The Underlying Challenge of Obesity: A US Healthcare Crisis Report

This report addresses the escalating obesity problem in the United States, highlighting its detrimental effects on the nation's health and economy. The study reveals a significant increase in obesity rates among adults, linking it to severe health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cancer, ...Read More

The Underlying Challenge
of Obesity
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Background
The current health problems in the United States
are becoming potential hazards to the economic
wellbeing of the country. On the other hand, the
number of individuals with obesity has
significantly increased in the last decade. A
research by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) reveals that the rate of obesity
has increased among adults from 33.7% to 39.6%
(Hales et al., 2016). Obesity has been linked to
infections such as cancer, type 2 diabetes, high
blood pressure, stroke and heart disease in the
country. Obesity is also a fundamental problem
among children (Skinner et al., 2018).

General Problem
The overall problem is the burden of obesity in the
country.
More than 2/3 of adults in the US are overweight
with almost a third who are obese.
The cost of managing obesity in the US is currently
between $147 and $210 per year.
The disease is also associated with absenteeism
costing of approximately $4.3 billion on an annual
base.
Every obese worker in the country presents a
lower productivity which cost employers
approximately $506 per obese employee per anual.

Specific Problem
The specific problem is the negative effect of
obesity on the associated patients in the USA.
The United States is Ranked position 12
among the most obese countries in the world
(Barbour et al., 2017).
The country also ranks high in obese related
complications like hypertension, diabetes
type 2, cancer and heart disease.

Purpose
The main purpose of this study is to minimize
the prevalence of obesity in the United
States.
This is significant to research because the
country ranks among the top in relation to
not only obesity but also related
complications which have negatively
impacted the economic wellbeing and lives of
the people across the nation.

Findings
Obesity leads to development of type 2 diabetes
which increases the risk for death (Ogden et al.,
2015).
Obesity is a major risk factor to hypertension.
Individuals with obesity have minimized lung
capacity hence likely to develop respiratory
disorders.
Obesity is vied as the ultimate initiator of more
than 90,000 cancer deaths per year.
Obesity places pressure on the entire circulatory
system hence causing cerebrovascular disease and
stroke.

Unexpected Findings
Obesity leads to the development of
Gastrophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
(ASMBS, 2019).
Obesity contributes heavily to the
development of liver disease.
There is a great correlation between Obesity
and Alzheimer’s Disease
Obesity leads to Urinary incontinence.

Unexpected Findings
Continuation…
Obesity is a primary cause of infertility
(ASMBS, 2019).
Obesity heavily contribute to the
development of polycystic ovarian syndrome.
Obesity heavily contribute the development
of septicemia.
Obesity is highly linked to the development of
pancreatitis
Obesity may cause liver failure.

Indirect Impacts of Obesity
Obesity may cause suicide.
Obesity contribute to depression.
The expense of obesity treatment negatively
impacts the financial status of the patient.
Obesity may negatively impact the social
wellbeing of an individual.

Recommendation
Promotion of community development
programs regarding weight reduction
strategies (Dietz et al., 2015).
Provision of dietary education to the entire
society (Brownell et al., 2017).
Aiding in performance of isometric exercises
with a primary goal of weight reduction.
Provision of appropriate medications
approved for weight management.
Consideration of obesity pharmacotherapy
(Bray et al., 2016).

Final Thoughts
Following the information provided under the
findings, it is clear that obesity is a fundamental
crisis to the wellbeing of citizens in the united
states of America. There is a need for the
government together with other healthcare
providers to initiate programs that aid in curbing
the adverse arising from obesity. Most importantly,
the management of obesity requires lifestyle
changes especially at the individual patient level.
Therefore, more efforts must be places at
educating the society regarding personal efforts in
obesity management.

References
ASMBS (2019). The impact of obesity on your body and
health [online]. Retrieved from: https://
asmbs.org/patients/impact-of-obesity
Barbour, K. E., Helmick, C. G., Boring, M., Qin, J., Pan, L.,
& Hootman, J. M. (2017). Obesity Trends Among US
Adults With Doctor‐Diagnosed Arthritis 2009–
2014. Arthritis care & research, 69(3), 376-383.
Bray, G. A., Frühbeck, G., Ryan, D. H., & Wilding, J. P.
(2016). Management of obesity. The Lancet, 387(10031),
1947-1956.
Brownell, K. D., & Walsh, B. T. (2017). Eating disorders
and obesity: A comprehensive handbook. Guilford
Publications, 14(4), 134-165.

References continuation……..
Dietz, W. H., Baur, L. A., Hall, K., Puhl, R. M., Taveras, E. M.,
Uauy, R., & Kopelman, P. (2015). Management of obesity:
improvement of health-care training and systems for prevention
and care. The Lancet, 385(9986), 2521-2533.
Hales, C. M., Fryar, C. D., Carroll, M. D., Freedman, D. S., &
Ogden, C. L. (2018). Trends in obesity and severe obesity
prevalence in US youth and adults by sex and age, 2007-2008 to
2015-2016. Jama, 319(16), 1723-1725.
Ogden, C. L., Carroll, M. D., Fryar, C. D., & Flegal, K. M. (2015).
Prevalence of obesity among adults and youth: United States,
2011–2014.
Skinner, A. C., Ravanbakht, S. N., Skelton, J. A., Perrin, E. M., &
Armstrong, S. C. (2018). Prevalence of obesity and severe obesity
in US children, 1999–2016. Pediatrics, 141(3), e20173459.