Causes, Health Effects, and Prevention of Obesity: NURSING 5 Essay

This essay examines obesity, a chronic illness with far-reaching health implications, including increased risks of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and joint problems. The paper begins by defining obesity as a significant public health issue in the United States, where a large percentage of the population is overweight or obese. It then delves into the complex causes of obesity, encompassing genetic predispositions, lifestyle choices such as excessive fast food consumption and sedentary habits, and metabolic factors. The essay further explores the adverse health effects of obesity, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and psychological effects, and highlights the substantial economic burden it places on the healthcare system. Finally, it presents various strategies for preventing obesity, such as promoting healthy eating habits, encouraging physical activity, and implementing public health guidelines to improve access to nutritious foods and support weight management.

Running head: NURSING 1
Nursing
Name
Institution Affiliation

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Introduction:
Obesity is a chronic illness that can affect various systems in the body. For instance,
overweight people are at a higher risk of developing life-intimidating conditions like type 2
diabetes, heart related diseases and born and joint disease to mention a few. In the United State,
obesity has reached epidemic extents as declared by the Surgeon General of the U.S (Ogden et
al., 2016). Approximately, 55 % of children between ages of 6 and 19 are
obese, whereas, 35% of women plus 31% is gravely considered overweight
(Balog, 2015). This paper discuss the causes of obesity, obesity impacts on
health and ways of preventing obesity.
Causes of obesity
Obesity causes are complex, and there are various interrelated factors
like for instance lifestyle, genetics and how energy is utilized in the body.
Studies have shown that genetics is one of the common factors influencing
obesity since one may inherit. Nevertheless, the chance of being obese in
America have risen by 25% because of excessive consumption of fast foods
whose results is gain of additional overweight. Lifestyle is another cause
whereby people are leading sedentary lifestyle combined with overeating.
Additionally, metabolic factors also play a role in weight gain determination
in association with hormones (Ogden, et al., 2016).
Health effects of obesity
On health, obesity has a far-ranging adverse effect. And that it costs
over 150 billion dollars and results to 300000 premature deaths in the United

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States. Just but to mention a few of the health effects related to obesity are
diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, heart disease, sleep apnea,
metabolic syndrome, psychological effects. To treat obesity, start by setting
goals, this is the most critical part of any obesity management. Many people
may want to lose weight for fashion reason as well as societal reasons. It is
essential to understand that losing weight of body significantly influence an
individual’s health. Also, treating obesity is by following the environmental
changes, doing exercises, diet modification, non-surgical and surgical
treatment.
How to prevent obesity
The best and most suitable way to get the escalating rates of obesity
and the epidemic of overweightness under controls entails more than telling
each persons to observe balanced diet (Mokdad et al., 2011). According to the
World Health Organization prevention of obesity calls for integrated
approaches such as:
 Supporting healthy consumption habits and encouraging individuals to
practice physical activity (Lee et al., 2017).
 Establishing public guidelines which enhance access to low-fat, healthy
and food rich in fiber.
 Training heathcare professionals so as they can effectively support
individuals who want to lose weight and aid others avoid gaining
weight.

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 The public should be encourage to increase the amount of fruits,
vegetables and whole grains in their diet and decline the consumption
of sugary and fatty foods.
Conclusion
To sum up, a large population of the Americans and the world at large are at high risk of
becoming obese. As discovered by the literature review, young people are the most prevalent of
becoming obese. Therefore, there is need for the U.S. to declare obesity an epidemic so as to
undertake public campaign against obesity. Consequently, through national campaigns it is likely
to enlighten the public on the need to prevent obesity.

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References
Balog, J. E. (2015). Economic disruption and childhood obesity: Distraction, disconnection,
displacement of children’s health, and a need for social change. Health Education &
Behavior, 42(1_suppl), 67S-75S.
doi: 10.1177/1090198114566802
Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2009). Differences inprevalence of obesity
among black, white, and Hispanic adults-United
States, 2006-2008. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 58(27),
740–744. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19609247
Ogden, C. L., Carroll, M. D., Curtin, L. R., McDowell, M. A., Tabak, C. J., & Flegal, K. M.
(2016). Prevalence of overweight and obesity in the United States, 1999-
2004. Jama, 295(13), 1549-1555. Doi: 10.1001/jama.295.13.1549
Mokdad, A. H., Bowman, B. A., Ford, E. S., Vinicor, F., Marks, J. S., & Koplan, J. P. (2011).
The continuing epidemics of obesity and diabetes in the United States. Jama, 286(10),
1195-1200. Doi: 10.1001/jama.286.10.119