Globesity
Emily Schnauder
Most view obesity as a problem that only affects the population suffering from the disease and the areas around them. However, what most people do not know is that this global threat affects much more than just one nation and its health conditions. “For the first time in human history, the number of overweight people rivals the number of underweight people” (Shah, 2007). An estimated 2.3 billion adults are borderline overweight, with 700 million expected to cross that line by 2015. Due to this rise in obesity, people are putting themselves at risk for other serious diseases, some ultimately resulting in death. This epidemic is not only putting on the pounds on citizens, but also placing many nations in a state of economic turmoil. In addition to the obvious health risks posed by the lifestyles that foster obesity, valuable resources are also being used up to fight this problem. Through these economic and social effects, obesity has become a growing concern of most authorities around the world. While every country may have different political views, economic structures, or education systems, one commonality found throughout them all is the growing health issue of obesity.
The obesity epidemic is a daunting problem for both the officials in the World Health Organization (WHO) and leaders of these individual nations wishing to combat the problem. Overweight and obese individuals are more susceptible to health ailments and certain diseases. The Body Mass Index range for a healthy adult varies from 19.1-25.6, for women, and 20.7-26.4, for men. A BMI for overweight individuals is greater than or equal to 30 (Halls, 2003). People with a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 30 are much more likely to experience cardiovascular disease, to which 1 in 3 deaths worldwide are already attributed (Yach, 2003). There are also elevated rates of Type 2 diabetes seen in the obese, as well as higher rates of hypertension. Australia is perhaps one of the most severely affected countries, with an approximate 10,000 people annually diagnosed with diabetes. Australian health expert Paul Zimmet explains how other conditions such as heart disease and kidney failure have also increased (Robotham, 2006). These rates affect not only the afflicted, but also place a significant burden on the healthcare institutions in each developed or developing country.
The widespread obesity found in many nations is seen as a pertinent social issue and has a profound influence on the global economy. Recent obesity statistics have reached shockingly high rates, proving that this imposing problem is on the rise. This problem pertains not only to countries with flourishing economies but to underdeveloped nations as well. For example, a 1989 study done in Mexico showed that obesity rates were less than 10%. In contrast, a 2006 statistic recorded the obesity rate had risen to an alarming 71% in women and 66% in men (Popkin, 2007). On the global scale, it is estimated that there are 300 million obese individuals (Yach, 2003). This trend in deteriorating health is expected to continue, and by 2015 it is proposed that there will be 2.3 billion overweight adults, 700 million of which will fall under the category of clinically obese (“Scientists,” 2008).
Due to the increase in obesity related health issues, many countries are suffering financially. “In the United States, obesity costs exceed $120 billion a year, while the latest government forecasts predict Britain is following the USA’s path towards a massive prevalence of obesity, which could affect half the adult population by 2050 and cost the UK health system almost $100 billion a year” (“Scientists,” 2008). Financial costs of obesity include medication, hospitalization, and doctor visits. The costs are funded primarily through tax payer’s money. In Great Britain these direct costs of obesity have totaled £1.6 billion, while indirect costs, such as loss of productivity are around £8.4 billion (Shah, 2007). These statistics display how obesity is diverting precious resources and preventing them from being allocated to other important programs. As these individual nations suffer, their economies become more inefficient, and consequently reduce the efficiency of the entire global economy as a whole.
The problem of obesity has evolved concurrently with historical developments in society. Industrial changes have played a role in the decline in public health. As machines gradually replaced physical tasks, manual labor continued to diminish. The industrial revolution began the shift away from physically providing the means for one’s existence, toward machines doing a greater share of the physical workload. As a rigid 9-5 work day became the standard, people sought to escape uninspiring mechanical tasks through snacking and leisure activities (“Underlying,” 2008). Experts note that cars and transportation have replaced “walkable communities” and have significantly affected schools, communities and workplaces (Wakefield, 2004). Cars and public transportation became very popular, and people no longer needed to exert themselves to reach certain destinations. Faster transportation, longer distances, and more emphasis on the working life caused stress levels to increase. Higher stress levels are an underlying cause in craving carbohydrates and high-energy foods, and support the heavily advertised fast food economy (“Underlying,” 2008). Through all of these advancements, an unhealthy fast-paced lifestyle has been gradually deemed more and more acceptable.
In addition to the historical changes that evolved this unhealthy lifestyle, an ample supply of unhealthy food became a key factor in the problem of rising obesity. Foods high in fats, sugars and salts became readily available and heavily advertised (Shah, 2007). Junk foods can be found in nearly every store, grocery or not, and throughout vending machines in schools and malls. In many supermarkets, bulk quantities of food may be good for generating revenue, but not for those seeking to improve health conditions. Health conscious food faces far more barriers in reaching consumers. Fruits and vegetables are not easily found outside of grocery stores, and can not be purchased at the same low prices at which fatty foods can be manufactured. This price differential is passed on to the consumer, and prices for such items are higher (Wakefield, 2004).
