Obesity: Global Pandemic, Health Risks, and Management Recommendations

This report addresses obesity as a significant global health concern, defining it by excessive body fat accumulation and a BMI over 30. It highlights the high prevalence in the UK, detailing biological, social, and psychological factors contributing to obesity. The report focuses on the relationship between high-calorie diets and obesity, outlining the causes including genetic factors, hormonal imbalances, sedentary lifestyles, and energy-dense food consumption. It further explores the numerous health effects, such as cardiovascular and musculoskeletal disorders, type 2 diabetes, and psychological issues like anxiety and depression. The report emphasizes obesity's impact on various physiological systems and psychological well-being, and it also discusses the emerging threats and recommendations to tackle the pandemic including dietary modifications, increased physical exercise, and awareness programs. The report concludes with a call for action, citing research papers that underscore the need for prevention and management strategies, including healthy eating habits and lifestyle changes to combat the health complications associated with obesity, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, and certain cancers.

OBESITY: A GLOBAL PANDEMIC
BACKGROUND
• Obesity can be defined as a condition that is characterized by accumulation of excessive
body fat and BMI equivalent to < 3o kilograms per metre square (Flint et al., 2014).
• 63.8% of adults in the United Kingdom are obese. It has been estimated that 27.25% of
the women are obese against 26.70% of the men.
• Obesity is highly prevalent among the adults between the age group of (45-74) years of
age.
• Obesity has been found to be significantly correlated with a number of factors that can
be vividly explained with the biopsychosocial model
• The Biological components include negligence of physical health, genetic vulnerability
and exposure to poor health conditions. The social factors include, work-life balance
and awareness among peer and family members. The psychological factors include,
anxiety and stress that affect obesity.
• AIMS : This poster intends to throw light on the existing relationship between the intake
of high-calorie diet and obesity. It further intends to elucidate recommendations that
can help in the process of managing obesity.
WHAT CAUSES OBESITY?
• The energy imbalance between the calorie-intake and the calories consumed causes obesity
• The cause of obesity has also been linked to the interplay of generic factors. Studies reveal that variants of
several genes contribute to excessive body weight gain (Martin-Rodriguez et al., 2015)
• Hormonal imbalance has been directly linked to obesity as the fluctuation in the normal level encourages
the accumulation of body fat that leads to obesity. Over secretion or under secretion of insulin, Leptin,
oestrogen and androgen has been associated with the cause of obesity (Bastien et al., 2014)
• Obesity is primarily characterized by a sedentary lifestyle, insufficient sleep and lack of physical exercise
(Zianawala et al., 2015)
• Intake of energy-dense food that are high in saturated and unsaturated fats and sugary diet, sweetened
drinks, alcohol and smoking causes obesity (Cho et al., 2013)
• Obesity can also be caused as a side-effect of steroidal drugs as revealed by scientific studies
EFFECTS OF OBESITY
• Obesity is tightly linked to elevated levels of BMI which consequently enhances the possibility to develop cardiovascular disorder and
musculoskeletal disorders (Johnson et al., 2015)
• Studies reveal that obesity is also linked To Type II diabetes and development of psychological anxiety and depression (Flint, Cummins & Sacker,
2014)
• These factors indicate that Obesity is emerging out to be a global pandemic that must be managed using appropriate interventions.
• Obesity is often accompanied with increased pain in the joints and the back muscles
• Other effects of obesity also include being over weight, craving for food at all time leading to binge eating, snoring g, fatigues and being pot bellied
• Obesity is also characterized by patches all over the body and visible stretch marks across the body
• The effect of obesity is also characterized by an increase in the waist circumference, rounded face and exhaustion in carrying out daily chores
• Obesity primarily affects the normal functioning of all the major physiological systems of the body which includes the neurological,
musculoskeletal, respiratory, circulatory, digestive, urological, reproductive and musculoskeletal systems
• It should be significantly noted here that a wide range of psychological complications are also associated with obesity. Excessive body weight elicits
a negative impression on the psychological equilibrium that leads to anxiety, stress and depression. Eating disorders have also been studied as an
effect of obesity.
EMERGING THREATS
RECOMMENDATION
CONCLUSION
REFERENCE
• Obesity has emerged out to be a matter of global concern
• It can be said that the major contributing factors are intake of high calorie diet,
sedentary lifestyle and lack of exercise routine
• The Food industry can play a major role in the promotion of healthy diet through
reduced salt and sugar content in the processed food and promoting organic food.
