Obesity

TABLES OF CONTENTS

Table of contents……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….1

Abstract……………………………………………………………………………………………………2

Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………3

Trends ………………………………………………………………………………………………………3

Prevalence in children and Teenagers…………………………………………………………………….3

Prevalence in Adults……………………………………………………………………………………..4

Causative factors…………………………………………………………………………………………5

Efforts to Reduce and Control Obesity…………………………………………………………………….5

Summary and Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………….5

References ……………………………………………………………………………………………….6

Abstract

Obesity is a condition that results from excessive energy food intake, lack of body exercises or even genetic susceptibility. The basic ways of preventing obesity is aimed at a balance caloric intake and increase in physical activity. There are also other interventions for control and prevention like surgical reduction absorption stream and even medicine administration. Research shows that obesity is on the rise both in the United States and Singapore. Both governments of U.S and Singapore have enacted policies that are aimed at reducing and controlling obesity.

Introduction

Obesity can be defined as a medical condition where the victim has excess body fat accumulated with negative impacts on their health. Obesity may result in various health problems and reduced life expectancy. Obesity is measured using Body Mass Index (BMI), a parameter that uses the comparison of weight and height. An obese person has a body mass index (BMI) of above 30kg/m² whereas a person is regarded as pre-obese or overweight if they have a BMI of 25 to 30kg/m^2.Obesity has increasingly been linked with heart diseases, diabetes, apnea, cancer and even arthritis. Scientists have associated obesity with excessive energy food consumption, absence of physical exercises, and genetic predisposition. Offspring of obese mother are likely to also be obese (Mamum et al., 2009). Minor incidences of obesity resulting from medication, endocrine system disorders and mental illnesses have been reported. The major remedies for obesity are physical exercises and dieting. The victim is advised to reduce intake of food rich in energy and increase intake of fiber rich foods. Medical professionals also administer anti-obesity medication that reduce appetite and reduce fat absorption. In advance cases, doctors perform open surgery to reduce the volume of the stomach and the length of bowels. This paper will compare obesity in America and Singapore.

Trends

The United States has the highest rates of obesity in the world. For example, according to report by Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in 2008 there were 35.7% adults and 17% children who were obese in America. In 2011 a survey conducted by Gallup survey showed that the rate had increased to 26.6% in adults. The rates of obesity have continually increased over the years. For instance, according to study by American Medical Association (JAMA) between 1976 and 1980, and also between 1988 and 1994, obesity rate for 20 to 74 years adults increased by 7.9% in men and 8.9% in women. In Singapore, the trend is also increasing.

Prevalence in Children and Teenagers

In the United States the number of obese children increases thrice between 1980 and 2008 ranging from 6.5% to 19.6%. While in teenagers it increased from 5% to 18.1%. This has also continually increased. For example, 19% of children between the age of six and 11 and 17% of adolescents between the age of 12 and 19 were obese. A survey of 8,165 children indicated that 11.3% of children were obese and 16.3% were overweight between 2003 and 2006. Another survey of 3,281 children between 2007 and 2008 indicated that 11.9% of children were obese aged between 6 and 19 years while 16.9% were overweight.

However, in Singapore control of obesity in children starts early where overweight children are separated from healthy children and are subjected to more physical exercises and better diet. Schools also compete for awards of the healthiest school. For example, according to the National Health Survey (2010), the trends dropped from 14.0% to 9.9% between 1992 and 1999.

Prevalence in Adults

One third of adults in United States are estimated to be obese (Grundy, 1999). In America the prevalence of obesity decreases with age. This has been associated with social and economic factors. The social life of adult is more involving than that of the children. This reduces the prevalence of obesity in adults. The economic factor also plays a big role in reducing prevalence of obesity in adults. Parents are more involved in working to improve their economic status. This state of being active may also reduce the chances of being obese. On the other hand, Singapore also experience decreasing obesity trends in adults. National Health Survey (2010), 12.1% males and 9.5% females were obese.

