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Obesity
UF 300-1790 Global Issues Boise State University December 10, 2013 Tarah Martin, Shawna Mateer, Kayla Means, Hayden Richards, and Amelia Towne

Thesis

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Obesity affects over 1 billion people worldwide, of those 92,000,000 are Americans (Obesity, 2013). By implementing behavior modification tools as well as tips to control eating habits, we can hope to not only reduce obesity but reverse these statistics on a global scale.

Defining Overweight & Obesity

Overweight and obesity are both labels for ranges of weight that are greater than what is generally considered healthy for a given height. The terms also identify ranges of weight that have been shown to increase the likelihood of certain diseases and other health problems.

Body Mass Index

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated from a person's weight and height. BMI provides a reliable indicator of body fatness for most people and is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems (Body, 2011). For adults, overweight and obesity ranges are determined by using weight and height to calculate a number called the "body mass index" (BMI). BMI is used because, for most people, it correlates with their amount of body fat. An adult who has a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight. An adult who has a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese. Other methods of estimating body fat and body fat distribution include measurements of skinfold thickness and waist circumference, calculation of waist-to-hip circumference ratios, and techniques such as ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Global Statistics

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Globally, there are more than 1 billion overweight adults, at least 300 million of them clinically obese. Obesity rates that have risen three-fold or more since 1980 in some areas of North America, the United Kingdom, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, the Pacific Islands, Australasia and China. Economic growth, modernization, urbanization and globalization of food markets are just some of the forces thought to underlie the epidemic. The United States is leading the way in obesity rates, in both absolute and relative terms. Of the leading 22 industrialized countries, the U.S. has the highest obesity statistics (Obesity, 2013). 520,000,000 Obese Worldwide (2012) 92,000,000 Americans (2013) 84,388,000 India (2012) 67,200,000 China (2011)

Causes of Unhealthy Eating

Unhealthy eating habits develop over time. Generally, if a child does not have a healthy example to model themselves after, poor habits develop. There are many causes of unhealthy eating. Some examples of circumstances that may lead to unhealthy habits include: a dysfunctional family situation, such as divorce, single parent, or foster care; families not eating meals together, poor eating habits modeled by parents/caretakers, lack of knowledge about what is healthy to eat, busy schedules, and finally extreme amounts of traveling (Common, n.d.). Food Systems The causes of obesity go beyond the poor food choices of individuals. Obesity is one result of an industrialized and unsustainable food system that treats agricultural products as commodities and provides endless incentives for overproduction. The result is an overabundant food system dependent on the sales of meat and obesity-promoting snack and beverage products,

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and on marketing such products to populations in low-income countries. Whether the world can continue to produce enough food to meet growing population needs is questionable, but the need for sustainable food systems is not (Nestle, 2013).

The Causes of Obesity

Simply put, obesity is the result of taking in more calories through your diet than you are burning through physical activity.The reasons for this calorie imbalance vary from person to person. It can be caused by a combination of genes, environment and behaviour. And some drugs and diseases can also contribute to weight gain (Causes, 2009). How Calorie Balance is Controlled In ten years, an average person eats about 10 million calories but their weight typically only changes by about 10 pounds either way. So in most cases, our weight remains stable over time. This is because our bodies control our calorie balance very precisely; much like a thermostat keeps the temperature of a room steady. Our genes and our environment both affect the setting of this weight thermostat and can cause a calorie imbalance. For example, our genes can affect the amounts and types of food that we prefer to eat. And our environment affects the amounts and types of food that are available to eat. So most of the time, our body weight is controlled by instinctive drives. This is why it is incorrect to say that obesity is simply due to a lack of willpower. This is an overly simple way of looking at a very complex condition. And it can make obese people feel guilty or stigmatised (Causes, 2009). The Environment Obesity is becoming more and more common. Food tastes better, is available in more varieties, and is cheaper, especially processed foods. Portion sizes are getting bigger, usually at

