Task 1- obesity epidemic
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University of Nairobi *
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12234
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Health Science
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Nov 24, 2024
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docx
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The Issue with the Rising Obesity Epidemic
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The Issue with the Rising Obesity Epidemic
The spreading obesity epidemic raises concern regarding the growing health and
economic consequences. The epidemic is linked to chronic infections and increasing deaths,
resulting in billions of dollar costs in the US, either directly or indirectly (Stein & Colditz, 2004).
Multiple factors impact body weight genes and predispose the obesity epidemic rise in addition
to hereditary connections to the spread of obesity and unhealthy lifestyles in terms of diet and
physical exercises. Prenatal and early life influences, spending too much time on television, and
doing little physical activities contribute to the obesity pandemic.
Individuals are likely to grow overweight when they overeat without being active to burn
the accumulated calories. This condition increases the amount of energy stored in the body
through fats. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, being overweight and
obese are related to food and activity. Therefore, the environment should encourage physical
activities by creating sidewalks, ensuring affordable healthy foods in supermarkets, and exposing
health information regarding high-fat snacks and sugary drinks (Bouchard, 2021). To address the
rising obesity epidemic, individuals should embark on healthy diets and physical activities to
lead more nutritious lives.
Obesity and its co-morbidities are likely to impact healthcare systems negatively. Due to
various medical complications associated with obese individuals, healthcare utilization is
affected. Obesity is associated with co-morbidities such as cardiovascular disease, pre-diabetes
and type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, and polycystic ovary syndrome, among other chronic
conditions (
Nussbaum et al., 2021). These conditions complicate the care provision and, to some
extent, impact the response to treatment negatively. The healthcare systems are becoming
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expensive, with huge in expenditures on obesity and increased hospitalizations due to more
health complications.
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References
Bouchard, C. (2021). Genetics of obesity: what we have learned over decades of
research.
Obesity
,
29
(5), 802-820.
https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.23116
Nussbaum, B. M., Mathew, M. S., Atem, F., Barlow, S. E., Gupta, O. T., & Messiah, S. E.
(2021). Distribution of comorbidities as primary diagnoses by obesity class among
patients in a large US paediatric healthcare system.
Clinical Obesity
,
11
(5), e12478.
https://doi.org/10.1111/cob.12478
Stein, C. J., & Colditz, G. A. (2004). The epidemic of obesity.
The Journal of Clinical
Endocrinology & Metabolism
,
89
(6), 2522-2525.
https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2004-0288