1. Explain the ethical dilemma and explain why it is a dilemma. Our government needs to do something to turn the growing wave of obesity in our country but is taxing unhealthy foods the answer? Despite no clear evidence of a link between obesity and eating unhealthy food there is a movement to tax what we put in our mouths. However, does eating unhealthy food cause obesity or does obesity cause one to eat unhealthy food (Marlow, 2013)?
Childhood has both long and short term effect on one’s body and mental wellbeing. Immediate effects are not as: risk factors for cardio vascular disease, more likely to have predibetes and children that are obese are far more likely for joint and bone problems and sleep apnea. The child may also suffer from psychological and social issues. There also can be long term effects on childhood obesity such as: being an obese adult, heart disease,, type two diabetes, stroke and several types of cancer. It’s amazing how many health conditions and disease can be linked to childhood obesity.
Does eating a lot of junk food make you fat or is it genetics? Is it our metabolic rate that causes us to be obese or slim as some people do not gain weight even if they eat a lot of junk food? Timothy Frayling ,Professor of Human Genetics at the University Of Exeter thinks that “genetics factors are the main driver for obesity in today’s environment. Twin and adoption studies show that consistently that variation in body mass index has a strong genetic component with estimated effects of up to 70%.” Studies also show that people carrying 2 copies of a gene associated with obesity (the FTO gene) are, on average, heavier than those carrying 2copies of the protective version. A recent study of over 200,000 people showed that the FT0 variant had a stronger effect in sedentary people than in those who are physically active, while studies of physical activity in schoolchildren show that
Households are “forced” to purchase inferior processed food, as nutritional food has become unaffordable (Hill 2012). Consequently the increasing consumption of highly processed food results to an obesity epidemic (Neel 2011). To overcome this prevalent issue would require health-awareness education, encouraging society to alter habits, whilst also through government
Not only does it put them at risk when they are younger, obese children also tend to become obese when they are adults, causing them to have the same, if not more serious health problems. I think that eating healthy and a lot of physical activity is important for children to help them stay healthy. But one large factor that I feel gets over looked when it comes to childhood obesity is how unhealthy food is advertised, and how big of an effect what everyday children watch on the television really does have in the rising of obesity rates. I think that the fast food and advertising are at huge fault for childhood obesity. The fast food industry knows that putting a toy in their kids meals will make young children want to go to their restaurants, rather than restaurants where they go in and sit down and get no toys.
If we consider the definition of obesity, it means that an individual has excess body fat, as a result of taking in more calories than what is expended (Centers, 2012). It is believed that genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors could also be considered related causes of childhood obesity (Center, 2012). The purpose of this section is to explore various definitions of obesity and consider the prevalence of childhood obesity and its far-reaching associated health concerns with the goal of providing a literary work that will be both informative and educational to the reader and increase their knowledge on the subject. As a nurse, childhood obesity has both personal and professional interest for me. From a personal standpoint I began gaining weight in my late teens which continued into adulthood with subsequent health problems following related to obesity including hypertension, high cholesterol, joint problems, obstructive sleep apnea, dysphagia, asthma, and chronic headaches.
Genes and behavior may both be needed for a person to be overweight. In some cases multiple genes may increase one’s susceptibility for obesity and require outside factors; such as abundant food supply or little physical activity. It is now well established that overweight and the different forms of obesity are conditions tending to concentrate within a family. Obesity risk is two to eight times higher for a person with a family history as opposed to a person with no family history of obesity, and an even higher risk is observed in cases of severe obesity. Beside these rare cases, many individuals have a genetic predisposition that may lead to obesity.
How Poverty Affects Obesity English 135 How Poverty Affects Obesity How fast would you die if you didn’t have food? A better question might be how fast could you die if you did have food? Americans are slowly eating themselves to death; getting larger and larger and the more financially disadvantaged you are the quicker the food you are eating will kill you. Obesity also has a stronghold on the weakest of society, the children. Although obesity in adults continues to rise, the citizens of this nation are accustomed and less attuned to this issue.
I believe that most people don’t take into consideration what all the side effects of being overweight can do to your body. The crippling effect it can have on your back and joints as well as the effects it can have on your heart. I have seen firsthand the amount of pain and suffering that obesity can cause. Obesity is hereditary but it is also a choice we make. I inherited the gene from my mother and her side of the family.
There are many factors in today’s society that have affected the growing obesity epidemic around the world. Factors that have contributed to the obesity epidemic are: the many types of media advertising unhealthy food, the lack of time parents have due to demanding jobs, the growing amount of processed and packaged foods with added preservatives, and the small amount of time young people spend doing outdoor or recreational activities because of the latest technology. To make sure that our generation is not the first generation to die young of obesity related diseases many measure will have to be put to action to control the obesity epidemic. Today’s obesity epidemic started back in the 1970’s. More women/ mothers started to attain more demanding careers and there would be no one at home to cook healthy fresh meals.