Meaning and Cause of Obesity - Essay Example

Obesity and overweight can be generally defined as the state when the body mass index increases disproportionately vis-à-vis the standard set by the medical authority. ‘An overweight adult is defined as one with a BMI between 25 and 29.9, while an obese adult has a BMI of 30 or higher. In children and adolescents, overweight is defined as a sex-and-age-specific BMI at or above the 95th percentile, based on revised growth charts by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (HHS News, 2001, ref.2).    Bad eating habits and erratic eating schedules are key proponents of obesity. The increasing trend of eating fast food and aerated drinks is the major reason for being overweight as they are high in calories and low in nourishment. Genetics and to some extent, obese behavior can also be contributed to the socio-psychological paradigms of the communities at large. Researcher Smith says that the fat intake of children in the US has ‘inadequate amounts of fresh fruits, vegetables, and complex carbohydrates, but excessive amounts of fats’(Smith, 1999, p. 84). Another very interesting observation is made by Birch et al. who say that some teachers also promote unhealthy food by using it to reward students for desired classroom behavior and ‘this practice leads children to attach great value to such treats’ (Birch et al., 1995).   Problems associated with obesity The alarming rise in obesity and overweight has become a serious problem because it promotes serious health hazards in the form of diseases, especially silent diseases like blood pressure, which may also prove fatal and cause death. It is common knowledge that diseases like heart problems, and diabetes, are the by-products of obesity which, if not diagnosed early and treated, may lead to death. Obese people are also prone to socio-psychological problems like depression which has now become a key issue and needs urgent attention. Overweight and obese children often become the target of ridicule in school which leads to low self-esteem and adversely impacts their personalities. Another serious repercussion of obesity and being overweight is the financial losses in the form of recurring expenses for the treatment of diseases that become part and parcel of an obese person.    Proposed solution School cafeterias and fast food joints near the schools must promote healthy eating and desist from selling items that are hazardous to the health of the children. Children, irrespective of the state of their health, must be motivated to participate in outdoor activities and take an active interest in sports that involves lots of physical activities. Last but not least important that children and adolescents are periodically exposed to in-house counseling by the school or the health authorities regarding the advantages of good food habits and healthy disposition.   Read More