14.
Globesity
An Obesity Explosion
Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse
effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems. Obesity increases the likelihood of various diseases, particularly heart disease, type 2 diabetes, certain types of cancer, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and osteoarthritis.
For thousands of years obesity was rarely seen. It was not until the 20th century that it became common, so much so that in 1997 the World Health Organization (WHO) formally recognized obesity as a global epidemic.
As of 2005 the WHO estimates that at least 400 million adults (9.8%) are obese, with higher rates among women than men.
As of 2008, The World Health Organization claimed that 1.5
billion adults, 20 and older, were overweight and of these over 200 million men and nearly 300 million women were obese.
Once considered a problem only of high-income countries, obesity rates are rising worldwide. These increases have been felt most dramatically in urban settings. The only remaining region of the world where obesity is not common is sub-Saharan Africa.
Obesity is a leading cause of death worldwide today, with increasing prevalence in adults and children, and authorities view it as one of the most serious public health problems of the 21st century.
Obesity rates have tripled in developing countries over the past 20 years. At the other end of the malnutrition scale, it is one of today’s most blatantly visible – yet most neglected – public health problems.
Paradoxically coexisting with undernutrition, an escalating global epidemic of overweight and obesity – “globesity” – is taking over the world. It is a complex condition, one with serious social and psychological dimensions.
effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems. Obesity increases the likelihood of various diseases, particularly heart disease, type 2 diabetes, certain types of cancer, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and osteoarthritis.
For thousands of years obesity was rarely seen. It was not until the 20th century that it became common, so much so that in 1997 the World Health Organization (WHO) formally recognized obesity as a global epidemic.
As of 2005 the WHO estimates that at least 400 million adults (9.8%) are obese, with higher rates among women than men.
As of 2008, The World Health Organization claimed that 1.5
billion adults, 20 and older, were overweight and of these over 200 million men and nearly 300 million women were obese.
Once considered a problem only of high-income countries, obesity rates are rising worldwide. These increases have been felt most dramatically in urban settings. The only remaining region of the world where obesity is not common is sub-Saharan Africa.
Obesity is a leading cause of death worldwide today, with increasing prevalence in adults and children, and authorities view it as one of the most serious public health problems of the 21st century.
Obesity rates have tripled in developing countries over the past 20 years. At the other end of the malnutrition scale, it is one of today’s most blatantly visible – yet most neglected – public health problems.
Paradoxically coexisting with undernutrition, an escalating global epidemic of overweight and obesity – “globesity” – is taking over the world. It is a complex condition, one with serious social and psychological dimensions.
Fat Dead - A Deadly Problem
People are getting fatter and fatter. So fat, that mortuaries are having a difficult time accommodating all the dead weight. According to a Reuters report published on August 6, 2007, pathologists are calling for new ‘heavy-duty’ autopsy facilities to cope with obese corpses that are difficult to move and dangerously heavy for standard-size trolleys and lifting hoists.
The bodies presented “major logistical problems” and “significant occupational health and safety issues,” according to a separate study, which found the number of obese and morbidly obese bodies had doubled in the past 20 years.
Professor Roger Byard, a pathologist at the University of Adelaide says, “Specially designed mortuaries would soon be required if the nation failed to curb its fat epidemic, providing larger storage and dissection rooms, and more robust equipment.”
“Failure to provide these might compromise the post-mortem evaluation of markedly obese individuals, in addition to potentially jeopardizing the health of mortuary staff,” he adds.
The bodies presented “major logistical problems” and “significant occupational health and safety issues,” according to a separate study, which found the number of obese and morbidly obese bodies had doubled in the past 20 years.
Professor Roger Byard, a pathologist at the University of Adelaide says, “Specially designed mortuaries would soon be required if the nation failed to curb its fat epidemic, providing larger storage and dissection rooms, and more robust equipment.”
“Failure to provide these might compromise the post-mortem evaluation of markedly obese individuals, in addition to potentially jeopardizing the health of mortuary staff,” he adds.
“According to the surgeon general, obesity today is officially an epidemic; it is arguably the most pressing public health problem we face, costing the health care system an estimated $90 billion a year. Three of every five Americans are overweight; one of every five is obese. The disease formerly known as adult-onset diabetes has had to be renamed Type II diabetes since it now occurs so frequently in children. A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association predicts that a child born in 2000 has a one-in-three chance of developing diabetes. (An African American child's chances are two in five.) Because of diabetes and all the other health problems that accompany obesity, today's children may turn out to be the first generation of Americans whose life expectancy will actually be shorter than that of their parents. The problem is not limited to America: The United Nations reported that in 2000 the number of people suffering from bad nutrition (empty calories) --a billion--had officially surpassed the number suffering from malnutrition--800 million.”
~ Michael Pollan, The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals
Obesity Can Begin In 9-month-olds Too!
Obesity epidemic has not spared infants also. A new study has revealed that obesity can begin in babies as young as nine months old.
Researcher Brian Moss, at Wayne State University in Detroit says, “With the consistent evidence that the percent of overweight children has steadily increased over the past decade, we weren’t surprised by the prevalence rates we found in our study, but we were surprised the trend began at such a young age.”