Causative factors

In America, cultural factors are the leading causes of obesity. The Americans favor foods like French fries, hamburgers and even doughnuts. These foods have high fat contents since they are deep fried. These foods are also easily made, packaged and sold. Due to their working habits, the Americans have no formal meal time but depend on snacks. Their children have also been absorbed into this feeding habit. Singapore also experiences the same problems. Eating of junk food is the leading cause of obesity in Singapore.

American social life involves a lot of eating. For example when people transact business there is food, during burials people feed and even when people meet for social activities. In Singapore wealthy people are more predisposed to obesity than poor people because of increased machine and electronics dependency by the rich. This forms the basis of the inequality of wealthier people being more prone to obesity (Davaux & Sassi, 2011). The eating of ready-made foods at many occasions has increased the rates of obesity. Technology is also to blame for obesity in America. People depend on machines and are rarely exercising. Availability of energy saving technologies is the indicator of a developing economy while they constitute the ingredients of expanding the waist lines and chronic diseases (Egger, 2009). For instance, they use electronic technology to clean cars, clean dishes, and drive cars. This has replaced manual work that involved physical exercises that in turn burn excess calories.

Efforts to reduce obesity

In America, many schools have banned the sale of sodas, snacks and even chocolates. For example in 2003, Californian legislators passed laws against the sale of snacks and even drinks that were dispensed by machines in state elementary schools. In 2009 the same State enacted legislation to prohibit sale of sodas in high schools. In addition, in 2006 the American Beverage Association banned sale of beverages with high calories in elementary, middle and high schools. There are also non-profit making organizations like HealthCorps that educate people on Healthy eating hobbits in order to fight obesity. There is also a campaign labeled ‘let’s move’ championed by the current first lady Michelle Obama that is aimed at eradicating obesity in childhood. New York City passed a bill that required restaurants to indicate the calories content in every meal in the same formats and fonts as the price. This enables people to buy food with lower calories. There was also 50% recorded drop in incidences of obesity in Pennsylvania after enactment of school nutrition policy that removed sodas, unhealthy snacks and sweet drinks from elementary schools.

In Singapore, obesity is also increasing. In 1992, Singapore started the National Health Lifestyle Program. This program endeavors to educate publics on obesity through public education focused on physical activity and health eating habits. According to (Soon et al, 2009) the program promotes enabling environments, prohibits energy-dense foods and increase availability of fitness facilities hence offering healthier choices for people of Singapore. The government has also come up with dietary and physical activity guidelines for adults and children. This guides the population in dieting, physical activity and general health. There is also the Champion Efforts Resulting in Improved School Health (CHERISH) awards. These are awarded to primary, secondary, junior colleges and centralized schools. It is awarded to schools with the best health programs for both students and teachers. In 2003 the government also introduced Healthier dinning program that promote healthier dishes in restaurants. The government also empowers partners and individuals and raise awareness via health education communication.

In conclusion, obesity is a health condition that is characterized by a BMI of above 30kg/m². It is mainly caused by uncontrolled intake of energy foods, lack of exercises and genetic predisposition. In both America and Singapore, prevalence reduces with age. Major prevention and control measures of obesity includes physical exercises and dieting The government of America has put measures like banning as sodas and junk food in schools, mandatory labeling of amount of Calories in hotel meals and health communication. In Singapore, more result oriented measures have been put in place to control obesity. For example, use of school health competitions, health education communication, empowerment of health partners, health dinning programs and promotion of physical exercises.

References

Devaux, M & Sassi, F. (2011). Social inequities in obesity and overweight in 11 OECD countries. Eur J Public Health 2011

Eggar G. (2009). Health,“Illth” and economic growth. Medicine, Environment, and Economics at the Crossroadss. Am J PrevMed 2009; 37(1) 78

Grundy, S.M., Benjamin, I.J, Burer, G.L, et al. (1999). Diabetes and cardiovascular disease. A statement for health care professionals from the American Heart Association. Circulation 100:1134.

Mamun, A.A., O’Callaghan, M., Callaway, L. (2009). Associations of gestational weight gain with offspring body mass index and blood pressure at 21 years of age: evidence from a birth cohort study. Circulation

Soon G, Koh YH, Wong ML, Lam PW (2008). Obesity Prevention and Control Efforts in Singapore. The National Bureau of Asian Research