Obesity: Individual Lifestyle vs Social Determinants

This essay discusses the determinants of obesity, including individual lifestyle choices and social factors. It emphasizes the role of the government in promoting healthy habits and preventing obesity. The essay uses Australia as an example to analyze the determinants of obesity. The government should play an active role in inculcating healthy habits amongst the people and taking remedial measures. Education, lifestyle preferences, cultural environment, socioeconomic level, etc. play an important role in increasing obesity worldwide.

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Running Head: Obesity Determinants: Individual lifestyle choices vs. social determinants?
Title: Obesity: Individual Lifestyle vs Social Determinants
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Obesity Individual lifestyle choices vs. social determinants?
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Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Obesity: A Public Health Concern.............................................................................................3
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................9
References..................................................................................................................................9

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Introduction
In today’s world, it would not be an understatement to say that the problem of obesity and
overweight in kids as well as in adults has taken a serious turn (Williamson, 2017). The
government along with individuals need to pay more heed towards the issue. Obesity is the
medical condition wherein the accumulation of excessive fat so much that it starts hampering
the body and significantly increases the risk of other diseases. In 2016 close to 2 billion
adults were obese worldwide and the more alarming issue is that obesity has higher morbidity
rate (Papamargaritis, 2013). It is majorly determined by the social-cultural, environmental,
nutritional, physical, political, genetical and psychological factors which in turn are
determined by the government and thus making it a social responsibility (Mullan et al., 2017).
The essay will lay a special emphasis on Australia’s determinants of obesity as an example.
This essay’s main argument will be that the government has a substantial role to play in
detraining the choice of factors available with public. It will also cover the implications in
terms of government’s responsibility to address the risk factors and various determinants
which will prove that the government has a responsibility and duty towards the citizens to
provide a conducive atmosphere for the citizens so that they do not fall prey to this disease.
Obesity: A Public Health Concern
The phenomenon of the being overweight or obese is not new to the world and it has existed
in all the countries from time o time. But what is astonishing is that it has become an
increasing phenomenon in all the countries e.g. USA, UK, Japan, Sweden, India, etc whether
it is a developed or a developing country. The rate at which it is growing in US/UK has
doubled. The number of obese people in America has doubled in last three decades 2/3rd of

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the US adults are either overweight or obese. The effect could be seen in all the age groups
i.e. kids, males, females, old age. The BMI scales of the people are crossing the charts. If the
number for the future is predicted it would be something like:
Although there are many factors or determinants leading to the problem of obesity however
key individual behavioral factors like unhealthy food habits and lack of much required
physical activity in the daily routine are the main reasons for this (Carlos Burini, 2017).
Although there are many causes but following are the prominent ones:
The first factor which is the major cause of the sudden increase in the number of obese
people all over the world is the unhealthy diets accompanied with very little or negligible
nutritional value in the food (Johari and Shahar, 2014). Modern living has totally changed the
way, type and kind of food intake which is high in calories, fried in nature and without any
health benefits. The facts also substantiate the point that poor food quality with less
UNHEALTHYDIETSNUTRITIONPHYSICALINACTIVITYENVIRONMENTGENETICSPSYCHOLOGICAL&SELFEFFICACYYear Male (%) Female (%)
2025 48 38
2050 62 48

Obesity Individual lifestyle choices vs. social determinants?
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nutritional value, when combined with artificial sweeteners in huge quantities, is the major
reasons for significant weight gains. Unhealthy food habits like increased intake of sugar,
cheap refined edible oil, carbohydrates, animal-sourced food and half cooked fatty food lead
to obesity in adults and kids as well. Being overweight or obese in future leads to diseases
like type two diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, coronary artery diseases & stroke, and
other liver and gallbladder diseases (Geyer, 2016). The second major factor is the total lack of
physical activity during the daily routine habit of one and all. This starts right from the
childhood of the kids and which leads to obesity in kids which in turn grows as obesity in the
adults (K. Chung and C. Romney, 2012). The government should take steps right at the beginning
i.e. as soon as the schooling starts emphasis must be made to see to it that ample physical
activity is imbibed in the curriculum of the kids. Contrarily a safe physical environment will
also help in promoting outdoor activity thus increasing healthy habits. The sedentary lifestyle
of the adults wherein there is no physical activity, sitting jobs in the offices and no time for
physical trading and no control on the calorie intake as against the calories burnt leads to the
high level of BMI levels leading to overweight and resulting to various chronic diseases.
Over the period of time science has generated so much of labor-saving devices that
everything is available at the fingertips and doorsteps. The internet has so revolutionized
things that no one needs to go out of his/her bed to buy anything.
Thirdly, the type of atmosphere and environment in and around anyone lives also determines
the level of obesity. It may be the political, economic, socio-cultural or physical environment
(Young, Hinnant and Leshner, 2015). Economic factors can either uplift or downgrade the health
choices people make and thus can have a positive or negative impact on the health. Poor
economic conditions lead to the adoption of unhealthy food habits which has a poor impact
on health. Physical environment decides the type and quantity of food available which leads
to the forming of food habits of people. The socio-cultural environment also frames any

