Critical Thinking Assignment: Obesity Causes, Effects, and Solutions

This assignment analyzes the multifaceted issue of obesity, encompassing its various causes, profound effects on health, and potential solutions. It explores genetic factors, medication, and psychological influences as contributors to obesity, alongside lifestyle factors such as overeating and physical inactivity. The assignment delves into the severe health consequences of obesity, including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, joint problems, respiratory issues, and potential links to cancer. Proposed solutions include dietary adjustments emphasizing balanced nutrition and low-calorie intake, increased physical activity through exercise, proper medication, and enhanced societal knowledge regarding healthy eating habits and the impact of obesity. The assignment draws upon research from multiple sources to support its findings and recommendations, providing a comprehensive overview of the subject.

Critical thinking
and
problem solving

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OBESITY
Obesity is understood as the condition where extra amount of fat gets accumulated in the
body. This starts posing a negative effect on the health condition of the people (Cole and
Lobstein, 284-294). It is calculated by dividing the body weight by square of the individual’s
height. It has become an epidemic in most parts of the world.
Causes of obesity
There are several causes of obesity. In this some of the most common causes of obesity are as
follows:
 Genetic: Obesity is also caused by genetic orientation of then person. It is seen that
child becomes obese when their parents have it. Genes affect the hormones that are
involved in regulating fat. For example some genes cause leptin deficiency which is
one of the major reasons for obesity. If the body cannot produce enough leptin then
they cannot produce signal to the brain to eat less. When such control is lost obesity
starts.
 Medication: There are certain diseases in which treatment with drugs causes obesity.
For example the medication of high blood pressure causes weight gain.
 Psychological: There are certain emotions that have impact on the eating habits. For
example stress is one of the major reasons for gaining weight (King, 743-744). Stress
causes people to overthink and overeat.
 Disease: There are certain diseases like hypothyroidism, Prader-willi syndrome,
Cushing’s syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome and insulin resistance are the major
contributors of obesity.
 Overeating: This is one of the major reasons for obesity as the overeating leads to
weight gain. Sweets, fast food and fried food have high energy density that causes
weight gain. The high calorie food increases the fat level in the body.
 Physical inactivity: In the modern day life, people do not get time to do lots of
physical work. This physical inactiveness leads to gaining of fat.

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Effect of obesity
There are severe effects of obesity which ultimately depends on how much there is fat
content.
 High blood pressure: Due to accumulation of fat in the blood vessel this is a most
common problem that body starts to build.
 Diabetes: Due to obesity, body generates insulin imbalance. This imbalance in the
insulin causes diabetes. When obesity occur blood sugar level starts to increase
(Atanasova, Nelya and Barrie, 554-559).
 Heart disease: Due to accumulation of fat in the heart, people usually generate heart
diseases.
 Joint problems: Obesity puts extra burden on the joints especially around knees hence
creating problems related to joints.
 Respiratory problems: It also creates respiratory problems.
 Cancer: Sometimes obesity is also the reason for cancer.
Solution of obesity
Some of the solutions that can be given in this regards are:
 Proper diet: It is recommended that the food intake should be balanced where the
carbohydrate and fat content should be less. Low calorie food is always beneficial.
 Increasing physical activity: Exercises and other physical activities help in controlling
the fat accumulation in the body (Popkin, 82-91).
 Proper medication: It is recommended that any medicine should be taken following
the guidelines of the doctors.
 Knowledge enhancement: it is essential that knowledge regarding the obesity must be
increased in the society especially related to eating habits that causes diabetes.

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REFERENCES
Atanasova, Dimitrinka, Nelya Koteyko, and Barrie Gunter. "Obesity in the news: directions
for future research." Obesity reviews 13.6 (2012): 554-559.
Cole, Tim J., and Tim Lobstein. "Extended international (IOTF) body mass index cut‐offs for
thinness, overweight and obesity." Pediatric obesity 7.4 (2012): 284-294.
King, David. "The future challenge of obesity." The Lancet378.9793 (2011): 743-744.
Popkin, Barry M. "Contemporary nutritional transition: determinants of diet and its impact on
body composition." Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 70.1 (2011): 82-91.