Causal Analysis: How Obesity Affects People Worldwide

John Oehlerking
Instructor Simone Gers
WRT 101
18 Sep 2014
Obesity: A Causal Analysis
Obesity is an epidemic that affects people Worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, The obese population of World as a whole is approximately 1 billion people. (Croissant). “Obesity, [is] a state in which excess lipids accumulate in various body fat depots due to a chronic imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure…” (Tan, et al). Most experts believe that one of the leading causes of obesity is overeating. In the United States, the rise in the average weight of Americans can be rooted back to [simply] consuming more calories (“The Overeating Epidemic”). Lack of exercise has been argued to be a major cause of the obesity problem.
Experts have conducted studies that have linked the rise in obesity with a rise in more sedentary lifestyles (“Lack of Exercise”). Rising food prices and a lack of available healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables have led many to make unhealthy food choices. These low-cost diets have been responsible for many cases of obesity, especially in low income households where healthier food choices are not an option (Croissant). Genetic obesity although less prominent than cases of overeating and lack of exercise, has affected many people. Although it has been debated whether or not genetics are directly related to obesity or just a contributing factor. Whether it be caused by overeating, lack of exercise, dieting choices and habits, or genetic traits, Obesity is a problem not only in America, but around the world as well.
Overeating has long been thought of as the leading cause of obesity. Many people may be misled by the term “overeating” as it does not necessarily convey that people are consuming too much food in volume as much as it refers to the amount of energy your body consumes in contrast to the amount of energy expended. New studies have shown that Americans who are obese are likely gaining weight because they eat too much. According to the European Congress on Obesity, Americans on average consume as much as 500 calories more today than in 1970 (“The Overeating Epidemic”). For some, overeating can become an addiction. A chemical known as Dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter in the brain that is released during activities that are associated with a sense of euphoria such as sex, drug use and eating, are responsible for the addictive cycle that leads to overindulgence (Gelling). Although overeating is itself considered by many to be a disorder, it has been widely recognized as a leading cause of obesity.
Many experts believe that a lack of physical activity, is more to blame for the obesity epidemic than overeating is. In fact, a study by the Stanford University School of Medicine researchers revealed that between 1988 and 2010, there were large increases in obesity and inactivity in people with little increases in caloric intake to boot (Lack of Exercise). This research study personifies the link between the lack of physical activity and obesity.
The percentage of women reporting no physical activity jumped from 19 percent to 52 percent between 1988 and 2010; the percentage of inactive men rose from 11 percent to 43 percent over the same period. Obesity also increased, climbing from 25 to 35 percent in women and from 20 to 35 percent in men. (“Lack of Exercise”)
Unhealthy food and dietary choices has been thought to cause obesity. Many people have introduced unhealthy foods to their everyday diets in order to save money. As food prices continue to soar the abundance of low-cost foods which provide an unhealthy, caloric heavy meal, soft drinks containing high levels of sugar or high-fructose corn syrup and the lack of fresh fruit and vegetable options have become a major contributor to obesity (Croissant). In the 1950’s, Americans began to change their dietary intake based on a theory that led them to believe that a low fat diet would lower heart disease rates. This caused a movement towards high- carb foods that were low in fat but had a taste that did not appeal to consumers. The Food industry started to introduce larger and larger amounts of sugar to foods to make it more appealing (Glassman). The consumption of these high content foods only serve to increase the obesity epidemic.
There is a common misconception among those who are afflicted with the obesity gene.
Most believe that they were predestined to become overweight. Those who are born with these defective genes are not doomed to become obese, in fact living an active lifestyle and make healthy dietary choices can offset the effects of the obesity gene. According to a study conducted in recent years, Fried foods can cause a mutation in these “fat” genes and exacerbate genetic weight gain (“Genes are not Destiny”). Although Genetics do play a role, the hereditary genes that are responsible for obesity are not as much to blame as the people who are carrying
them.
The root causes of obesity will be debated for years to come. However, there is no denying that in a world consumed by living at the speed of light, we have adopted a sedentary lifestyle which includes the consumption of fast food, premade processed foods and sugar laden soft drinks that have done nothing but add weight to the growing problem. Coupled with the lack of exercise, obesity is an epidemic that is growing into a worldwide health crisis.
Works Cited
Croissant, Jennifer.
"Obesity." Encyclopedia of Contemporary American Social Issues. Ed. Michael Shally-Jensen. Vol. 4: Environment, Science, and Technology. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2011. 1569-1572. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 13 Sept. 2014.
Gelling, Cristy. "Gut-Brain Link Tied To Overeating: Treatment To Restore Communication Curbs Appetite In Mice." Science News 184.7 (2013): 15. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 13 Sept. 2014.
Glassman, Tavis, Jennifer Glassman, and Aaron J. Diehr. "Obesity: A Public Health Failure?" American Journal of Health Studies 28.4 (2013): 8. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 15 Sept. 2014.
"Lack of exercise, Not Diet, Linked to rise in Obesity, Stanford research Shows" med.stanford.edu. Stanford Medicine. 27 July 2014. Web. 13 Sep 2014.
Tan, Li-Jun, et al. "Replication of 6 Obesity Genes in a Meta-Analysis of Genome-Wide Association Studies From Diverse Ancestries." Plos ONE 9.5 (2014): 1-14. Academic Search Premier. Web. 13 Sept. 2014.
"The Overeating Epidemic." Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter 27.6 (2009): 4. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 13 Sept.
2014.