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very little extra cost. For convenience, more people are eating pre-packaged food, fast food and soft drinks, which are often high in calories, fat, salt and sugar. And these types of food are heavily advertised, especially to children. We are also living more inactive lifestyles. The use of cars and public transport over walking and cycling is increasing. Many jobs now involve sitting at a desk for several hours. And inactive pastimes, such as watching television and surfing the internet, are becoming more popular (Causes, 2009). Genes Whatever the environment, some people stay thin and some become obese. Research shows that obesity tends to run in families. Obesity-related genes could affect how we metabolise food or store fat. They could also affect our behaviour, making us inclined towards lifestyle choices that increase our risk of being obese. Some genes may control appetite, making us less able to sense when we are full. Make us more responsive to the taste, smell or sight of food, affect our sense of taste, giving us preferences for high fat foods, or putting us off healthy foods.And then some genes may make us less likely to engage in physical activity. People with obesity-related genes are not destined to be obese. But they will have a higher risk of obesity. In the modern environment, they may need to work harder than others to maintain a healthy body weight by making long-term, sustained lifestyle changes (Causes, 2009). Behaviour We cannot alter our genetic make-up and it is very difficult to control our environment. But we can learn how to control the lifestyle choices we make. Because our calorie balance is controlled by instinctive drives, short-term quick fix solutions (including most diet programs) eventually fail. Instead, we must make long-term lifestyle decisions including healthy eating and

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regular physical activity to reduce our risk of being obese. Even relatively small losses, such as 10% of our total weight, can have positive effects on our health (Causes, 2009).

Physical Problems
Obesity and overweight pose a major risk for serious diet-related chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and stroke, and certain forms of cancer. The health consequences range from increased risk of premature death, to serious chronic conditions that reduce the overall quality of life. Overweight and obesity lead to adverse metabolic effects on blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides and insulin resistance. The likelihood of developing Type 2 diabetes and hypertension rises steeply with increasing body fatness. Approximately 85% of people with diabetes are type 2, and of these, 90% are obese or overweight. Raised BMI also increases the risks of cancer of the breast, colon, prostate, endometrium, kidney and gallbladder. Chronic overweight and obesity contribute significantly to osteoarthritis, a major cause of disability in adults. Although obesity should be considered a disease in its own right, it is also one of the key risk factors for other chronic diseases together with smoking, high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol (Obesity, 2013).

Solution
Calorie Control Energy intakes should not exceed energy needs (Webb, Sizer, & Whitney, 2008). What a simple statement, yet it is probably the most difficult characteristic for people to incorporate into their daily lives. A good rule of thumb is to eat no less than 10 times your

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body weight in calories (Blumenthal, 2002). This is a pretty safe rule if your goal is to maintain your current weight. Moderation Moderation is not total abstinence from something; it is just putting a limit on certain food constituents. Moderation also means that limits are there for a reason, even on foods that are healthy. For example, a certain amount of fiber is healthy and promotes a good digestive system, however, too much fiber can lead to nutrient losses (Webb, et al, 2008). Variety & Substitutions You should not eat the exact same foods every single day of your life. Variety ensures you are providing your body with all of the adequate nutrients it needs (Webb, et al, 2008). There are a lot of little trades or substitutions you can make every day and still enjoy your favorite foods. Take plain old Kraft mayonnaise for example, swap that mayonnaise for something like hummus, and save yourself 83 calories and 10 grams of fat per tablespoon (Netzer, 2000). You will also reap the nutrient benefits from hummus, such as protein and carbohydrates. Exercise Exercise is important to maintain a long and healthy life. The most important thing to remember about exercise is that it is not about changing your body, it is about changing your behavior. It is definitely a challenge to change our lives and our daily routines, however, the benefit of doing so may just be life itself. Do this by setting attainable goals, one at time. The American College of Sports Medicine suggests that for weight loss, you do 60 minutes of moderate aerobic physical activity every day. They also recommend that you perform resistance activity, such as weight lifting, on two non-consecutive days per week (Physical, 2008).

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Stress Management College students have a tendency to turn to food when life gets chaotic or overwhelming. Food is energy, not therapy. By maintaining a healthy stress level and finding other activities to help manage your stress, you are less likely to turn to comfort foods when you are in a stressful situation. There are several ways to manage your stress. Choose an activity you can do daily and make sure you do it. Think of your activity as a preventative maintenance.

Conclusion
Obesity continues to be a worldwide epidemic with ever growing proportions. As a group we have determined that the only way to help the overweight and obese is to provide education on nutrition and increase knowledge about current food systems. By offering physical education classes and counseling at an early age with an emphasis on nutrition and healthy eating habits we can hope to teach our future generations the benefits of healthy eating as well as stop the spread of obesity.

