Obesity is characterized by excessive body fat that may impair health and often results from taking in more calories than are being used by the body and affects all ages. Body Mass Index is used to classify overweight and obesity in adults. According to WHO, obesity in adults is a Body Mass Index greater than or equal to 30 and is the same for both sexes and for all ages of adults. This study will discuss the causes of obesity and how obesity poses a risk to health and the ways that have been formulated to reduce the occurrences of obesity.
Causes of Obesity
According to Lavie (2018), Economic growth, industrialization, mechanized transport, urbanization, and an increasingly sedentary lifestyle has fueled the prevalence of obesity in many countries causing a challenge to chronic disease prevention and health across the world. Increased intake of energy-dense foods high in fat and sugars and less physical activity leads to obesity.
Prevalence of obesity
WHO global estimates show that worldwide obesity has nearly tripled since 1975. Study taken in 2016 shows that 39% of adults aged 18 years and above were overweight and 13% were obese and over 340 million children and adolescents aged 5-19 were obese. In Africa, the number of overweight children under 5 has increased by nearly 24% since 2000 but almost half of them lived in Asia. Obesity often prevails in high-income countries but has been in the rise in low and middle-income countries especially in urban settings due to high intakes of junk foods and less physical activity caused by poor urban planning hence no room for exercise.
Consequences of obesity
Obesity is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases mainly stroke and hypertension, diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders, some cancers like breast, liver, prostate, colon, and kidneys(Alpert et al. (2020). Childhood obesity often causes increased future risks of one having adulthood obesity, premature death and disability in adulthood. Moreover, obese children mostly experience breathing difficulties, increased risks of fractures, insulin resistance and psychological effects.
Management and prevention of obesity
Obesity cis easily prevented through supportive environments which shape people’s choices by making decisions on the right preference of foods and regular physical activity. These can be done by limiting energy intake from fats and sugars, increasing the consumption of vegetables, fruits, whole grain and frequently drinking water. People should engage in regular physical activity to burn out fats to avoid accumulation. One should take responsibility in maintaining a healthy lifestyle (Endalifer & Diress (2020). Society should provide a support system to enable people access to healthy living. Policies formulated should make regular physical activity and healthy dietary choices available, affordable, and easily accessible to everyone.
References
Endalifer, M. L., & Diress, G. (2020). Epidemiology, predisposing factors, biomarkers, and prevention mechanism of obesity: a systematic review. Journal of obesity, 2020.
