Obesity Causes and Consequences of Obesity

Obesity: A Secret Epidemic and Its Implications


Obesity is a secret epidemic that is mostly linked to diabetes and other cardiovascular problems. Most people are unaware of the various implications of unhealthy lifestyle. People are opting for cheap and readily available foods that are often hazardous to their health as their work schedules become more compressed. This paper presents the groundwork and makes recommendations for healthy living, particularly in the workplace.


The Importance of Health Care Promotion


Health care promotion is critical in reducing health-care-related expenses and preventing patients from developing chronic health issues. A priority that is of national magnitude to the United States government is the promotion of health by means of programs of wellness at areas and stations of work. Employers believe that for staff to be efficient and present at the workplace, they need to embrace healthy living practices.


The Rise of Obesity and Its Nutritional Causes


Due to the change in transitions in nutrition, globally, there has been an increase mineral and nutrient deficiency cases. In light of this fact, there has been a considerable increase in cases of obesity in and other infirmities related to nutrition. Recent studies in developed populations reveal a surge in the number of obesity cases reported. Obesity is defined as excess of body fat. Data from the Center for Disease Control indicates that about 33.8% of American citizens above 20 years of age are obese (CDC, 2011). This condition can result in diseases of the heart and stroke. Most studies reveal that there is a significant relationship between workplace productivity and obesity (Cheryl & Lidong, 2015). This trend can lead to the growth of a silent epidemic - considering that more than a third of the working American populations are obese.


Causes of Obesity


With the increase of individuals being employed in service corporations - a shift from the predominant agricultural work, there has been an increasing number of people joining occupations which require a lot of sedentary conduct and sitting (S. Church et al., 2011). Additionally, there has been an increase of television viewing among children and adolescents. This has led to the decrease in physical activity. With the development of video games and online interactions, most gamers do not consider physically challenging exercises as feasible for them, yet video games encourage sluggish lifestyles (K. Sahoo et al., 2015). This may serve as a chief contributor to the growing number of obesity cases in the world. There are other causes of obesity that are affiliated to diet, lifestyle and genetic characteristics of an individual (K. Sahoo et al., 2015). There are some studies which suggest that Body Mass Index is hearable at about 25-40%. Other causative agents of obesity include parents' work-related demands and their reduced attention to their children's dietary needs.


The Role of Unhealthy Foods at the Workplace


An online qualitative inquiry into obesity for the working populations carried out in Perth, in 2011, indicated that most respondents cited unhealthy foods at the office as the major contributors to their obesity (Blackford et al., 2013). Most of the respondents mentioned that there were no healthy alternatives to junk food which was readily available. Similar patterns are mentioned in a study conducted by the state of Washington in 2016. Washington rates at 37 out of 51 in obesity among other states. In comparing whites, blacks and Latinos, black Americans had the highest obesity percentages. In 2015, they recorded 35.4 percent.


The Lure of Inexpensive and Convenient Junk Food


The lure of inexpensive and convenient junk food eating is a leading contributor to obesity in most Americans. This is because the foods offered in the fast food joints often have low nutritional quality and contain a lot of calories.


Consequences of Obesity


Several studies show that obesity has a direct influence on chronic complications. Among obese patients, the leading contributors of death are stroke and heart disease. Other medical consequences of obesity include abnormalities in menstruation, asthma and other cardiovascular diseases. It is highly unlikely that there will be a shift into occupations that require significant physical activity.


Interventions for Combatting Obesity


Most employers understand the value of preserving a healthy workforce free of obesity and other related diseases. Consequently, there are organizational policies which promote the delivery of low-cost but healthy foods within the working environments and health care plans with options of wellness. Employers currently provide gym services to their staff and flexible working hours in order for the employees to have enough time to walk to joints which offer healthy meals (Jaime R. et al., 2015). Some corporations have introduced the use of treadmills in offices as a way of stimulating workers in workstations.


Recommendations for Healthy Lifestyles


While there are a myriad of tried and tested options for averting obesity for working populations, it is important to focus on patients of obesity who are in hospitals. Creating a program that reinforces healthy lifestyles and alternative diets for patients who want to embrace healthy living is important in creating a wave of change. These programs will allow nurse and physicians to educate patients and guide them into healthy lifestyles.


Additionally, it is important for organizations to employ nutritionists and cooks who are well versed with preparing healthy foods so that their staff can find it easy to buy healthy foods. While there are arguments that healthy foods are often expensive, organizations should lay subsidy on healthy foods. Additionally, organizations need to promote work recreation approaches which enable workers to embrace physical activity in order to avert obesity (Blackford et al., 2012). While these approaches may be inexpensive as compared to the cost of seeking medical attention for obesity, they should take cognizance of individual preferences of staff in order to promote participation.

References


Blackford, K., Jancey, J., Howat, P., Ledger, M., & Lee, A. H. (2013). Office-Based Physical Activity and Nutrition Intervention: Barriers, Enablers, and Preferred Strategies for Workplace Obesity Prevention, Perth, Western Australia, 2012. Preventing Chronic Disease, 10, E154. http://doi.org/10.5888/pcd10.130029


Cheryl, A. & Lidong, W. (2015). Obesity and Nutrition Epidemiology: A Study of Cause and Effect. World Journal Of Nutrition And Health, 3(1), 8-15. http://dx.doi.org/10.12691/jnh-3-1-2


Church TS, Thomas DM, Tudor-Locke C, Katzmarzyk PT, Earnest CP, Rodarte RQ, et al. (2011) Trends over 5 Decades in U.S. Occupation-Related Physical Activity and Their Associations with Obesity. PLoS ONE 6(5): e19657. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0019657


Low-Wage The state of Obesity in Washington. (n.d.). Retrieved February 11, 2017, from http://stateofobesity.org/states/wa/


Sahoo, K., Sahoo, B., Choudhury, A. K., Sofi, N. Y., Kumar, R., & Bhadoria, A. S. (2015). Childhood obesity: causes and consequences. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 4(2), 187-192. http://doi.org/10.4103/2249-4863.154628


Strickland, J. R., Eyler, A. A., Purnell, J. Q., Kinghorn, A. M., Herrick, C., & Evanoff, B. A. (2015). Enhancing Workplace Wellness Efforts to Reduce Obesity: A Qualitative Study of Workers in St Louis, Missouri, 2013-2014. Preventing Chronic Disease, 12, E67. http://doi.org/10.5888/pcd12.140405

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