Obesity
Health Matters
on the Rise
A hard look at obesity in America
and around the World
By: Linda Hepler, BSN, RN
Breaking news – it’s a scary Complex Roots of Obesity
world out there. And, it seems that every What is happening here? Are we simply
day there’s more to worry about, too, becoming a society of lazy gluttons? Or is
What is
whether it’s the economy, threats of there a virus that causes obesity? And,
terrorism, or the war in the Middle East. where do fast-food restaurants fit into the
But, former Surgeon General Richard picture? While there are a few scientists
happening
Carmona believes that there’s one thing who suggest certain adenoviruses may
we don’t worry enough about – an issue contribute to overweight in some
here? Are
of such magnitude, that unless we do persons, experts generally believe that
something to curb it, has the potential to the global rise in obesity is a multifaceted
dwarf any terrorist event we can think of, issue, with roots more complex than an
we simply
even 9/11. ... That issue is obesity. obesity bug, gluttony and laziness, or
even simply too many fast food
restaurants. Marlene Schwartz, Ph.D.,
becoming
Pandemic Proportions
Deputy Director of the Rudd Center for
Appearing in the recently released
Food Policy and Obesity, believes that
documentary film “Killer at Large,”
there are three major causes for the
a society
produced by Shawn Talbott, Ph.D.,
obesity trend. “In my opinion,” says
Carmona calls the rising rate of obesity
Schwartz, “the main causes of the
“the terror within.” The grim facts: A full
of lazy
obesity pandemic are aspects of the
two thirds of our nation’s population today
dramatic changes in our environment.
is overweight or obese – some 60 million
Specifically, the increased availability of
people. And, obesity, defined by most
gluttons?
inexpensive, highly processed foods that
experts as having a body mass index
are high in fat, sugar and salt; the
(BMI) above 30, is a major contributor to
decrease in eating meals prepared at
Or is there
the national burden of chronic disease
home; and the decrease in naturally
and disability – not to mention untimely
occurring physical activity due to
death. The Centers for Disease Control
sedentary jobs, sedentary leisurely
a virus that
estimates that at least 110,000 people in
activities and an over-reliance on cars.”
the United States die each year of
obesity related disease, a number
causes
expected to rise dramatically over the The Toxic Food Environment
next decade. And, for the first time in While fast foods play a part in the
history, life expectancy for an American dilemma because they’re typically energy
obesity?
child born today is not as long as our dense and nutritionally deplete, says
own. Schwartz, it’s the modern food
And, where
environment itself – both here and in
But, that’s not all, folks. Obesity has other countries – that is key. In other
reached epidemic proportions globally. words, fast food, whether the burger and
do fast-food
According to the World Health fries at the restaurant, the pizza by the
Organization (WHO), there are more than slice at the gas station, or the hot dog
one billion adults in the world who are and chips outside of the home building
restaurants
overweight, at least 300 million of them supply store – are more available and
clinically obese. Obesity rates have risen more convenient than food prepared at
threefold since 1980 in parts of North home.
fit into the
America, the United Kingdom, Eastern
Europe, the Middle East, the Pacific The trade-off for this convenience,
Islands, Australia and China. In fact, according to William Dunn, MD, radiation
picture?
there are more obese people in oncologist and author of “Aquavore Diet,”
developing countries today than there are is our health. “Home-cooked meals,
hungry people. which are typically less fattening and
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