Measures that Prevents Obesity and overweight

The rate of obesity and overweight among the US population has been increasing over the years. This increase is attributed to many reasons including the changing lifestyles among the population. People have changed their lifestyle because of the growing and advancing technology among many other reasons. Obesity and overweight is a health concern, which has seen many organizations such as World Health Organization raise an alarm on the need to prevent its increase. The consequences of overweight are rife and include death and high costs in terms of seeking for treatment. However, despite the fact that obesity and overweight is increasing, preventive measures can be instituted to contain the problem. The main preventive measures that should be taken to contain obesity and overweight include adjustment of food environment, controlling of our dietary behaviors and engaging in physical exercises.

Adjusting the foods that one takes is one of the best strategies to fight obesity and overweight. Most victims of obesity and overweight tend to depend on fast foods. Most of these foods are processed through various stages and additives are added to them. These make such food to be accessed by many people who may not be aware of their health implications. The supply and production of such foods should be regulated to ensure that recommended food is distributed and supplied to the consumers. People in US should also change their food choice by substituting processed food with nutritious fresh local foods. This will help alleviate cases of obesity. Foods that are not healthy should not be allowed into the markets. Furthermore, advertisement of beverages and foods to children should be regulated to avoid buying of foods that are not healthy to their health such as snacks. This laws and restriction will assist in reducing obesity and overweight among children and even adults.

Control of dietary behavior is yet another preventive measure that can assist in fighting overweight and obesity among US citizens. The choice of an appropriate eating plan is one way of preventing overweight. Fast foods available over the counter have high levels of calories and cholesterol that lead to overweight and obesity. Therefore, foods that are nutritious and healthful should be provided. The foods should contain correct levels of calories that are able to maintain correct weight. Consumption of sugar sweetened beverages such as sports drinks, carbonated soft drinks, flavored sweetened milk, fruit drinks etc among adolescents and children should be checked. This intake often occurs at home, schools and childcare centers and has contributed to the increasing rates of obesity cases. Children buy these sweets from vending machines without considering the risk they are exposed to. Therefore, policies aimed at restricting availability of these beverages and fruit juices in child centers and schools should be implemented to discourage their consumption since they have high calories that cause obesity and overweight. Consumption of fruits and vegetables should also be increased and encouraged. These fruits and vegetables have low levels of calories and therefore are appropriate for providing appropriate nutrients that our body requires.

The last measure of preventing obesity and overweight is through encouraging physical activity. Physical exercise is healthy for children. It breaks the monotony of learning. Schools should engage their children in moderate to vigorous exercise, daily PE classes and provide opportunities for extracurricular physical activity. The aim of the exercise is to ensure that the health of the child is maintained. Exercise also helps in burning of extra calories hence helping the body weight to be maintained at the required levels

Obesity and overweight is a problem that many people, especially children and adolescents continue to grapple with. The problem is man-made and can be managed through change in eating behaviours and general lifestyles. Some of the proved preventive measures include adjusting our food environment, controlling of our dietary and engaging in physical activities. Therefore, obesity and overweight can be managed if these measures are put into practice. However, it is also important to note that obesity has social, psychological and health implications if appropriate steps to curb it are not put into practices.