Epidemiology of Obesity essay

EPIDEMIOLOGY 7

Epidemiologyof Obesity

Abstract

Prevalenceof obesity among young and old individuals has been on the rise formany years, and millions of people die annual due to this condition.It causes adverse effects on other conditions like blood pressure,insulin resistance, and levels of cholesterol in the body amongothers. Obesity varies among people depending on their races, ethnicbackgrounds, social classes, and ages. For instance, old people havehigh likelihood to developing this condition as compared to youngindividuals. Again, some studies show that women have higher chancesof contracting this condition as compared to men since, unlike men,they engage in fewer physical activities. This paper will focus onfactors that influence obesity as well as look at the prevalence ofobesity among the aforementioned groups.

Indeveloped countries, obesity among children and adults has been onthe rise since 1980. In United States, there was an increase inprevalence of obesity from 14% to 32%, between 1947 and 2004(Crawford, 2010). Body mass index (BMI) is the appropriate methodthat is used to assess degrees or levels of underweight andoverweight. Increased body mass index is the major factor thatincreases the chances of an individual having this condition.Undeniably, obesity varies greatly according an individual’s race,age, ethnic and social class (Crawford, 2010).

Purpose

Thepurpose of this paper is to determine the prevalence and trends ofobesity among different people from varying age groups and races. Itis vital to note that the data use with regard to the prevalence ofobesity is cross examined by National center of Health statisticshence, it is viable.

Prevalenceand Trends

Ahigher body weight is associated with increased probability ofcontracting obesity and other conditions. Higher body weightincreases chances of contracting a number of conditions, likecardiovascular disease, nonalcoholic liver disease, and diabetesmellitus. The effect of obesity on mortality and morbidity could bedifficult to determine since it vary by age and sex, and is furtherinfluenced by certain factors, like an individual smoking status(Boyd, 2010). Again, abdominal and general obesity have been provedto cause independent effects on mortality risk

Theprevalence of obesity is derived from population studies because thecurrent role of medical personnel to provide records is not viable.The data on prevalence of obesity is cross examined by Nationalcenter of Health statistics in United States between 1960 and 2004the percentage variation of obesity was 22% in the U.S. The changewas attributed to increased reduction in consumption of fatty lipidfoods, which have a high likelihood of increasing obesity. In2003-2004, 33% of individuals between 22-75 years were obese.However, prior years recorded a lesser prevalence because of theabsence of fatty foods and proper lifestyles of living. The healthrecords in population studies shows that between 1989 and 1995 therewas increased spread of obesity among women than men. In men theprevalence was 21% while 26% in women (Crawford, 2010). The healthrecords in population studies shows that between 1989 and 1995 therewas increased prevalence of obesity among women than men among thelatter the prevalence was 21% while in the former it was 26%.Increased prevalence in obesity among the women could be attributedto lesser physical activities that they carry out as compared to men.Prevalence of obesity between 1999 and 2004 was significant reduced,thanks to the increased measures put in place to reduce thiscondition (Crawford, 2010)

TheBMI distribution is not based on the prevalence of obesity andoverweight rather it is based on the age levels due of the increasedlevels of association between the existing age differences. Theprevalence of obesity old people is highly associated with the highlevels of fats in their body. Undeniably, the BMI distribution couldbe essential in the determination of prevalence of obesity among allthe age groups. Certain statistical analysis carried between 1999 and2004 showed that adults were more likely to develop obesity whencompared to their younger counterparts (Boyd, 2010).

Theprevalence of obesity among people of lesser age brackets enormouslyaffected the BMI distribution. Among the school going children,obesity could be attributed to the increased consumption of junkfoods which contain high levels of fats. Between 2004 and 2009massive efforts were carried out to reduce the prevalence of obesity,and one of the enactments aimed at the reduction of distribution ofjunk foods (Crawford, 2010).

Accordingto Boyd (2010), body size is often one of the key determinants ofobesity distribution among people of different age groups. Differentethnic groups are often associated with different body sizes. Forinstance, most Whites have big bodies which are associated withincreased prevalence of obesity. Consequently, Hispanics areconsidered much smaller and the prevalence of obesity is lesser amongthese ethnic groups due to the increased burning of fats in the body.Lastly, Africans possess lesser risk of obesity because of theirsmaller body weight and body to mass index as compared to the Whites.

Conclusion

Inconclusion, the epidemiology of obesity is different among agegroups, ethnic groups, and social classes. Over a longer period,majority of measures across the US have focused on reducing theobesity levels for instance, reduction of junk food among schoolgoing children has been given much attention and priority. Thedifference in age forms one of the major precepts of obesitydistribution among different age groups.

References

BoydOrr J. (2010). FoodHealth and Income.London: Macmillan Press.

Crawford,D. (2010). ObesityEpidemiology: From Aetiology to Public Health.Oxford: Oxford University Press.