Why Obesity?

                                                 (See: External Reading )

Obesity is a disease, by definition, which is related to abnormal endocrine and metabolic malfunction (Bays et al., 2008; DeClercq, Taylor, & Zahradka, 2008). Some organizations, such as American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, American Medical Association and The Obesity Society, have also proposed that obesity is labeled as a new disease, indicating that obesity involves some medical criteria of a disease related to impairing body functions. However, some discussion about obesity centers on the question that obesity is the consequence of health outcomes due to inactivity and poor diet habit. Psychologically, overweight/obese persons may not perceive being sick and uncomfortable instead of the thought of changing current lifestyles. Therefore, to reach a consensus of treating obesity as a disease may be hard.

In terms of obesity in the states, the United States has borne the brunt of obesity related diseases, and what concerns both authorities and researchers is the prevalence rate of obese or overweight being at approximately 50% among 2-19 year olds in the U.S. (Ogden, Carroll, & Flegal, 2008). Further, 66% of all adults are overweight or obese. Being overweight or obese is also affected by education as a mediator. For example, nearly 47% of students in families did not graduate high school were overweight, compared with 37.5% of those whose level of education went beyond high school (Adams et al., 2008).

Thus, for a health educator or healthcare provider, to increase the awareness of the obesity problems in public health is still an important characteristic of a healthy lifestyle. I believe that it is necessary to pay more than the usual attention to obesity prevention and health professionals move forward to create feasible plans for everyone.

External Reading: Deaths From Obesity Almost Quadruple What Was Thought

                                        (Visual analysis on causes and consequences of obesity )

Reference

Adams, M., Carter, T., Barnett-Lammon, C., Hicks-Judd, A., Leeper, J., & Wheat, J. (2008). Obesity and blood pressure trends in rural adolescents over a decade. Pediatric Nursing, 34(5), 381-394.

Bays, H., González-Campoy, J., Henry, R., Bergman, D., Kitabchi, A., Schorr, A., & Rodbard, H. (2008). Is adiposopathy (sick fat) an endocrine disease?. International Journal Of Clinical Practice, 62(10), 1474-1483.

DeClercq, V., Taylor, C., & Zahradka, P. (2008). Adipose tissue: The link between obesity and cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular & Haematological Disorders - Drug Targets, 8(3), 228-237.

Odgen, C. L., Carroll, M. D., & Flegal, K. M. (2008). High body mass index for age among US children and adolescents, 2003-2006. Journal of the American Medical Association, 299(20), 2401-2405.