• Education and awareness about obesity can also help in dealing with the
pandemic
• “Count your calories and add a day to your life!”
• Research papers have revealed that obesity is a serious concern that serves as a breeding
ground for a number of physiological disorders (Bastein et al., 2014); (Mallik, Willett & Hu,
2013)
• Some of the most common physiological disorders that serve as the accompaniments of obesity
include, Diabetes, cardiovascualar disorders, sleep apnea, hypertension, acid reflux and cancer
• Obesity leads to elevated blood pressure levels which consequently leads to a number of
physiological complications that include, artherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. In
addition to this hypertension also increases the probabilities of renal failure or a heart attack.
• It should further be noted here that obesity also leads to gynaecological complications that
include, polycystic ovarian syndrome, abnormal menstrual cycle and infertility (Malik, Willett &
Hu, 2013)
• Obesity also enhances the possibility of developing cancer. Research studies state that the most
prevalent forms of cancer that are caused due to obesity include, oesophagus, pancreas,
kidney, prostate, colon, cervix, uterus and breast cancer
• Obesity also causes respiratory problems such as asthma and sleep apnea that is characterized
by a condition when the normal breathing stops for a short period of time while sleeping
• Obesity also causes problems related to gallbladder diseases, formation of gall stones inside the
body and osteoarthritis
• Obesity has also been attributed as a major cause of Gastro-oesophageal acid reflux disorder, a
condition when the bile or the stomach acid interferes with the normal functioning of the
oesophagus
• Obesity has thus emerged out to be a matter of global concern which is associated with a number of
numerous physiological complications
• Prevention of obesity can help in the effective modulation of the risk factors in order to avoid the
comorbidities and health complications associated with obesity
• Modification in dietary habit and change in life style can yield positive outcomes
• Studies recommend involvement in regular physical exercise and 45 minutes of brisk walking can
help in the maintenance of normal BMI (Gillman & Ludwig, 2013)
• A healthy diet characterized with low fat dietary elements and increased fibres, vitamins and
minerals can help in the progression of obesity (Haines et al., 2013)
• Consumption of a balanced diet with appropriate amount of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and
minerals can help in effectively managing the body weight
• Reduced intake of sweetened beverages and shifting to healthier options such as green tea, detox
drink can help in the prevention of obesity (Hawkes et al., 2015)
• Consumption of water would help in staying hydrated and help in the prevention of obesity by
reducing the urge of binge-eating
Bastien, M., Poirier, P., Lemieux, I., & Després, J. P. (2014). Overview of epidemiology and contribution of obesity to cardiovascular
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Cho, S. S., Qi, L., Fahey Jr, G. C., & Klurfeld, D. M. (2013). Consumption of cereal fiber, mixtures of whole grains and bran, and whole
grains and risk reduction in type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease–. The American journal of clinical
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Flint, E., Cummins, S., & Sacker, A. (2014). Associations between active commuting, body fat, and body mass index: population based,
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Gillman, M. W., & Ludwig, D. S. (2013). How early should obesity prevention start?. New England Journal of Medicine, 369(23), 2173-
2175.
Haines, J., McDonald, J., O’brien, A., Sherry, B., Bottino, C. J., Schmidt, M. E., & Taveras, E. M. (2013). Healthy habits, happy homes:
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Hawkes, C., Smith, T. G., Jewell, J., Wardle, J., Hammond, R. A., Friel, S., ... & Kain, J. (2015). Smart food policies for obesity
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Johnson, W., Li, L., Kuh, D., & Hardy, R. (2015). How has the age-related process of overweight or obesity development changed over
time? Co-ordinated analyses of individual participant data from five United Kingdom birth cohorts. PLoS medicine, 12(5),
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Malik, V. S., Willett, W. C., & Hu, F. B. (2013). Global obesity: trends, risk factors and policy implications. Nature Reviews
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Martin-Rodriguez, E., Guillen-Grima, F., Martí, A., & Brugos-Larumbe, A. (2015). Comorbidity associated with obesity in a large
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Zilanawala, A., Davis-Kean, P., Nazroo, J., Sacker, A., Simonton, S., & Kelly, Y. (2015). Race/ethnic disparities in early childhood BMI,
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