Obesity and the Social Burden Caused by Obesity

This essay discusses the causes and prevention of obesity, its impact on Australian people, and policies to reduce obesity and other diseases. It also highlights the social burden caused by obesity and how it can be reduced. The essay provides insights into the prevalence of obesity in Australia and the different types of policies that have been implemented to reduce it.

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Obesity and the social burden caused by obesity
Essay

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Obesity and the social burden caused by obesity
Obesity is defined as a health problem which is increasing rapidly in Australia. Obesity is
occurring in people, and children due to many environmental factors such as lack of physical
activities, eating of fast foods, and lack of exercise. There are many diseases occurs due to
obesity such as diabetes, blood cancer, heart attacks, and other infections. According to the
world health organization, obesity is defined as overweight or more body fat that impacts on
human’s health. There are some psychosocial factors that increase obesity in children and
adults such as bullying and stigmatization by peers. According to data from 2008, worldwide
around 205 million men, and 297 million ladies were obese due to overweight, and lack of
exercise. In Australia, a number of woman's are obese as compared to a number of men's.
According to a report of global trends, in 2030 around 1 million individuals will suffer from
obesity and other diseases (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2017). This research
essay is about obesity, cause and prevention of obesity, the impact of obesity on Australian
people, and different types of policies to reduce obesity and other diseases.
Obesity is a complex problem for adults, and children through whom many diseases occur
such as cancer, heart attacks, and diabetes. From the year of 1980 to 2008, the prevalence of
obesity has doubled and in 2008, almost 1.5 billion adults and children were obese in which
around 500 million people classified as obese (Bell et al. 2008, 329). In Australia, the number
of obese children is more than the number of obese adults, between 1985 and 1995 obesity in
children doubled. There are many methods through which weight of any person can be
calculated but body mass index is a common method which is used to measure a weight of
any person. BMI is a useful process to determine population, and weight of men's, women's,
and adults. For individuals, BMI is not the best process because it does not provide body fat
distribution, and health risks (Colagiuri et al. 2010, 260). Body mass index is calculated by
dividing the weight of any person by height in meters. According to the WHO, BMI is
divided into three categories such as persons with a range of 25 to 29 are considered in the
overweight category, persons with a range of 30 to 40 are considered in obese, and above 40
BMI persons are considered in unhealthy category. There are many diseases occur due to
obese people such as high blood pressure, II-diabetes, heart attacks, joint problem, and
cancer. Obesity is also considered with psychosocial conditions such as depressive, low
esteem, and stigmatization by peers (Donath, Susan, and Lisa 2008, 165). According to the
KPMG report, it is estimated that the direct and indirect cost of this diseases in the year of

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2009 is around $37.7 billion. In Australia the proportion of obese males and obese females
has increased in last few years, in 1995, 64.9% of men and 49.4% of women were obese due
to overweight (Freeman et al. 2012, 12). However, in the year of 2015, the 70.8% of men and
56.3% of women were obese. According to data from ROY Morgan, in 2014 almost 11
million people in Australia are currently obese. Poor diet and high BMI are the main key
factors of obesity in Australia that lead to many diseases (Nielsen, Danielsen, and Sørensen
201, 80). According to recent research on cancer, it is found that obesity increases almost 13
types of cancer in which breast cancer and colon care are very common types of cancer. It is
calculated that in 2025 around 83% of men, and 75% or women will be obese and the main
reason of this diseases is that lack of physical activates (Gill et al. 2009, 146). This would
impact on chronic diseases, quality of life, and health of humans. The total cost of overweight
diseases in Australia in 2012 has been calculated that to be around $8.6 billion, in which $3.8
billion for direct costs, and almost $4.8 billion for indirect costs. It is estimated that the cost
of obesity will improve and maybe double, and the main reason for this increment is that
prevalence of diabetes (Hocking, et al. 2009).
In 2008 government of Australia broadcasted a program which is used to develop strategies
and action plan to reduce diseases and infection that caused by obesity, diabetes, and tobacco.
After that, the government of Australia released different policies for the prevention of
obesity and other diseases such as
 Reducing the use of unhealthy food and fast food for children's
 Developing the health rating system
 Improve diets and healthy food
 Promote exercise and physical activities in schools
 Create target for nation dietary and improve quality of food
 Reduce use of sugar in all products and beverages
In the year 2011, around 10% of the burden of infection in Australia was increased due to
dietary, unhealthy food, and lack of exercise (Huse et al. 2018, 30). Obese children and adults
increase many chronic conditions such as cancers, asthma, blood pressure problem,
cardiovascular, and diabetes. In 2014, Australian obese people reported a large rate of chronic
conditions as compared to normal weight persons. In 2011, around 7% of the weight of
disease in Australia was due to obesity and in which a number of the obese males are higher
than a number of obese females (Keating et al. 2015, 555). There are main two dietary factors

