...One of the fastest growing epidemics in the United States is childhood obesity. The amount of children that fall in the obese category has more than tripled since 1970. It is now estimated that one in every five children in the United States would fall under this obese category. This rapid growth has resulted from many changes in our society including: How we measure obesity, increased technology, increased availability of fast food, and an increased intake of sugar. To understand what it is that causes childhood obesity its necessary to have a solid comprehension of what obesity is and how its measured. The dictionary definition of obesity is “a condition characterized by the excessive accumulation and storage of fat in the body”; however,...
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...Fighting to End Obesity Everyone knows someone like Mary; she is a woman who many consider to be beautiful, smart, successful, and has a great personality. Each person she comes in contact with admires her and who she is as a person, but Mary has a problem; she cannot run and play with her children nor do most things that an average sized adult at her age would be able to do. The reason she cannot perform these tasks is because she is obese. Mary is three times heavier than what is believed to be typical standards for her age and height. She often has trouble breathing, swollen feet, as well as an extensive list of other medical conditions that affect her well-being; therefore, is constantly on medication to ensure that she stays alive. Upon reflection, one may actually relate in some way or another to this story either by knowing someone in her position or even connecting directly on a more personal level. People like Mary are now deemed to be, what the United States declares, an average statistic in Americans today. Evidently, obesity is becoming a growing problem which appears to be worsening each year. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 1/3 of Americans are obese (Adult Obesity, 2011). In the United States alone the amount of adults who are statistically obese, whose BMI also known as body mass index, (the body weight in kilograms divided by the square of the body height in meters, is greater than 30%) has increased from no states to...
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...The term addiction is most commonly associated with drug abuse. Until recently, food specifically sugar has gained enough momentum to be compared and classified as addictive as cocaine is (Ahmed et al.). There are 300,000 deaths per year related to obesity in the United States, making it the second most preventable cause of death (Flegal et. al). In comparison, there are only 47,000 deaths related to drug use (National Center for Health estimated Statistics). This essay will explore, sugar, the underlying issue contributing to the obesity epidemic. In the documentary from “Sugar Coated” they state that “in the past 30 years obesity rates have doubled to 600 million… and diabetes rates have tripled to 347 million worldwide.” Comparably in that...
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...Fast food is quickly becoming Americas cigarette, causing more death related illnesses than a pack of smokes. Before you judge your friends for lighting one up, take a look at the food your ingesting and what its doing to your body. Fast food has rapidly become a staple in our society but to really understand the fast food epidemic we must understand the leading causes, what effects it has on our population and what we can do to solve this crisis. Fast food is popular for a multitude of reasons, including its abundance and price. Fast food is largely consumed due to its accessibility and competitive price. As an illusion (T), people often find themselves in a hurry and don’t think they have time to make a full meal or stop at a restaurant for a long time. Fast food is quite literally “fast”. Ultimately, (T) this (PW) convenience can often lead to be a habit forming activity for an individual with a fast-paced schedule. “They're (PW) quick: 92.3%, They're easy to get to: 80.1%, I like the taste of fast food: 69.2%, They're inexpensive: 63.6%” said Louise Chang MD. Along with those reasons there (PW) is also the simple fast that fast food tastes good. The products are loaded with carbs, sugars, and salts to appeal to are taste buds. In prehistoric times humans developed a taste for foods rich in fats and carbs because they were a good source of energy in a time where food was less accessible. In other words,(RD) todays world we are surrounded by easy access to foods and...
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...Research suggests obesity in America is an epidemic because of people’s diet, lifestyle, and genetic inheritance. Obesity is a chronic disease that can and will seriously affect one’s health. Health professionals agree that obesity has now reached epidemic status in our country. Over one third of American adults are obese. Obesity also affects children and is more prevalent now than in previous years. And the numbers are increasing. Diet and nutrition play a major role in the United States epidemic of obesity. Although it is very complex especially when Americans are sent mixed messages on what to eat and how much they should eat. On one hand, you have packaged processed food, bigger portions and fast food meals that are marketed as all American. The food is delicious and filling but fast and cheap. On the other hand, Americans spend almost twenty billion dollars every year on the newest weight loss fads, from weight loss drugs to books on the newest weight loss diet to weight loss surgeries like gastric bypass, lap-bands and Hollywood’s favorite, liposuction. Everyone is looking for everything fast. Fast-food, and fast weight loss options. We spend more time at work to pay for all the fast stuff in our lives instead of spending time at home and in our own kitchens cooking nutritious meals for our whole family like our parents did fifty years ago. (Overeaters Anonymous, 1980) This crazy relationship Americans have with food is easy to explain in terms of schemes in marketing...
