What is the cause of many health problems? Does obesity affect our health? Does one being obese increase their chances of having health problems? These are some of the questions raised when we talk about obesity. Many are times that obese people are said to be unhealthy. Obesity is reported to lead to the numerous health problems facing individuals all over the world. Some claim that obesity is the cause of health problems while others are opposed to the same. Researchers across the globe have researched to prove that other factors and not obesity are the cause of health problems. They have given the reasons as to why they believe that obesity has a minimal impact on our health. This article will focus on proving that obesity is the cause of most health problems affecting people globally.
Definition and Explanation of the Key Word
Obesity refers to a condition which an individual has excess body fats that accumulated in various parts of the body. Obese people are said to have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 and above. Obesity occurs when an individual consumes more many calories of foods and snacks such as chocolate, soft drinks, cakes, etc. than the body needs. A person may also become obese by living a sedentary lifestyle. This has been as a result of technological advance which has come with the emergence of machines: computers, dishwashers, and washing machines, among many others. Lack of enough sleep can also lead to obesity as the appetite tends to increase due to hormonal changes. Ghrelin hormone is produced once one fails to sleep enough hence stimulating the appetite. Some of the foods we consume are endocrine disruptors and interfere with our metabolism. Consequently, obesity can be avoided by taking healthy foods that are balanced regarding nutrient content. Doing physical exercises to keep our bodies in action can also prevent obesity. Some medications offered in hospitals or by medical officers like doctors are said to make people increase in weight. However, it is also important to note that obesity can be genetically acquired. Additionally, an obese person is not the same as a person who is overweight. Someone may weigh too much due to their body water or the bones. However, most overweight people are obese.
Evidence in Favor of the Proposition
In this article, I seek to prove that most health problems are as a result of obesity. The number of people being faced with various health problems is continuously increasing over the years. What is shocking the fact that a good percentage of these health complications come along with obese conditions. Some of the world’s most dreadful health conditions are always associated with obesity. To make the matter worse, Dr. Laurence Knott, a renowned member of Information Standard, notes that obese people are at a higher risk of having serious illnesses and health problems than people with normal body weight (Knott). Unfortunately, medical experts indicate that all these conditions, adverse effects in the body is heightened or caused by obesity, are fatal. Examples of diseases and status associated with obesity include diabetes (type 2), high blood pressure, heart diseases, osteoarthritis, stroke, depression, gallstones and gallbladder diseases, sleep apnea, gout, etc. (CDC). The following is a more detailed elaboration of various conditions and diseases caused by obesity-adiposity (Knott).
a) Diabetes: Occurs when insulin is resisted by the body due to adiposity hence rendering the body dysfunctional to the extent of being unable to regulate blood sugar in the body, leading to type 2 diabetes.
b) High blood pressure: Happens when arteries in the heart are strained till blood flow is restricted. The heart is forced to work extra hard in order to pump blood all over the body. Obesity also strains the kidney and hence the heart.
c) Osteoarthritis: The extra weight tends to put too much pressure on the body joints thus wearing out or damaging bones.
d) Sleep apnea: This refers to a condition where individual breathing stops for some seconds; reducing the amount of oxygen in the blood hence making it hard for the patients to sleep
e) Gallbladder and gallstones: Obese people have a lot of cholesterol and once deposited in bile it, forms gallstones that damage the gall-bladder.
f) Depression: Most obese people suffer from depression as a result of psychological factors caused by how people in the society and different cultures view their condition. The mental effects caused by obesity include low self-esteem and anxiety.
Evidence against the Proposition
Research carried out by medical professionals illustrates that obesity does not cause health problems. Experts indicate that a person can be obese while at the same time metabolically healthy and free from all health problems that are said to be as a result of obesity. Being obese does not mean that you are unhealthy and at higher risks of having health problems (Rettner). These people are said to be metabolically healthy obese (MHO). MHO can be determined by some factors such as waist conditions, insulin resistance, blood pressure, cholesterol and the blood sugar levels. Besides, the states of physical fitness of some obese people demystify the assertion that one having obesity automatically implies the person is a host of diseases. MHOs have low inflammation levels than those who are unhealthy. Some scientists argue that the fact some fats may be either hazardous or non-hazardous, based on location and formation. This important in explaining the MHOs state. Fat in the wrong places, e.g., the liver and heart are fatal. An obese person may live a healthy lifestyle by doing physical activities and eating a well-balanced diet. Besides, people with normal body fats may still develop diseases and conditions states above as being caused by obesity (Rettner).
Finalization of Argument
Inasmuch as Rettner argues that one can be obese but healthy and be free from the health problems mentioned above (Rettner), being obese increases an individual’s risk of contracting these diseases (Knott). Accumulated fats in some body parts such as the heart characterized by obesity could lead to tragic problems. If there is a diabetic history in my lineage and I become obese, chances of me having diabetes are so high compared to another person who is not obese and has a lower BMI in my family. I can also be obese in a family with diabetic history and still manage to be MHO by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, eating a well-balanced diet, and doing physical activities.
It is not scientifically proven that if an obese person loses weight the health problems that affected them while obese will go away or reduce. Consequently, we need to live and eat healthy as we express love and care to those affected. We should be of great help to our loved ones, friends and family members diagnosed with obesity. We should care for them and let them feel special and loved. We can also encourage them to live a healthy lifestyle by being part of their lives. For example, you can support your spouse to do physical activities by participating in them. This will help motivate them and give him or her the morale to continue engaging as well as seeing it as fan activities rather than a medical procedure.
Conclusion
Statistics show that over 650 million people were said to be obese in 2016. Obesity has been reported to kill many people worldwide than underweight condition (World Health Organization). It is a condition affecting even children below the age of 5 years. Fortunately, obesity can be prevented and reduced by the following reducing the intake of sugars, fats, and salt, eating a well-balanced diet, increasing fruit and vegetable intake and engaging in physical activities, etc. Obesity is a global epidemic, and we should help reduce it by maintaining a healthy lifestyle by first accepting that it causes a lot of tragic health conditions.
Works Cited
CDC. "The Health Effects of Overweight and Obesity." 2018. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/effects/index.html. 5 March 2018.
Knott, Laurence. "Obesity and Overweight." 1 March 2018. Patient.
https://patient.info/health/obesity-overweight#. 5 March 2018.
Rettner, Rachael. "Fat Can Be Healthy: Some Obese People Live Long Lives." 11 August 2011. LIVESCIENCE.
https://www.livescience.com/15578-obese-healthy-weight-loss.html. 5 March 2018.
World Health Organization. "Obesity and overweight." February 2018. WHO.
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs311/en/. 5 March 2018.