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individual’s attitude towards health-related choices for example if in a society body size
depicts a sign of wealth people will strive for a big body size. Cultural environment decides
what people prefer to eat based on family and friend. It’s on the part of the parents to
inculcate healthy food habits. In so-called today’s’ busy schedules skipping meals have
become a common thing which reduces the metabolism rate and thus leading to weight gain.
Thus socio-cultural factors affect the attitude and behavior related to healthy lifestyle choices.
Another factor which plays an important role is the political factors which include the rules
and regulation framed by the government, legislation passed, taxes levied, as all these
decisions decide what type of food supplies and services will be promoted and demoted
(Young, Hinnant and Leshner, 2015). Ethically the government should levy high taxes on
unhealthy food products, alcohol, cigarettes and other harmful products so that their use is
minimal and legislations act as deterrents. Fruits, vegetables, healthy food products such as
dairy products should be tax-free or taxed at minimal rates. It has been found that the schools
opt for packed food vending machines so as to have more profits as compared to healthy
food; legislation should come forwards and ask schools to provide healthy food so as to
inculcate good habits at early and childhood formative stages. Many nutritionists and analysts
are of the opinion that schools can play a pivotal role in generating good food habits.
At individual levels, we can say that genetic factors also play a vital role in being at risk of
obesity. Obesity can be attributed to genetic factors at the early or infant stages. Leptin
deficiency, prader willy syndrome etc., lead to obesity at later stages of adulthood. Most
common is the case of high birth weight at the time of birth. In addition to the genetics,
obesity is also caused because of all the factors combined. Mismatch of the energy consumed
and energy burned also leads to obesity, hormonal factors also lead to overweight. It has been
also established beyond doubt that psychological factors, social stigma or depression also
contribute to a great extent in following the food habits. Obesity and stress go hand in hand.

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People tend to eat more when they are under stress. Also how society reacts to the obesity
and stress and how the individual interprets the behavior of society also decides the food
habits of an individual. It overall impacts the self-esteem, social functioning and, self-
perception of the individual. Once it starts deteriorating the self-efficacy of the individual
also starts diminishing. His/her belief in her to do something starts fading away. It has been
considered as a significant contributor to anyone’s overall health and well being. It is
necessary to establish greater understanding amongst all the factors and obesity will help in
developing preventive strategies. To be more specific and clear we can use the example of
Australia to analyze the determinants or reasons responsible for the unprecedented rise in the
obese population. If we talk in terms of facts Australia is the 5th largest country in terms of
obesity where 15% of population was obese in 1981 and it rose to 30% in late 2015. 2/3rd of
Australia’s adult population i.e. 65 % are obese. 29% Children in the age group of 5 to 18
years are overweight. In Australia obesity led to 50% of total burden of diseases due to
diabetes 38%, chronic kidney disorders 23% and heart diseases 17% (Wiseman et al., 2014).
The national health and medical research council (NHMRC) pose obesity as a major health
problem. According to Dr. Manny Noakes expert in genetic factors, close to 80 % Australians
are exposed to weight gains. Recently it has been found that the availability of the food in
huge quantities or large serves has also lead to obesity in people as it also increases the
appetite for more. Once the appetite increases people start craving for more and it leads to
overeating. Food full of sugar, fat and oils only increases the abdominal weight (Wulaningsih
et al., 2016). Once people start overeating next step that follows it is eating mindlessly. People
eat and talk without giving it a thought that how much is required and how much they have
eaten. Then comes another blow which is the availability of the food all the time as compared
to the nations like France where there are set eating patterns. Sedentary type of living

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meaning thereby no physical activity during the work hours, long sitting routines have led to
overweighed bodies. Calorie intake far exceeds the calories being burnt (Brahmbhatt, 2017).
Further if we try to find any relationship between the two factors that is determinants of
unhealthy diets and physical inactivity it can be established that they are somehow related
with each other. Unhealthy diets when combined with physical inactivity it leads to obesity
and overweight. It further aggravates the situation leading to several serious diseases like type
2 diabetes, coronary diseases, etc. It is also definite that this imbalance will not fade away
simply by urging the society to do so; it will require a total societal restructuring. According
to WHO, there is a need to modify the trans-fats and saturated fats limits, marketing practises,
and to encourage environmental planning to facilitate cycling, walking and other activities
and medicinal remedies aw well (Pare et al., 2016). Changes however will be gradual but
strategies need to be clearly planned and they should have short term, intermediate and long
term goals. Now after the analysis of the lifestyle determinants and the causes at length and
their interrelationship, it can be implied that the government needs to play an active role so as
to inculcate healthy habits amongst the people and take remedial measures (Bunc, 2016). It
should keep a check on the advertisements which promote unhealthy foods and products. It
must ensure proper food labeling is done. Health Star System and pricing measures should be
introduced. There should be a control on the supply of sugar-sweetened beverages and a firm
tax structure should be levied. The government should propagate and educate people about
the healthy lifestyle and should provide them with the facilities required for the same like
playgrounds, weight management programmes, and subsidies on the healthy foods. It should
educate the families as to how they can provide a healthy and quality environment to their
children which would include ample physical activity and balanced nutritious food diet
(Burgess, Hassmén and Pumpa, 2017). The government can make changes in the town and
planning structure to provide secure grounds and play areas for activities. Community

Obesity Individual lifestyle choices vs. social determinants?
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education programmes relating to the importance of healthy foods should be made accessible
to all.
Conclusion
Education, lifestyle preferences, cultural environment, socioeconomic level etc play an
important role in increasing obesity worldwide (Hawkins, 2016). It can be understood and
analyzed that all the causes discussed are predictable and manageable. It is therefore essential
to create a sustainable life strategy for a healthy lifestyle. Most critical step lies on the part of
the governments that are to take the matters into their own hands and be responsible for their
citizens. However the fact that the people are responsible for their own well being and they
should take keen interests as it is them and their loved ones whose lives are at stake. The
philosophy behind the obesity and determinants are to be handled by the individuals and the
government jointly and government can only formulate laws and guide, it is the people who
have to follow the rules and take care of themselves (Kilov and Kilov, 2017).

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References
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