Increasing Obesity Rates Linked to Biological and Social Factors Require Community Action to Promote Healthy Future Generations

Americans are constantly reminded of obesity whether it is through watching the news or visiting the doctor. What remains shocking is how little Americans understand about how pervasive obesity is in society.
At its core, obesity is a result of increased fat due to over-consumption . This buildup of unneeded fat can result in life threatening medical ailments such as diabetes, various cardiovascular disorders, and even cancer.

The basics of a healthier diet begin at ensuring proper caloric intake on an individual basis. Understanding of daily caloric intake requirements and adequate body ratios is the first step in appreciating obesity and working to resolve it. The body mass index (BMI) is a universal indicator of obesity (BMI>30) based on a height to weight ratio. The simple BMI calculator on the right can help to open up individuals eyes about the obesity epidemic.

Dr. Christopher Capp, a University of Maryland professor in the field of physiological biochemistry, associates the obesity epidemic to the basic principle of consuming more energy from food sources than the body will burn through metabolic processes. People require a specific daily caloric intake that is dictated by their height, weight and activity level.

Increasing Obesity Rates Have Plagued the United States for Decades

Overall and state-by-state, obesity 
rates (according the the CDC) in the United States
 have increased drastically in the past several decades

Obesity, as defined by the United States Center for Disease Control (CDC), is having an excessive amount of body fat; a level that is at a much greater level than average and can result in serious health issues. Obesity is becoming an extraordinary problem in the United States with 18% (2012 figure) of children today being categorized as obese. The rate of obesity in the United States has been growing at an exponential rate over the years as children build unhealthy lifestyle habits that follow into adulthood. Lack of exercise and careless food choices propagate an unhealthy fat enabling culture. Obesity is a great problem in the United States due to accessibility of fast calories and saturated fats and a generally sedentary lifestyle within the population.

The body requires a certain intake of various biomolecules as energy in order to function. The major sources of energy in food include carbohydrates and lipids (fat). Dr. Capp explains that if the body intakes an excess of carbohydrates or fats than are required for daily function, they will be converted through metabolic processes. The body will convert excess energy stores into fat (adipose) cells that propagate in the body. Continued intake of unneeded energy thus results in obesity.

High Cost and Scarcity of Healthful Foods Promotes Unhealthy Choices

 

Eating more nutritious foods is at the center of reducing the prevalence of obesity. However, socio-economic factors play a major role in the ability for individuals to access healthy food options. A recent study by Harvard and Brown University researchers shows that eating a balanced healthful diet costs about $550 more per person per year. As a result, many families that are living in poverty or with limited funds are unable to attain healthy food options. The link between socio-economic standards/race has also shown that it is the poorer minorities that are more greatly affected by obesity. Societal changes to increase the availability of low cost healthy food alternatives would allow these population groups to enjoy better more healthful lifestyles. 

Current social welfare programs such as food stamps promote the purchase of unhealthy, sugary, and mostly processed foods. In fact, according to Harvard Magazine, $2 billion worth of food stamps are used annually to purchase sugary drinks. This immense amount of welfare money spent on unhealthy food choices has domino effects as medical ailments become a social burden in the future. Promoting healthier alternatives and providing incentives for healthier food choices can reduce the consumption of unhealthy foods and prevent future medical issues. 

The current food production framework outputs highly processed foods because it is based around a previously developed and currently effective industry. Resources are available to effectively produce, ship, and market processed foods. Continued adherence to this structure promotes the availability and consumption of unhealthy over healthy options. Dr. Capp suggests for people to reduce their intake of such processed and fast foods which contain high levels of unhealthy saturated fats. The food industry is driven by unhealthy standards that are enforced by consumers purchasing power. If consumers yield to healthier alternatives the industry will adapt to accommodate and provide healthier options. 

