One of the most significant health issues of the twenty-first century is obesity.
About 42.4% of American adults were categorized as obese in a 2020 research, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This represents a significant rise over previous studies and assessments. Obesity is associated with a number of chronic diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, and several types of cancer, and is not only a personal lifestyle choice. Increased health care expenses and financial losses as a result of decreased productivity at work are also linked to the growth in obesity. It will take more than just promoting healthy living to solve this issue. Combining community projects, educational activities, and public health campaigns would, in my opinion, be the best way to address the underlying causes of obesity and improve societal health.
Genetics is one of the other elements contributing to the obesity epidemic, but it only partially explains the sharp increase in obesity rates over the last few decades, even though it does affect certain people's propensity to gain weight. Food and lifestyle choices are significantly influenced by economic variables, including income disparity and resource accessibility. “As an illustration, residents of low-income areas could not have access to fresh fruit, forcing them to consume unhealthy fast food” (Grier and Kumanyika, 2010). Furthermore, the fast-paced modern lifestyle that has aided in the rise of unhealthy meals is another significant issue contributing to this condition. High-sugar and high-fat processed meals are heavily promoted, particularly to children, which encourages eating abuse. Many people also have limited time for sports because they work long hours. These elements work together to cause the obesity epidemic.
To combat obesity, a number of remedies have been put up. All of them, though, have their limitations.
Several tactics have been used to address this issue, the most significant of which are the promotion of healthy meals, government control, and educational programs. By suggesting taxes on sugar-filled beverages and unhealthy foods, the government can effectively regulate the obesity epidemic. “Mexico's soft drink tax, for instance, decreased consumption by 5.5% in the first year and by 9.7% in the same year” (Colchero et al.). Such policies are contentious, though, as some believe they restrict personal freedom and could harm those with low incomes who depend on inexpensive, high-calorie foods. The second long-term solution option is education, which includes instruction on physical activity, quantity, portion control, and nutrition. “Michelle Obama's "Let's Move!" campaign and other initiatives enhanced physical education and school meal programs” (Friedman, 2015). Also, a lot of workplaces have implemented wellness initiatives. However, if societal variables like the cost and accessibility of unhealthy meals are not addressed, these efforts may be restricted. To promote a better atmosphere, education should be used in conjunction with other tactics. The final strategy is a little more focused since it focuses on the issue of people's limited access to reasonably priced and healthful food in both urban and rural locations. “Because residents of these neighborhoods frequently eat fast food, studies have found a correlation between residing there and increased rates of obesity” (Walker et al.). Programs have been started by nonprofits to provide farmers markets and supermarkets to the most impoverished areas.
Given the high cost of constructing food stores in these places and the protracted nature of shifting consumer preferences, it is challenging to envision these projects working.
Given the shortcomings of each of these tactics, a strategy that integrates all of these tactics is the best course of action because it will be more successful than just one alone. A multidimensional approach acknowledges that obesity is a problem that cannot be resolved by a single solution; instead, it necessitates tackling the different environmental, social, and economic elements that lead to unhealthy behaviors.
Education efforts that raise awareness of the health hazards connected with obesity should be conducted in tandem with government initiatives, such as levies on sugary drinks. These regulations should also guarantee that everyone can afford healthy options, especially in low-income areas. “The effectiveness of these programs has been seen in nations like Japan, where obesity rates have significantly decreased as a result of the government's "Shokuiku" effort, which combines education, regulation, and community involvement” (Matsumoto et al.).
Critics of this phenomenon would contend that it overburdens the government with the obligation of regulating individual conduct and that it would be too expensive to implement on a large scale.
Nevertheless, the long-term advantages—more worker productivity, reduced health care expenses, and enhanced quality of life—outweigh the early outlays. Furthermore, public health efforts aim to establish an environment that makes it easier and more accessible for everyone to make healthy choices, not to restrict personal freedom.
The obesity epidemic is a complicated issue that needs a thorough and practical solution. We can assist in eradicating this disease and bring about a significant social transformation by combining
government legislation, educational programs, and activities to increase access to healthful foods
References
Colchero, M. A., Popkin, B. M., Rivera, J. A., & Ng, S. W. (2016). Beverage purchases from stores in Mexico under the excise tax on sugar sweetened beverages: Observational study. BMJ, 352, h6704. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.h6704
America’s move to raise a healthier generation of kids | let’s move! (n.d.). Retrieved October 15, 2024, from https://letsmove.obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/about
Grier, S. A., & Kumanyika, S. (2010). Targeted marketing and public health. Annual Review of Public Health, 31, 349–369. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.publhealth.012809.103607
Gabriel, A. S., Ninomiya, K., & Uneyama, H. (2018). The role of the Japanese traditional diet in healthy and sustainable dietary patterns around the world. Nutrients, 10(2), 173. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10020173
Walker, R. E., Keane, C. R., & Burke, J. G. (2010). Disparities and access to healthy food in the United States: A review of food deserts literature. Health & Place, 16(5), 876–884. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2010.04.013
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