Why Adolescent Obesity Is An Epidemic Of Global Proportion

The population of overweight adults has now reached 1 billion, of which 300,000 are suffering from obesity. By far, WHO believes juvenile obesity to be an epidemic of global proportion. This observable fact has affected both urban and emergent countries. Obesity is thought to be one of the chief causes of high blood pressure, heart diseases, certain types of cancer, and type 2 diabetes milletus. The varying diet patterns, immobile lifestyles and the absence of healthy leisure facilities in the population have been acknowledged as the causes of adolescent obesity.

Obesity is determined through measuring the body mass index of an individual , which means that the weight in kilograms is divided by the square of height in meters (kg/m2). An individual is believed to be obese if their BMI reaches above 30 k/m2. If the BMI is more than 25k/m2 but below 30k/m2 the person is considered to be overweight. As BMI increases, the likelihood of acquiring health related risks conversely increase. If the population of adolescent obesity continues to balloon, it is expected that more adults will be suffering from the dreadful and debilitating health effects of obesity.

Psychological and social problems are equally undesirable effects of obesity, specifically adolescent obesity. Obese adults more usually withdrew themselves from social groups for fear of ridicule. They developed a low self-esteem since being fat or obese is considered ugly. They are often the source of jokes among their peers. The longer they experience estrangement from their age group the more they surrender to depression, which may pose another health problem. Being obese is not communally bad after all, but if this line of accepted wisdom should be supported, many adults will be suffering from sadness and other health problems.

One causal factor to the increasing number of obese adults is the media. Adults are bombarded with so much information regarding routine food. Fast food restaurants are mushrooming in highly urbanized cities around the globe that mostly cater to the youth sector. Foods that are cooked with high saturated fat that is of animal based and high in sugar content are also a major factor of obesity. Adolescents have more time spent watching tv program or playing games with their pcs than playing a more physical recreational activities.

More than anything else obese adults need support in sustaining and maintaining their ideal body weight. Any weight reducing diets programs or weight loss exercise course of therapy may prove futile if not followed strictly. Support from their significant others plays a vital role to curbing obesity among them by helping them to have self-discipline in achieving their goal to become healthy and physically fit.

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