Overweight and Obesity as a Global Problem: Determinants, Distribution, and Prevention

This paper discusses the significance of overweight and obesity as a global problem, its distribution among different populations, determinants influencing its distribution, and barriers and opportunities for its prevention.

Abstract
In this paper, the significance of overweight and obesity as a global problem will be
discussed. The paper will give a background of overweight and obesity as a global problem to
clarify the essence of this problem from a global perspective. The size, nature and the
distribution of overweight and obesity in various populations will then be discussed in detail
using statistics from relevant bodies. The paper will then present a summary of the determinants
that are influencing the distribution of overweight and obesity in the world and clarify the gaps in
these determinants. The barriers to the prevention of this problem and the opportunities for the
same will be highlighted before a conclusion is made.
Introduction of the Problem
Overweight and obesity are serious health problems that are causing severe health and
social difficulties for people globally. Overweight and obesity are measured using Body Mass
Index (BMI) which is calculated by dividing the bodyweight of a person in kilograms by the
height in meters squared. In adults, the Body Mass Index of between 25 and 29.9 is considered
overweight while the Body Mass Index of more than 30 is considered obesity (Caballero, 2007).
In children, a BMI at or above 85th percentile but below 95th percentile is considered
overweight while that above 95th percentile is considered obesity. The world health organization
estimated that by the end of 2015, more than 2.3 billion adults were overweight globally while
other 700 million adults were obese (GBD 2015 Obesity Collaborators, 2017). With the
population of the world standing at 7.7 billion, it means that 0.23% of the world’s population
was obese by the end of 2015 (GBD 2015 Obesity Collaborators, 2017). Also, in the last 18
years, the UK has seen the rates of overweight and obesity doubling from 13% to 24% in men
and 16% to 30% in women (World Health Organisation, 2014). Moreover, various illness such

as diabetes type 2, gallstones and hypertension have been linked to obesity. That is why the cost
of obesity has been increasing with the continued increase in obesity rates. For example, in 2007,
the cost of overweight and obesity was approximated to be £16 which is 1% of the world’s gross
domestic product (GBD 2015 Obesity Collaborators, 2017). However, with the continued
increase in the rate of overweight and obesity, the cost is estimated to increase to £50 by the year
20150 (Malik, Willett & Hu, 2013). The statistics above show that obesity is a serious problem
globally. Therefore, there is a need to show why overweight and obesity are serious problems in
the world.
BODY
A discussion of the nature and distribution of the problem
Even though overweight and obesity is a serious health problem globally, its distribution
varies among different populations groups. The world health organization reports that 13% of the
world’s adult population is obese as of 2016. Out of this, 11% are men while 40% are women
(World Health Organisation, 2014). This means that more women are obese than men. Women
are more susceptible to overweight and obesity because most of them rarely engage in physical
activities as compared to men. Obesity is also common in children as it’s in adults. More than 41
million children under 5 years of age globally were either overweight or obese as of 2016 (GBD
2015 Obesity Collaborators, 2017). In adolescent children, the rates of overweight and obesity
are still high and the rates are predicted to increase in coming years. This is so because from
1975 to 2016, the rates of overweight and obesity among adolescents has risen from 4% to 18%
(World Health Organisation, 2014). In 2016 alone, more than 340 million children aged 5-19
were either overweight or obese with 18% of them being girls and 19% boys ( Ng et al., 2014).
Initially, overweight and obesity were considered a health problem in only developed countries.

Over the years, however, the documented statistics have shown that the problem has risen in
even low-income and middle-income countries. For example, since 2000, the rate of overweight
and obesity among African children has increased by 50% ( Prentice , 2006). Also, in 2016, half
of the children who were overweight globally are reported to come from Asia. Since Asia and
Africa are continents with many developing countries, the statistics above show that overweight
and obesity are already a serious problem in developing countries. In developed countries, the
problem is even worse. For example, as of 2016, 39% of the United States adult population was
considered either obese or overweight with 37% of them being men and 41% women (Bleich et
al., 2018). Between 2017 and 2018, the rates of overweight and obesity among the United States
population increased from 29% to 31% respectively. These statistics show that the problem of
overweight and obesity varies in different populations and age groups.
A discussion of the health determinants and the gaps
Various factors influence the frequency and the distribution of overweight and obesity
globally. One of these factors includes dietary factors. In a cross-sectional study conducted by
Bleich et al. (2018) to determine the relationship between dietary factors with obesity indicators
in Flemish adults, it was established that obese subjects both male and female reported high
energy intake, unlike their counterparts. The study reported that the intake of energy that is
protein and fat intake among the obese subjects was higher than in subjects with normal weight.
The study concluded that high energy intake that is carbohydrate, protein, fiber, and protein is
closely related to weight gain which leads to obesity Bleich et al. (2018). This means that people
eating foods with high energy content more often makes one gain more weight which increases
the chances of an individual becoming obese. In another study conducted by Hruby et al. (2016)
to establish the determinants and the consequences of obesity, it was revealed that higher levels

