I come from a neighborhood where obesity is common. Obesity has become a significant health issue in our society, as I have learned over time.
Consequences of Obesity
After spending some time learning about obesity and its consequences, I discovered that my findings match what I read in the literature. Obese individuals, for example, have a higher risk of a variety of health problems and diseases, according to the CDC (2015). Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, poor quality of life, body pain, mental illness, and other diseases and health problems are among them. I have personally seen obese people being treated for type 2 diabetes in my neighborhood. In some cases, I have heard some of them complain of body pain while some have succumbed to coronary heart diseases.
Impact on Quality of Life
During my childhood years, I observed that my friends who were obese lived a low quality of life because they could not participate in some of the activities that involved physical exercises. I observed they used to get breathless after a short time, developed increased sweating, and often felt tired within a short time.
Psychological Effects
As reported by Braet, Mervielde, and Vandereycken (1997), I can recall that during our childhood years, my obese friends had less positive perceptions about their physical competence. Some of them felt isolated, developed low confidence, and even displayed negative feelings in their expressions.
Social and Economic Impacts
Occasionally, I participate in raising funds to help people with obesity-related diseases. When I visit the health centers, I always encounter many people seeking healthcare services. All these imply that obesity has an overall social, economic, and health impacts in our community. My observations are consistent with the findings of an investigation carried out by Wellman and Friedberg (2002) who concluded that obesity is a national epidemic which has become an economic, social, and health burden to the country.
Causes of Obesity
According to the National Health Service (NHS), there are many causes of obesity which include the excess amount of calories, poor diet, lack of physical activity, genetics, and medical reasons (NHS, 2016). NHS reported that a combination of lifestyle choices and poor diet is one of the contributing factors of an adult as well as childhood obesity.
Poor Diet and Excess Calorie Consumption
For example, eating large quantities of fast food or processed food that is either high in fat or sugar contributes a lot to obesity. People who drink a large quantity of alcohol that contains a lot of calories are more likely to become obese. It has also been found out that eating a lot of food that is high in sugar and fat is more likely to contribute to obesity. NHS also recommends taking drinks with fewer sugars because taking a lot of sugary drinks leads to obesity.
Emotional Eating
Further, NHS suggested that one of the likely habits that contribute to obesity is comfort eating, which implies eating to make oneself better, especially when one is either feeling depressed or having low self-esteem.
Social Learning Theory and Obesity
Schuller (2011) argued that one of the social theories that contribute to obesity is social learning theory. Schuler argued that in a world where food is used in social gatherings, food plays an important role in life. She argued that children learn food habits as they grow. For example, children who grow up observing their parents or other family members with bad eating habits are likely also to develop bad eating habits. Consequently, the children are also likely to become engaged in reckless eating and eventually become obese.
Influence of Advertising and Peer Influence
Additionally, children also get exposed to bad eating habits through commercial advertisements. If children observe advertisements for sugary drinks or fast food, they grow up thinking that is the best food. Once they start taking sugary drinks or fast food, they might end up making it a habit which will eventually cause them to be obese. Children also learn from other children who socialize with a lot such as in schools. For example, if a child sees a friend eating fast food or taking sugary drinks, they might also insist on taking. If such a friend is obese, the other child may eventually become obese if he/she follows similar eating patterns as an obese child.
References
Braet, C., Mervielde, I., & Vandereycken, W. (1997). Psychological aspects of childhood obesity: a controlled study in a clinical and nonclinical sample. Journal of pediatric psychology, 22(1), 59-71.
CDC. (2015). The Health Effects of Overweight and Obesity. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/effects/
National Health Service (NHS). (2016). Causes of obesity. Retrieved from: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Obesity/Pages/Causes.aspx
Schuller, M.J. (2011). Childhood Obesity. Retrieved from: http://www.personal.psu.edu/bfr3/blogs/applied_social_psychology/2011/11/childhood-obesity.html
Wellman, N. S., & Friedberg, B. (2002). Causes and consequences of adult obesity: health, social and economic impacts in the United States. Asia Pacific journal of clinical nutrition, 11(s8), S705-S709.