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that increase obesity in people such as the low use of healthy foods, and high use of
unhealthy foods. Health foods consist of fruits, milk, nuts, vegetables, and fatty acids and
unhealthy foods consist of salt, sugar, beverages, and meat. However, unhealthy foods are the
main cause of obesity and diabetes in Australia. A healthy diet plays an important role to
reduce obesity and other diseases (Koye et al. 2017, 65). Healthy diets consist of 5 food
groups such as grains, vegetables, fruit, milk, and lean meats. There are many advantages of
exercise and healthy foods such as reduce weight, reduce diseases and obesity, improve
metabolism of the body, and reduce other diseases. To reduce obesity in Australia physical
activities play an important role, there are two main physical actives are used such as exercise
and yoga. For this, the government of Australia released policies to avoid obesity for which
they promote physical activities and healthy diet in schools and provide a proper list of
healthy dietary to reduce obesity and other diseases. The national nutrition survey and found
that many Australian did not meet 5 foods groups and around 4% of people consume healthy
foods and vegetables (Meldrum et al. 2017, 835).
Figure: Proportion of obese kids whose aged between 2 to 17.
(Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2017)
Health promotion plays an important role in the prevention of obesity and it provides a
platform to reduce obesity, diabetes, and other diseases (Foss, Brynjar, and Dyrstad 2011, 8).
It is defined as a process which is used to improve health or people and improve quality of
life. Health promotion is also promoted physical activities and healthy food which is used to

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reduce many diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cancer, and heart attacks (Kurth, Barbel, and
Ute 2008, 406). The main objective of health promotion is to improve the health of humans
by providing healthy dietary and exercise. It includes many events such as education,
physical activities, healthy diet, communication, and policies to prevent obesity. Nurses also
play an important role in the prevention of obesity and promotion of a healthy diet that
reduces obesity, and overweight problems. Nurses should promote to children and families to
take part in physical activities, and exercise that reduce many diseases and improve quality of
life. Nurses also promote a healthy diet for pregnant women's and children's; therefore they
know the role of physical activities in the reduction of obesity.
There are many factors that lead to obesity in Australia such as food and nutrition, physical
activities, and obesogenic environment. Overweight is caused by a continuous energy
imbalance that can be inclined to environmental aspects. The term obesogenic is used to
determine an environment which encourages obesity among people and children. It involves
physical, social, economic, and political factors (Shi et al. 2010, 609). Every day, individuals
communicate with different services such as schools, organizations, industrial workplaces,
and other communities which are influenced by the government strategies and policies. These
factors can balance the energy of the human's body by promoting a healthy diet, and other
physical activities. Schools and teachers play an important role to change the behaviour of
children because students buy fast foods and snakes from the canteen that increase obesity
and body fat. However, teachers provide a proper training to promote healthy food, and
physical activities that will help to reduce obesity, and diabetes in children. There are some
workplaces factors which can effect on the health of adults such as food outlet, vending
machines, public transport system, and catering system (Lee, Colagiuri, and Flack 2018, 19).
Advertising and media are also responsible for obesity and other infection they promote
unhealthy food and beverages to children and adults. The rate of obesity increased from 57%
in the year 1995 to around 61 percentages in the year 2008.
The impact of obesity on lifestyle can be reduced by improving the quality of food, and
promoting healthy dietary. Governments, schools, workplaces, and industries must work
together to reduce the impact of obesity, and other diseases by promoting healthy behaviour
and healthy diets. COAG released a benchmark to improve the proportion of children and
individuals in Australia at body mass by 5% at the end of 2018 (Mechanick et al. 2013, 20).
According to 2016 report, Australia is on the path to encounter this target for kids but not for

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men’s. To improve quality of life there are some tips that can be used such as use bicycle for
walking, avoid fast food, and beverages, avoid the use of the elevator and walking daily at
least 1 Km. Through these steps children and adults can reduce many diseases such as
obesity, overweight, heart attack, and blood pressure. It is clear that society and families are
required a platform to support children and adults to avoid obesity and other diseases. The
government of Australia focused on programs by encouraging healthy dietary, and exercise in
adults, children, workplaces, and schools. The NCOF is a community which provides reports
related to national and international obesity in individuals and also provides a solution
regarding obesity, and other diseases (Meldrum, et al. 2017). According to NHS, around 25%
of children whose age between 5 and 18 years were considered in an unhealthy category in
which almost 18% or kids were overweight, and 7% of children were obese. In a simple way,
obesity is increased due to an imbalance of energy in the human body, and the use of
unhealthy foods and beverages. According to research, there are some factors that increase
the risk for human’s health such as stress, lack of green space, use of unhealthy food, lack of
healthy diet, lack of health care services, and poor sleep. According to a review of the
research paper, change in the food system is the major key factor to increase obesity and
other infections during the last 3 to 4 decades (Hocking et al. 2017, 510). However, changes
in national and environments produce high obesity in children and adults. According to
WHO, the main concern of arising obesity, and overweight is that rise in the percentage of
adults.in the year of 2014 almost 63.4% of adults and 27.6% of kids in Australia were obese
due to lack of physical activities and use of unhealthy foods. Between the year 2007 and
2015, the rate of obesity and overweight rose from 64% to 66% and a number of obese
children rose from 24% to 27.7%. In the years of 1995 and 2011, the commonness of weight
and obesity expanded from 19.1% to 27.2%. In 2011, the commonness of class I, II and III
stoutness was 19.4, 5.9 and 2.0 for every penny separately in men, and 16.1, 6.9 and 4.2 for
every penny individually in ladies. One in every 10 individuals was extremely obese,
expanding from one of every 20 out of 1995, and ladies were disproportionally spoken to in
this populace. The WHO describes three classes of overweight and obesity such as –
 Class-1 BMI: 30 to 34 kg per m2
 Class-2 BMI: 35 to 39.8 kg per m2
 Class-3 BMI: above 40 kg per m2