of physical activity among the subjects prevented weight gain and long term weight
maintenance. Also, the study revealed that women who had increased physical activity levels had
less weight gain as compared to their counterparts with low physical activity. In this study, it was
determined that activities like jogging, bicycle riding or running are very critical for limiting
weight gain. This is so because the person’s energy expenditure is increased when engaging in
physical activity (Popkin, 2006). In doing this, the body’s fat, especially around the waist, is
decreased reducing the chances of abdominal obesity from developing. Similarly, Seidell &
Halberstadt, (2015) in their study established that various genes predispose people to obesity. In
this study, it was established that 70% of obesity is contributed by genetic factors. 50 genes that
predispose people to obesity were identified including fat mass and obesity-associated gene
(FTO) which 43% of the world's population is having. This gene increases the tendency for a
body to store fat which means that if people with FTO will have access to readily available food,
these people will have a problem of controlling their caloric intake (Swinburn & Wood, 2013).
However, despite various studies showing that physical activity, genetic factors, and dietary
factors are the main determinants of overweight and obesity, existing evidence has shown that
there is a relationship between lower socioeconomic status with higher levels of obesity. For
example, the risk of obesity for children living in affluent areas was found to be very low in
comparison to those living in poverty (Finkelstein, Ruhm & Kosa, 2005). Also, in Scotland
alone, while obesity rates in adults living in affluent areas were 20%, obesity rates in those living
in deprived areas was 32%. This means that there are gaps in understanding the determinants of
obesity and there is a need for research to be done to find the relationship between poverty and
obesity.

Barriers and opportunities of preventing the problem
One of the main barriers to the prevention of obesity is inadequate policy. Many
countries are yet to recognize that obesity is a significant health problem despite this condition
affecting many people globally. As a result, there are no specific policies developed especially in
developing countries to help deal with this condition. Obesity has therefore been ignored in most
countries since the efforts to prevent it are not supported by any policy in most countries. Also,
increasing rates of poverty especially in developing countries have proved to be a big challenge
in the prevention of obesity. This is so because people living in poverty-stricken areas are
predisposed to foods with a high caloric intake which increases their chances of becoming obese.
However, relevant international bodies such as the world health organization and centers for
disease control and prevention are increasing awareness especially in developing countries where
the overweight and obesity are still not recognized as a significant problem. This means that
soon, overweight and obesity will be acknowledged as a significant problem globally and
countries will develop effective measures to prevent the same.
Conclusion
Overweight and obesity are serious health problems that are causing severe health and
social difficulties for people globally. Overweight and obesity are measured using Body Mass
Index (BMI) which is calculated by dividing the bodyweight of a person in kilograms by the
height in meters squared. Even though overweight and obesity is a serious health problem
globally, its distribution varies among different populations groups. For example, since 2000, the
rate of overweight and obesity among African children has increased by 50%. Also, in 2016, half
of the children who were overweight globally are reported to come from Asia. Various factors
influence the frequency and the distribution of overweight and obesity globally. For example,

various studies have shown that high energy intake that is carbohydrate, protein, fiber, and
protein is closely related to weight gain which leads to obesity. However, existing evidence has
also shown that there is a relationship between lower socioeconomic status with higher levels of
obesity. This means that there are gaps in understanding the determinants of obesity and there is
a need for research to be done to find the relationship between poverty and obesity. Efforts to
prevent obesity globally have been met by various challenges, for example, the inadequate policy
as many countries are yet to acknowledge the impacts of obesity. However, the awareness that is
being created by relevant international bodies such as WHO about the significance of overweight
and obesity globally means that overweight and obesity will soon be acknowledged as significant
problem globally and countries will develop effective measures to prevent the same.

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