Historically, food was used primarily as a means to gain energy (Maxfield). Food today is designed to be cheap, fast and tasty. With these new traits, food has become more than just a survival tactic. Entrees and desserts have taken over family celebrations, weddings, graduations, social gatherings, and pretty much every other kind of social activity you can think of. America has turned into a society of eaters- eaters of high calorie, high sugar and high fat- and the results have produced obesity. So, what exactly is obesity? how can it be prevented? and what can be done to reduce it? “The Elephant in the room—pandemic obesity” by Kaye K. Gaines and “Food as Thought: Resisting the Moralization of Eating” by Mary Maxfield provide insight to these common questions regarding obesity.
Obesity is a chronic disease that can lead to other serious illness. Maxfield briefly touches that obesity can be a factor when it comes to “heart disease, diabetes, and cancer” (Maxfield). Gaines provides a deeper understanding of how dangerous obesity can be. In 2013,
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Extreme dieting may produce results, but they are often not lasting results. In order to achieve healthy goals, Maxfield suggest there must be a change in our daily habits. She argues that food is not inherently good or evil, but our lifestyle could be. Instead of cutting out foods that have been deemed by society as “unhealthy,” humans need to learn to trust their bodies to meet their needs (Maxfield). Goals to meet these expectations should be monitored by healthcare professionals(HCP). HCP can make an impact on their patients by “offering simple and concrete advice (start a realistic exercise program, eat at home ... not just "lose weight"), and emphasizing that even small changes can lead to big health gains” (Gaines). By making goals, setting plans and following up with their patients, HCP can contribute significantly in curing
When it comes to the topic of obesity, most experts and critics will readily agree that it can lead to more severe health issues. Where the agreement usually ends, however, is on how much obesity really contributes to illnesses, such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Whereas some are convinced that obesity is a major cause in such diseases, others maintain that it is only one factor, of many, that lead to other diseases.
Within the last half century, the obesity rate in America has increased by twenty one percent from thirteen percent to thirty four percent of adults; while the percent of the population considered overweight has remained stagnate at thirty-four percent. Unfortunately, the increase in the obese population poses a large threat to the health and well-being of United States citizens. Obesity is not only an accumulation of fat mass, but has been linked to many diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. The strain that each of these respective diseases contributes onto the United States healthcare system is great, but how exactly does obesity contribute to the occurrence of these three diseases? What health factors are affected by obesity and lead to the development of chronic illness?
Obesity presents numerous health risks, both physical and mental. Obesity has been linked to or is a risk factor for many non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease (including stroke and heart) type two diabetes, many cancers (including breast, colorectal….), musculoskeletal conditions such as osteoarthritis, depression and mental health disorders. Obesity along with all of the alarming health implications have the ability to
Obesity is a common disease that makes a person massively overweight. This disease can potentially be lethal if not treated correctly. In addition, this could also lead to other common diseases such as heart disease and diabetes and cancer..
As seen during the eighteenth century, the presence of excess body fat was envied and very rare; seen only in kings, the rich, and the wealthy as a sign of power and prosperity. Once food shortage was no longer relevant, the 20th century re-assessed this “sign of power” as a sign of ill health, and was then documented in medical practices as the chronic disease known as obesity. As we look at the roots of obesity today, causes of the disease cannot be attributed to a single origin. However, there are many daily influences that justify our nations expanding waistlines; the most obvious being an unhealthy diet. The role of food in our society has altered the way Americans perceive nutrition. Meal times are advertised as social events; an instance of mindless eating, with little awareness on stopping when you’re full, and overeating as a result. Portion sizes are much larger than nutritionally necessary, and lack in substantial protein, causing you to
Obesity is a leading cause of death in the USA and is also tied to chronic, costly diseases that troubles the health care system. The more body fat that you have and the more you weigh, the more likely you are to develop coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, type 2 diabetes, gallstones, breathing problems and certain cancers. Children and teens that are
For people all over the world, obesity has reached an all time high and will only continue to climb. Obesity is the accumulation of excessive body fat on an individual that increases the chance of developing health complications. Obesity is a health condition that can cause much damage to an individuals mind and body, and has become linked to a shortened life span. It has caused an increase in blood pressure, strokes, high cholesterol, high blood sugar and heart disease. It has cause
Dalton revisits the controversial issue of whether obesity should be declared a disease or not. In the author's opinion, obesity is not a disease. With that in mind, this book will offer a sound basis for my assertion that obesity cannot be regarded a disease but a contributing factor to ill health.
Obesity has become the silent killer in American society. It is a risk factor for numerous chronic diseases including the four leading causes of death. Obesity can be linked to stroke, heart disease, cancer and diabetes, all serious health problems that can be fatal. Obesity is linked to 300,000 deaths annually in the industrial world (Flamholz, 2001). Often in society and in the medical community there exists a lack of understanding that obesity is in fact a disease and needs attention, otherwise the rates of many diseases will continue to climb.
Nowadays, obesity is considered one of the most popular and major health issues. The United States is also among the group of countries that has the highest obesity rate. Due to many resulting serious illness it implicates, obesity was claimed to be the cause for high preventable mortality rate.
Even with awareness of becoming obese, individuals are struggling nationwide with the prognosis of adult obesity. It has become more apparent that obesity is far more complex of an issue to address. The Center of Disease Control (2016) states, that obesity is associated with poorer mental health outcomes, reduced quality of life, and the leading causes of death in the U.S. and worldwide, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancer. The Mayo Clinic (2015) describes obesity as not just a “cosmetic” issue. Risk factors of becoming or being obese can be a combination of multiple factors. Obesity can be linked to a variety of contributing factors such as genetics and the amount of fat your body stores or unhealthy eating habits.
First of all, people have obesity is indeed increase risk for developing chronic diseases and the other health problems. Obesity can be defined as an excessive accumulation of body fat that hurting human body and excess weight is the cause of more illness than virtually any other medical
Many people wonder how destructive can the effects of obesity be. First of all what is obesity? Obesity is an abnormal accumulation of body fat, usually 20% or more over an individual's ideal body weight. It is a very serious problem and is becoming very dangerous in today’s world. Obesity is now considered to be the second most preventable cause of death in America, with tobacco use being the first. As the use of tobacco rates continue to decline, the obesity rates continue to rise. With that being said, mortality numbers of obesity are going to rise compared to tobacco (Obesity Consequences 2012). Obesity causes many health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol, asthma, etc. There
Obesity is connected with an increased risk of a number of diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, arthritis, stroke and several types of cancer, and with decreased longevity and lower quality of life. For example, the increased production of oestrogens in the fat of older women who are obese is associated with an increase in breast cancer risk.
Attention Step: How many of you all know of someone who is overweight? How many of you all know of someone who is dead because of weight problems? Obviously, a serious factor that is going on across the United States is obesity. According to The Gale Encyclopedia of Fitness written by the authors Rosalyn Carson-DeWitt and William Atkins, the definition of obesity means that it is a health condition where an excessive amount of body fat is inside the human body. This excessive body fat can cause health related issues including illness, disability, and worst of all, death (Carson-DeWitt and Atkins 615).