of obese Americans and the fat wallets of the fast food companies makes such lawsuits a tantalizing prospect for many trial lawyers and their potential clients.
On One Hand
The portions served by fast food chains and other restaurants are far larger than the recommended portion size for most foods. Food costs for restaurants are relatively low, compared to the costs of rent and labor, so it makes sense for them to offer larger portions that make their customers feel like they are getting a bang for the buck.
As American eat out more and more frequently, they become accustomed to those oversized portion, and think that such portions are normal. The high caloric content of these large servings leads to weight gain for regular fast food customers, and obesity can lead to many dangerous health problems.
Fast food chains do not alert their customers to the hazardously high calorie and fat content of the food they offer. They deserve some of the blame for the epidemic of obesity, and lawsuits brought by victims of their toxic food would force these companies to take some responsibility for their dangerous products.
On the Other Hand
Cigarettes contain substances that are addictive to smokers, and tobacco companies have been made to pay the price for selling a product that is dangerous to the health of their customers. But no one can claim that a Big Mac or a Whopper is addictive. They may be tasty, and people may eat too many of them, but McDonalds and Burger King are not responsible for their customers' lack of self-control.
Lawsuits against fast food companies on behalf of obese "victims" would say more about the greed of trial lawyers than about any real danger posed by fast food. Most people choose to eat fast food even though they know it's bad for them. Individuals have to take responsibility for that choice, not the company that provides the food.
• The US. Department of Agriculture estimates the cost at more than $ 71 billion a year in added health-care and related expenses.
• In 1991, one in eight Americans were obese. In 1999, the number had increased to one in five.
• A study by Policy Analysis Inc. concluded that overweight people cost their employers $12.7 billion in sick time and insurance coverage in 1994 alone.
• It is estimated that kids get up to 40 percent of their meals from fast-food chains, convenience stores and restaurants.
• There are fast-food franchise outlets in 13 percent of the nation's schools.
• One American Medical Association study estimates that 300,000 Americans die each year from obesity-related causes such as heart disease, diabetes and stroke.
• Obesity levels are sky-rocketing despite the fact that $33 billion a year is spent on weight-loss aids.
Washington Post, Guest Choice Network, the Nation, Time
Annotation: It talks about how the fast food portions are getting larger than the recommended portion size for most foods and the obesity rate have doubled in the past twenty years and overweight children are being diagnosed with obesity-related illnesses such as diabetes, sleep apnea and respiratory illnesses that in the past have only afflicted adults.
6. http://www.fastfoodobesity.net/
Teenage And Childhood Fast Food Obesity Epidemic Is Affecting The World Now!!!
Today, teenage and childhood fast food obesity epidemic is growing around the world. Part of the reason is advertising, which has positioned fast food as an 'in' thing and this has appeal to the teenage and childhood group. Look at the Breakfast, what you have just order? It might be a sausage and biscuit with an order of soft drink and hash brown potatoes. The fast food biscuit is usually come with margarine, or even worse, lard.
Fast food obesity is a problem because fast food meal contains low quality carbohydrates; high levels of saturated fat, white bread, and a sugary soda and also has relatively low fiber content. This kind of eating pattern is entirely gives negative effect, which resulted cardiovascular disease and diabetes in the United States. This alarming teenage and childhood fast food obesity epidemic is rapidly rising during the past few years.
Fast food and obesity is interrelated with each other. For a person who takes fast food meal twice a week, obesity ratio will be raised about 50%. In this juncture most of our people are taking fast food many times a week. You can now imagine what ratio is this kind of people will get. Though fast food is very cheap and tastier, these products are restrained with high levels of sodium, oil, refined sugar, and refined flour. You may all aware that these combination are how much harmful to our health.
The Danger Of Fast Food Obesity Epidemic
Fast food obesity is one of the main causes for Type II diabetes. The content of the fast food leads much strain to the body to produce insulin. If a person is having fast food very often, body needs to take much strain to produce insulin and thereby one day the body will loses the ability of producing insulin which resulted type II diabetes. Now in the modern life style , most of the people are not getting any physical activities and getting fast food and pre-packed food products, beverages etc. This lead us to believe that teenage and childhood fast food obesity epidemic has just began and the problem doesn't seem to end soon.
Teenagers and children have forgotten the ways of reducing the calories they intake and thereby obesity is inevitable. This leads to increased body sugar levels and possible blocked arteries. Medical professionals say that fast food obesity along with the sedentary life style are becoming one of the top causes for type II diabetes and coronary artery disease. Most of the people are spending more time on watching TV, riding cars etc., without getting any physical activity and also having fast food products more than that of their body need thereby they can't isolate fast food and obesity.
Annotation: This source talks about obesity is a problem because fast food meal contains low quality carbohydrates; high levels of saturated fat, white bread, and a sugary soda and also has relatively low fiber content. It also talks about the different types of health problems that obesity can cause.
No comments:
Post a Comment