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...Junk Food and Its Impact on Health Pamela Gambrell DeVry University Junk Food and Its Impact on Health Michael was a man in his 30’s when I first met him. He had everything to live for: a beautiful wife and two gorgeous children. He was also morbidly obese and had a multitude of health problems. His biggest health problem? He had diabetes mellitus and was very noncompliant with his diet. He often came into the hospital with blood glucose levels way over 600. The last time Michael came into the hospital his blood sugar was over 1200 and he was in a diabetic coma from which he never recovered. Michael could have lived a much longer life had he chosen to eat healthier and refrain from junk food. Michael’s story is just one of many that happen every day. In a country such as ours this should not be the norm. Junk food is a major industry in this country. It is much easier and often, less expensive for someone to obtain and consume junk food then it is to create healthy meals. The ramifications of junk food consumption are not widely known and these ramifications are beginning at an earlier age. Therefore, education needs to begin early in life and children should be able to have healthy food selections in schools. As an experienced registered nurse, I have seen many health problems that begin with obesity. These include heart disease, metabolic diseases, high blood pressure, stroke, cavities, and even some forms of cancer. The best way to avoid the majority of these health...
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...October 24, 2013 Cause and Effect: Obesity and the “Miracle Surgery” Obesity is a life-threatening “epidemic” that is rising across America. Americans now eat 2,700 calories a day, about 500 calories more than 40 years ago (Ambinder, par 3). It seems as though dieting is not enough for those whose weight is out of control. The fast food companies’ job is to make food tasty enough to purchase, but the consequence is consumption of fatty food ingredients that do not help those who cannot control their dietary intake. There are some people who do not mind being obese, but there are those who are seeking a solution to their problem of obesity. Obesity can cause several life-threatening diseases and even death if not reversed. The surgery that over a million people are turning to is gastric bypass. This surgery is considered a “miracle cure” that will reverse chronic diseases and may save their life. There are so many commercials that promote weight loss for the overweight individual. You have Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, Food Lovers Lost Program, liquids, powders, and exercises that promote weight loss. Unfortunately, there are millions of people that have spent thousands of dollars to find a solution to weight loss. According to the (ABC News “100 Million Dieters, $20 Billion: The Weight Loss Industry by the Numbers which aired 5/8/13, $20 million dollars a year in the United States is spent on weight loss, which includes diet books, diet drugs and weight loss surgeries...
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... The Fast Food Epidemic On Health In today's society, fast food has become a large part of many American's lives. With the rising numbers of obese people, it is hard not to draw a correlation between the increase in fast food and obesity. Most obese people don’t want to be obese and wish they could lose weight, yet they continue to struggle with their fast food intake and obesity. This is due to the advertising done on the consumers, the highly addictive food itself, and most importantly, how advertising and addiction combine with children to form habits that are kept once they become adults. These factors are the reasons that fast food restaurants are to blame for the rising obesity and health risks across America. The government needs to step in and place regulations on these fast food restaurants so they will stop taking advantage of people's weaknesses. Before it can be gone into detail about how fast food companies are to blame for people over eating their food, it first must be proven that fast food is indeed the main problem causing today's obesity in America. It is known to many people how the number of fast food restaurants in America has increased tremendously over the past several decades, but it is difficult to calculate by how much due to the lack of historic statistics. Also, it is difficult whether or not to categorize certain restaurants as fast food. Although,...
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...Technical College November 24, 2014 ABSTRACT Objectives: To research the causes of death during childbirth and infancy in nations around the world. To examine related health concerns of birth rate, death rate, birth defects, and how access to medical care in different nations contribute to the birth and survival of the fetus. Reviewing statistics of birth rates in all income nations and the overall affect on the population. Applying the Social Conflict theory as it relates to views on pregnancy. Explore different ideas on how to change declining birth rates and promote better health care for all nations. Key Words: Pregnancy, birth rates, death rates , birth defects,social conflict, health care associated with pregnancy. INTRODUCTION In December of 2013, The World Health Organization (WHO) conveyed a consultation on improving the measurement of quality of maternal, newborn, and child care in health facilities. This annual report proposed 19 core indicators for reporting on the quality of MNHC care in nations around the globe. While some key interventions have increased over the past decade, little progress has been made in the quality of care in some health care facilities around the world. The amount of health care coverage provided to mothers, newborns, and children in low income nations is very minimal compared to high income nations particularly in the United States where health care and food programs have been implemented to help the poor and create a better chance...
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...Junk Food and Child Obesity Jaya Sinha Childhood obesity has become a prominent health issue in developed countries and has now gained access in the developing world as well. Secular trends indicate increasing prevalence rates of childhood obesity in India, from 9.8% (2006) to 11.7% (2009). Similar increase can be seen in other developing countries; 4.1% (1974) to 13.9% (1997) in Brazil and from 12.2% (1991) to 15.6% (1993) in Thailand. Important determinants of childhood obesity include poor dietary habits, sedentary lifestyle, high socioeconomic status, unawareness and false beliefs about nutrition, marketing by transnational food companies, increasing academic stress, and poor facilities for physical activity. Obesity among children has medical as well as psychosocial impact leading to huge economic impact on the individual family, health sector as well as the country. Successful prevention/reduction and management of childhood obesity requires a multilevel approach involving the family, school, peer group, government and the society as a whole. Introduction Obesity has reached epidemic proportions globally and its prevalence has doubled in the last two decades (1). Over the last 5 years, most developing countries have reported prevalence rates of obesity (inclusive of overweight) > 15% in children and adolescents aged 5–19 year (2–4). Childhood obesity is increasing at an alarming pace in India, giving rise to adult diseases in youth, like high blood pressure...