The researchers analysed the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort data collected on 16,400 American children born in 2001. Of these, 8,900 were nine-months-old and 7,500 were two-years-old.
Rapid weight gain in childhood can lead to development of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.
Researcher Brian Moss, at Wayne State University in Detroit says, “With the consistent evidence that the percent of overweight children has steadily increased over the past decade, we weren’t surprised by the prevalence rates we found in our study, but we were surprised the trend began at such a young age.”
The researchers analysed the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort data collected on 16,400 American children born in 2001. Of these, 8,900 were nine-months-old and 7,500 were two-years-old.
Rapid weight gain in childhood can lead to development of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.
Fat Feet - Growing Shoe Size
Around the world, there has been a phenomenal increase in demand for bigger shoes. According to a report by The Daily Mail, thirty years ago the standard shoe size for men across Britain was size 7. Five years ago it was an 8. Now it’s a 9. And 12, the largest typically in stock at stores, now outsells size 7. Scientists say the obesity epidemic is at play.
Average female shoe size has increased to a size six over the last 10 years, and demand for size nines has triggered an 80 percent increase in stocks at the stores.
The change is attributed to women’s feet becoming broader rather than longer due to an increase in average body weight.
Big-footed females are ashamed of stepping out in their shoes but shoemakers have begun to adapt fashionable show designs for larger feet, with celebrities Nicole Kidman, Michelle Obama and Paris Hilton sporting larger footwear on the red carpet.
Average female shoe size has increased to a size six over the last 10 years, and demand for size nines has triggered an 80 percent increase in stocks at the stores.
The change is attributed to women’s feet becoming broader rather than longer due to an increase in average body weight.
Big-footed females are ashamed of stepping out in their shoes but shoemakers have begun to adapt fashionable show designs for larger feet, with celebrities Nicole Kidman, Michelle Obama and Paris Hilton sporting larger footwear on the red carpet.
3 Year Old Girls Worry About Being Fat!
Girls as young as three worry about their body image, according to a new study published in the British Journal of Developmental Psychology
Psychology professor Stacey Tantleff-Dunn and doctoral student Sharon Hayes, University of Central Florida, found that nearly half of the 3 to 6-year-old girls worried about being fat even before they start school.
Experts observed that about one-third would go the extent of changing a physical attribute, such as their weight or hair colour.
Study says that watching a movie starring a stereotypically thin and beautiful princess may influence young girls’ behaviour or self-esteem. Researchers urged parents to take their young girls to see animated movies since they were unlikely to influence how they perceive their bodies.
Professor Tantleff-Dunn says, “We need to help our children challenge the images of beauty, particularly thinness, that they see and idolize and encourage them to question how much appearance should be part of their self-worth. We should help them build a positive self-image with an appreciation for many different types of body attributes.”
Psychology professor Stacey Tantleff-Dunn and doctoral student Sharon Hayes, University of Central Florida, found that nearly half of the 3 to 6-year-old girls worried about being fat even before they start school.
Experts observed that about one-third would go the extent of changing a physical attribute, such as their weight or hair colour.
Study says that watching a movie starring a stereotypically thin and beautiful princess may influence young girls’ behaviour or self-esteem. Researchers urged parents to take their young girls to see animated movies since they were unlikely to influence how they perceive their bodies.
Professor Tantleff-Dunn says, “We need to help our children challenge the images of beauty, particularly thinness, that they see and idolize and encourage them to question how much appearance should be part of their self-worth. We should help them build a positive self-image with an appreciation for many different types of body attributes.”
“While the surgeon general is raising alarms over the epidemic of obesity, the president is signing farm bills designed to keep the river of cheap corn flowing, guaranteeing that the cheapest calories in the supermarket will continue to be the unhealthiest. ”
~Michael Pollan, The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals
Epidemic of Under-nutrition
On the other end of the nutritional scale lies under-nutrition. Malnutrition has triggered two global epidemics - epidemic of under-nutrition and an epidemic of obesity. One leads to underweight and the other, to overweight.
Under-nutrition causes stunted growth and wasting (being extremely thin) in nearly 300 million children. Nearly 4 million children die each year from nutritional risks, including underweight, and vitamin and mineral deficiency, particularly of vitamin A, iron, iodine and zinc.
WHO’s Director of Nutrition for Health and Development, Francesco Branca says, at the same time 43 million children under age five are overweight.
Often we have in the same countries, at the same time, the presence of under-nutrition and overweight.
Underweight in women and children is responsible for more premature deaths and disability than any other preventable risk factor - more than unsafe sex, more than tobacco use and more than overweight.
Under-nutrition causes stunted growth and wasting (being extremely thin) in nearly 300 million children. Nearly 4 million children die each year from nutritional risks, including underweight, and vitamin and mineral deficiency, particularly of vitamin A, iron, iodine and zinc.
WHO’s Director of Nutrition for Health and Development, Francesco Branca says, at the same time 43 million children under age five are overweight.
Often we have in the same countries, at the same time, the presence of under-nutrition and overweight.
Underweight in women and children is responsible for more premature deaths and disability than any other preventable risk factor - more than unsafe sex, more than tobacco use and more than overweight.