Overall, there are many factors that have led to the current state of global health. Society is responsible for changes made to foster this condition, and it will need to change again in order to rectify it. More nations should be implementing ideas to bring about these necessary changes for a healthier lifestyle. In the face of an impending health crisis, there are many policies and programs governments could set in motion. WHO, Kraft Foods, and the United Kingdom have all spearheaded the effort in increasing the overall health of consumers and citizens. WHO has provided vast amounts of research to various programs designed to fight obesity. WHO also provides literature for individuals seeking to maintain an improved lifestyle, helping them to avoid becoming overweight and stay healthy and informed. This literature is designed to inform people of how to stay healthy and avoid becoming overweight. Kraft Foods, one of the largest food producers in the United States, has proposed to “reduce the fat content in its food, phase out in-school marketing and review the type of foods they supplied in food vending machines” (Yach, 2003). Kraft has taken one of the first steps in resolving the situation, by acknowledging that the problem exists in the first place. Hopefully, following Kraft’s lead, other food manufacturers will begin to take similar steps. Food companies could, at the expense of taste, reduce the fatty content of many of their products. Furthermore, the price of healthy foods could be lowered and a ‘sin tax’ could be placed on harmful foods, in order to facilitate the use of healthier foods and prevent future medical expenses altogether (Popkin, 2007).
While changes in productivity are essential, targeting the mainstream media is another strategy that must be considered. The United Kingdom has already proposed a new advertising campaign to increase the awareness of British citizens, and hopefully drive some people to change their risky lifestyles. British television has already placed restrictions on the foods that are allowed to advertise during children’s programming, in order to prevent children from falling into the habits of accepting unhealthy foods as a part of a normal diet. They also have other ambitious proposals, such as banning unhealthy food advertisements before nine PM and using particular logos to denote some unhealthy foods and help remind people to be responsible for their well-being (“U.K anti-obesity,” 2008). With these efforts paving the way, it should become easier for individuals to find information that supports a healthy lifestyle, and also simplifies the process of keeping children health conscious and making nutritious food selections.
In addition to the previous strategies outlined by WHO and the UK, there are other ways in which authorities, individuals, and companies can contribute to the overall public health. The dependence on motor vehicles could be reduced in order to encourage alternative forms of transportation such as cycling. This is already being done around the world, although not as a global health initiative. The rising prices of gas and crude oil have already led many individuals in industrialized nations to walk and use bicycles. With the current predictions for gas prices in the future, more and more people will turn to such forms of transportation in order to conserve money. This, however, does absolutely nothing for the developing nations with high obesity rates and rather low average incomes. Even if such programs were successfully implemented, the overall success of reducing obesity would then rely solely on the individuals in each nation. People must possess the will to either become or remain healthy, and no amount of government regulation can force that upon them. If people refuse to exercise now, with the available resources they have, they will make little incentive to do so in the future. Ultimately, the governments in the nations of the world could all make it easier for citizens to become healthier, although they cannot force people to become healthy and single-handedly reverse the observed trends of obesity.
While obesity appears to be a relatively simple problem, it is the root of overwhelming economic and social mayhem. Obesity is a concern of both prosperous and under-developed nations, and is clearly on the rise. Many additional health problems stem from being overweight and present a long term concern. Deteriorating health conditions are a fiscal dilemma for countries everywhere. Economies suffer from trying to finance appropriate health measures, while coping with a loss of productivity among the work force. To reverse this epidemic, initiatives have been aimed at the underlying causes such as over-modernization, availability of nutrition, and the role of the mainstream media. Through these attempts and other informative measures, the health of individuals everywhere may see a change for the better. It is without question that obesity and its effects are a threat, but this threat could easily be defeated by a united global attempt to prevent the issue.
References
Halls, Steven, B. (2003, November 10). Formula for Body Mass Index. Retrieved April 8, 2008, Web site: http://halls.md/body-mass-index/bmirefs.htm
Popkin, B.M. The World is Fat: More people in the developing world are now Overweight than hungry. Future Survey, 29. Retrieved February 2, 2008, from Academic Search Complete.
Robotham, Julie (2006, May 15). Australia’s obesity time bomb. Retrieved April 7, 2008, Web site: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2006/05/14/1147545209329.html
Scientists urge world leaders to tackle devastating obesity pandemic. (2008, February 7). [Weblog]. Biopact. Retrieved March 3, 2008 , from http://biopact.com/2008/02/scientists-urge-world-leaders-to-tackle.html
Shah, Anup ( 2007, December 25). Behind Consumption and Consumerism. Retrieved April 3, 2008, from Obesity Web site: file://C:DOCUME~1RockyLOCALS~1TEMPVMKV76FU.htm
The Underlying Historic Causes. (2008, April 5). Retrieved April 7, 2008, from AFA Web site: http://americansfeedingamerica.org/the-underlying-historic-causes.htm
U.K anti-obesity campaign goes big. (2008, February
10), International Herald Tribune.
Wakefield, Julie. (2004) Fighting Obesity through the built environment. Environmental Health perspectives, 112. Retrieved February 4, 2008, from JSTOR Archive.
Yach, Derek (2003,August 26). Coping With the Newest Threat to Global Health- Fat. Retrieved April 3, 2008, from Yale Global Online Web site: http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/article.print?id=2318