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...Introduction The number of American people who are obese has increased over the years. This complex condition has affected almost all ages with children obesity being on the rise. Obesity can be linked to the onset of some diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and some heart diseases that have increased the risk of death and reduction of an individual’s health. The answers that we seek are concerned with sugars’ role in the development of obesity and the emergence of related diseases. It is important to consider an individual’s genes when determining vulnerability to obesity but what doctors mostly emphasize is on food intake. As the socioeconomic levels of most Americans rise, diets are increasingly having a higher proportion of sugars while work is shifting into a less physical nature. The high proportion of sugars in the American diet has a direct relationship to obesity and other related illnesses. Is sugar related to obesity and medical disorders associated in the American society? In order to become fully aware of the link between sugars and diabetes, we have to look at the features and nature of sugar. Sugar is a generalized name for a crystalline carbohydrate that is simple, edible and has a sweet flavor. The main types of sugar are sucrose, lactose, fructose and glucose. Glucose, also referred to as blood sugar is the one that circulates in the blood. Table sugar and fruits contain sucrose and fructose respectively. During the process of digestion, carbohydrates...
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...Practice Guidelines Medical Management of Obesity According to Drs. Ethan Berke, and Nancy Morden, obesity continues to be a leading preventative medical condition, which contributes to more than 400,000 deaths each year in America. Obesity is diagnosed when an individual’s body mass index (BMI) is greater than thirty. Medical conditions stemming from the core condition include: high blood pressure (hypertension), cardiovascular issues, joint discomfort, and diabetes. In the article, the “Medical Management of Obesity” the physicians link the National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC) obesity clinical practice guidelines, with evidence based research from the World Health Organization (WHO), and the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF). The article is broken down into sections: 1) Definition of Obesity 2) Describing Body Mass Index 3) Classifications of Overweight and Obesity in Adults 4) Risk Factors Associated with Obesity 5) Etiology of Obesity 6) Treatment of Obesity 7) Management of Obesity 8) Summary of Weight Loss Medications The preceding subcategories use information provided by the WHO, which provides statistical information regarding obesity around the world, and the IOTF that presents statistical information regarding the treatment, and prevention of obesity as a universal epidemic. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) (2011) suggests that due to the “large number of clinical practice guidelines available, guideline users,...
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...Advertising and Childhood Obesity 1 The Link Between Advertising and Manufacturing Tactics and Childhood Obesity Author School Name Advertising and Childhood Obesity 2 Childhood obesity has become an epidemic in the United States, thanks in part to fast food advertising and manufacturing tactics, and this has resulted in more children diagnosed with diabetes, high cholesterol and long term psychological problems. Humans have continually adapted to the ever-changing variables in our environment. One of the most vital of these variables is food. Long ago, the frequency and quantity of our food intake were directly dependent on what we could hunt or forage. Today, in most first world countries, food is no longer a precious commodity to be saved and stored. Fast and convenient foods are never more than a few minutes away. These low-hanging fruits are in fact, far from being simple fruits. They are cheap, tasty, addictive, processed and nutritionally devoid - and they are being marketed directly to children. It's these advertising and manufacturing techniques that are largely contributing to the epidemic of childhood obesity here in the United States. A disturbingly high number of children are being diagnosed with a host of food-related problems such as diabetes, high cholesterol, and long term psychological issues. Thanks in part to the highly effective advertising and manufacturing tactics used by fast food giants, American fast food culture has spread around...
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...In the documentary super-size me Morgan Spurlock states "We live in toxic environment where we are almost guaranteed to get sick." One of possible cause of our sickness is in part due to what we consume on a daily basis. Since American society has become accustomed to a lifestyle that effected was the way we eat. Which eventually led to Americans becoming accustomed to eating unhealthy fast food. Corporations saw this growing culture and took advantage of this in order to make a profit. Eventually they began to disregard the consumer's health in order to keep making their money. Since fast food corporations weren't educating people about their products, Spurlock's documentary decided to do so. His documentary "Super-size me" was made to show...
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...For one to judge the concept of superlative degrees of health and compare it to previous and forthcoming generations, it is essential to understand how we define health, measure it and understand its determinants. As it turns out, defining health is not as straight forward as it appears though we always have the utopian health definition of WHO to fall back upon which defines health as ‘not merely absence of disease but an overall of state of physical, mental, and social well-being’ (WHO 1950). Measures of health may vary with time and space but many health specialists are of the opinion that levels of disease in a population (morbidity) and frequency of death at a particular age (mortality) represent vital and gross health statistics (McKeown 1978). Basically, improved health is reflected in decline of mortality. Determinants of health can be sought in various health theories or models. One of these is ‘life course model’ which offers an interdisciplinary framework for guiding research on health, human development and aging. Life course epidemiology is defined as the study of long term effects on later health or disease risk of physical or social exposures during gestation, childhood, adolescence, young adulthood and later adult life (Kuh and Hardy 2002). The aim is to elucidate biological, behavioural, and psychosocial determinants of health that operate across an individual’s life course, or across generations, to influence the development of disease risk. Combining the definition...
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