Resources Blumenthal, S.J. (2002) Preventions Ultimate Guide to Womens Health and Wellness. Emmaus: Rodale Inc. Body mass index. (2011, September 13). In www.cdc.gov. Retrieved November 2, 2013, from http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/index.html

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Crossman, A., Sullivan, D. A., & Benin, M. (2006, November). The family environment and American adolescents risk of obesity as young adults. Social Science & Medicine, 63(9), 2255-2267. Causes of obesity - genes, behaviour and the environment. (2009, September 29). In www.cancerresearchuk.org. Retrieved November 2, 2013, from http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancerinfo/healthyliving/obesityandweight/whatcausesobesity/ Common causes of unhealthy eating habits. (n.d.). Retrieved November 4, 2013, from http://vista.engines4ed.org/nutrition/docs/na_unhealthyeatinghabitsfaq.htm Nestle, M. (2013, October 16). Today is world food day: Perspectives. In www.foodpolitics.com. Retrieved November 19, 2013, from http://www.foodpolitics.com/2013/10/today-is-world-food-day-perspectives/ Grenner, J., Douglas, F., & van Teijlingen, E. (2010, April). More of the same? Conflicting perspectives of obesity causation and intervention amongst overweight people, health professionals and policy makers. Social Science & Medicine, 70(7), 1042-1049. Retrieved November 5, 2013, from CINAHL. Netzer, C. T. (2000). The Complete Book of Food Counts (5th ed.). New York, NY: Dell Publishing. Obesity in the world. (2013). In www.worldometers.info. Retrieved November 2, 2013, from http://www.worldometers.info/obesity/ Obesity statistics 2013. (2013, May 7). In www.mexicobariatriccenter.com. Retrieved November 4, 2013, from http://www.mexicobariatriccenter.com/obesity-statistics-2013usa-world/

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Physical activity guidelines. (2008, July 15). In www.cdc.gov. Retrieved November 5, 2013, from http://www.cdc.gov/partners/Archive/SportsMedicine/index.html Webb, F. S., Sizer, F. S., Whitney, E., & Whitney, E. N. (2008). Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies. Cengage Learning.

Peer Reviewed Resources Tarah Martin Provided: Hollander, P. (2007). Anti-diabetes and anti-obesity medications: Effects on weight in people with diabetes. Diabetes Spectrum, 20(3), 159-165. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/228577995?accountid=9649

Pett, M., Clark, L., Eldredge, A., Cardell, B., Jordan, K., Chambless, C., & Burley, J. (2013). Effecting healthy lifestyle changes in overweight and obese young adults with intellectual disability. American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 118(3), 224-43. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1431279114?accountid=9649 Tsan- on iou, i-Sunyer, ., & aferr re, B. (200 ). hysical disability and obesity. Nutrition Reviews, 63(10), 321-31. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/212333025?accountid=9649

Shawna Mateer Provided: Blumenthal, S.J. (2002) Preventions Ultimate Guide to Womens Health and Wellness. Emmaus: Rodale Inc.

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Netzer, C. T. (2000). The Complete Book of Food Counts (5th ed.). New York, NY: Dell Publishing. Webb, F. S., Sizer, F. S., Whitney, E., & Whitney, E. N. (2008). Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies. Cengage Learning. Kayla Means Provided: Crossman, A., Sullivan, D. A., & Benin, M. (2006, November). The family environment and American adolescents risk of obesity as young adults. Social Science & Medicine, 63(9), 2255-2267. Eveline J. M. Wouters, Annemieke M. A. Van Nunen, Rinie Geenen, Ronette L. Kolotkin, Ad J. J. M. Vingerhoets, Effects of Aquajogging in Obese Adults: A Pilot Study, Journal of Obesity, 2010, 2010. Wieland LS, Falzon L, Sciamanna CN, Trudeau KJ, Brodney Folse S, Schwartz JE, Davidson KW. Interactive computer-based interventions for weight loss or weight maintenance in overweight or obese people. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2012, Issue 8. Art. No.: CD007675. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007675.pub2. Amelia Towne Provided: Alpert, P. (January 01, 2009). Obesity. Home Health Care Management and Practice, 21, 6, 442-444.

Stevens, G. A., Singh, G. M., Lu, Y., Danaei, G., Lin, J. K., Finucane, M. M., Bahalim, A. N., ... Global Burden of Metabolic Risk Factors of Chronic Diseases Collaborating Group (Body Mass Index). (January 01, 2012). National, regional, and global trends in adult overweight and obesity prevalences. Population Health Metrics, 10, 1.)

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Wadden, T. A., Brownell, K. D., & Foster, G. D. (2002). Obesity: Responding to the global epidemic. Journal Of Consulting And Clinical Psychology, 70(3), 510-525. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.70.3.510