FACTORS CONTRIBUTE TO OBESITY

What factors contribute to obesity in developed countries and how can these be addressed?

What factors contribute to obesity in developed countries and how can these be addressed?

Introduction

Obesity is defined as the pathological consequence of excessive cumulative mule fat, resulting in turn from a positive energy balance. The main difficulties in assessing the magnitude of excess weight the different criteria for graduation, which is reflected in the various work and studies. It constitutes a major health problem, due to high frequency and its role as a risk factor for many diseases. In general, a key issue for epidemiological studies is the case definition criteria and procedures for validation and standardisation, especially when comparing results with other studies using similar methodology. Obesity is a condition characterised by excessive accumulation of body fat, usually because of poor diets and a sedentary lifestyle (Ong , 2000, p967).

Discussion

There are many countries in the world that encounter the problem of obesity. United States of America is one of those developed country where the issue of obesity is mounting especially in the children of African Americans. If a person's weight is more than 21% as compared to his/her body weight determined by BMI (body mass index) the person is considered as obese (Oliver, 2006, p14). A calorie is a unit used to measure the energy value of food and the energy used by the body to maintain normal functions. When the calories from food ingestion are equivalent the calories of energy utilized by the human body person's weight remains stable (Pool, 2001, p21). However, when more calories are gobbled than the body requirements and those calories are not burned, the body reserves the extra calories into substance known as fat, which is responsible for the abnormal weight gain (Stettler, 2002, p194).

A research study in South Carolina revealed that in the year 2009 there was 15% of population which was considered to be facing the issue of obesity according to the standards of BMI. Through this analysis it can be interpreted that there is dominance of obesity among the citizens of U.S (Oliver, 2006, p14). The obesity in adult population of African American in South Carolina increased up to 1.1% in 2007 (Smith,1999, p 21). However, some current researches also suggest that the increasing trend of obesity in the U.S has been slowing down. Due to the increase of obesity in South Carolina there has been a tremendous increase in the diseases as well (Smith, 1999, p21). These diseases are caused by the obesity or abnormal amount of fat inside the body. After a quarter century of increases, obesity prevalence has not measurably increased in the past few years but levels are still high at 34% of African American adults in South Carolina aged 20 and over (Pool, 2001, p21).

Factors

In developing countries it can be seen that very disparate populations have elements of uniformity, resulting fundamentally balanced mind by purchasing power. Although children in rich countries growing more central and better mature ...