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In which obesity is defined in class-2 and class-3 that means if any person with BMI from 30
to 40 than he is considered in obesity and overweight category. According to WHO report,
between 1980 and 2000 year the rate of obesity rose from 10% to 17.2% in male and 8.7% to
19.4% female whom aged between 25 to 65 (Shepherd 2009, 51). During that time rate of
class-3 obesity rose 4.7% in the female, and 2.5% in the male. It is calculated that the other
type of diseases such as II-diabetes is rose in Australia and through which many people died.
Globally, it is estimated that around 1.46 billion people worldwide were overweight, and
almost 502 million people were obese. There are many other diseases and problem occur due
to obesity such as II-diabetes, cardiovascular infection, depression, stress, cancer, high blood
pressure, and chronic diseases (Morawski 2017, 145). The occurrence of obesity and
overweight has doubled to 65% of the total population in a world where the number of obese
people is more as compared to healthy persons. Interventions, as well as prevention, are key
factors to reduce the effect of obesity and diabetes. According to the national and
international promotion of health, encouraging a healthy diet, and physical activity in society
can reduce obesity in children. According to studies, it is estimated that obesity in children
increases if they have a close friend which is obese and more body fat (Puhl, Rebecca, and
Chelsea 2009, 945). There are many environmental factors that lead to obesity such as car
fumes, lack of a playground, low pieces of equipment and a lack of parks. Young individuals
become obese due to main two reasons such as lack of physical activities, and use of
unhealthy foods. There are few steps through which obesity can be reduced in children and
adults such as –
 Change daily routine and eating habits
 Be a role model
 Promote physical activities
 Reduce time in front of the computer, laptop, and TV
 Promote to kids to eat food when hungry
 Avoid use of fast food and beverages
 Eat fruits, and vegetables daily
 Promote kids to drink soft water as compare to beverages
Obesity is a complex epidemic for adults and children. The rate of obesity is increasing with
the rise in the prevalence of overweight those involving metabolic and chronic diseases.
Prevention of obesity and overweight in adults and children is a big issue, for this

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government of Australia is promoting physical activities, and healthy dietary in schools,
workplaces, and in many communities. Nutrition, healthy diet, and physical activity play an
important role in the prevention of obesity and other diseases. Sleep is another risk factor of o
obesity; however, teachers and nurses promote healthy food and exercise to improve quality
of life and reduce other diseases. Many biological mechanisms have been developed to link
sleep duration with obesity (Olds et al. 2010, 57). Therefore, the government of Australia
released many policies and action plans to reduce obesity from children such as they promote
healthy diet and physical activities in schools, reduce the use of sugar in all products,
improve health care services, and encourage healthy food and exercise.
Therefore, obesity in children and adults is a major problem which is increasing day by day.
In Australia, a number of obese women’s are more than the number of obese men and the
main reason for this problem is lack of physical activities. According to NHS, in 1995, 64.9%
of men and 49.4% of women were obese due to overweight and more body fat. Obesity is
essential for community health services and health promotion. Obesity increase many other
diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart attacks, and high blood pressure. There are many risk
factors that raise obesity in children such as environmental factors, social factors, and chronic
conditions. All these factors explained in this research essay and the role of nurses in obesity
are also described in the above research. Nurses require focusing on the prevention of obesity
and promoting a healthy diet, physical activities, and exercising to children, and families.
Nurses communicate with families and adults across health care services so they can help to
the avoidance of obesity, and other diseases. This research essay identified important data
related to obesity and other diseases in Australia. It is very important to understand the role of
healthy diet, and exercise to reduce obesity, role of educational approach, and nurses to
reduce obesity. This essay also explained the different policies and action plan of the
government of Australia to reduce obesity. To reduce obesity in children families and society
want to change daily routine and food system. Therefore the government and nurses should
introduce mare policies, and action plan, promote healthy dietary and physical activities in
schools, encouraging the use of healthy food.

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