Sedentary Consumer Lifestyles Promote Adherence to Deleterious Choices and Lifelong Ailments 

Unhealthy and cheap food options such as this
McDonald's "Happy Meal" target children
and contribute to the obesity epidemic

The rapid increase in obesity can be associated with unsatisfactory nutrition, reduced physical activity levels and targeted advertising. This combination of factors has resulted in a greater prevalence of unhealthy lifestyles in families as a whole. Many of these factors are interlinked; lack of physical activity and increased sedentary habits such as watching television constantly increase the effectiveness of marketing techniques that target children through media outlets such as television and internet. Advertising campaigns aimed directly at children promote unhealthy food choices that accompanied with lack of physical activity have resulted in a rise in childhood obesity rates. 

Average food portion sizes in the United States greatly
exceed government recommendations

Portion control plays another key factor in limiting the intake of unhealthy foods. Portion sizes for many common day food items are far above the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) recommendations. A society based on consumption promotes over indulgence which is not required exceeds daily energy requirements and is stored as fats. Portion sizes in today's society promote excess and compulsive eating. Eating and consumption habits begin in early childhood and progress into adulthood; establishing distinct healthy habits early on promotes healthy decisions in the future. 

Obesity as a child is a great concern because it can lead to serious health problems at a young age. Overall unhealthy lifestyle habits can continue into adulthood leading to lifelong disorders. Childhood obesity has been shown to cause diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and a wide variety of other medical disorders as a result. The risks associated with these diseases increase as BMI ratios increase. The higher the BMI over the obesity standard (BMI>30), the greater the chance of an individual dying at a young age. 

A New England Journal of Medicine study highlighted the increased mortality
rates associated with obesity

As a result of increasing obesity and associated medical ailments, the cost of obesity to the public in the United States is 190.2 billion dollars annually and continues to increase as the prevalence of obesity increases. Obesity as a child has been shown to lead to an 80% chance of being obese as an adult. Obesity must be combated as a community and family in order for it to be effectively treated. 

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Community Efforts at Combating Obesity Have Garnered Limited Success

Currently there are many initiatives that work to provide information and resources for families and communities to combat obesity. The recently created Let’s Move initiative by First Lady Michelle Obama aims to get children active and moving to promote a healthier future generation. The initiative promotes greater activity and more balanced food choices and specifically targets younger populations. This and other initiatives have spread the message through television campaigns and advertisements which have attempted to target kids to make better lifestyle choices. However, their implementation in society continues to be lack luster.

Oftentimes school meals mandated by the government are just as unhealthy if not worse than fast food establishments. Obama's campaign has aimed to strengthen meal choices in schools and promote healthier decision making. Obesity can be combated by integrating healthier options into school meals and promoting healthier lifestyle choices. These campaigns are a step in the right direction to combat childhood obesity however they are lacking in their strategy. Many of the meals that the Let's Move Campaign endorses have been rejected by communities; the implementation of the program has been lacking. Universal implementation of the program would have a broader outreach and promote healthy choices in and out of the classroom. 

The dissatisfaction with the current implementation has sparked a recent viral hashtag, #ThanksMichelleObama, that shows students complaining about the meal options and trash cans full of "healthy meals."
#ThanksMichelleObama Tweets

Rejecting Fat Culture and Promoting Healthy Choices 

Efforts at raising awareness of obesity have
garnered criticism calling them insensitive

American culture propagates an acceptance of a "fat culture." While obesity is a major health and social issue, it is not treated as such and is oftentimes sugar coated in order to avoid hurting children's feelings. This mentality enforces sedentary and unhealthy lifestyles that contribute to a growing epidemic. 

Recent campaigns that go against the status quo have garnered both immense praise and criticism; namely, a recent advertising campaign showing obese children tries to exhibit the impact of obesity on having a fulfilling childhood.  Obesity denies children their childhood and hinders their adulthood. By understanding the pervasiveness and implications of obesity, Americans can work as communities to resolve their obesity problem and prevent its propagation in future generations.