Video Games V. Obesity

Some people can actually be diagnosed with a condition called: obesity. There are some medical professionals out there that say that Obesity qualifies as a disease. Whether obesity is a condition or disease, Obesity is an abnormal high proportion/percent of body fat. A doctor can assess the percentage of body fat simply and easily by measuring body weight in proportion to height, which is the usual way of determining if an individual is overweight, obese, or at normal, healthy weight. A physician/doctor can make a determination if a patient is truly obese by calculating the BMI, which stands for body mass index. The BMI is calculated by dividing the body weight in kilograms by height in meters squared. BMI can be simply calculated using a weight and height table. The main problem with obesity is that it is a sure indicator of possible medical conditions for example diabetes and heart problems. Also, arthritis has been linked to obesity, along with pulmonary conditions that make breathing a problem, which prevents a person from doing active activities. The purpose of the following essay is to look at two articles that pertain first to the causes of obesity, and second pertain to treatment. Both articles deal with the causal links between other diseases and obesity. When it comes to article #2, since it deals with treatment, and not etiology, that article is more linked to OT issues than the first article that addresses causes.
The first article is called “Sugary drinks in the pathogenesis of obesity and cardiovascular diseases” by CM Brown( 2008), links just what it says in the title, sugary drinks in the pathogenesis of obesity and cardiovascular diseases. At first this article explains BMI, waist circumference, waist to hip ratio, and much more, which explains in detail what it means to be more than just overweight, but actually the term “obese”. Brown, et.al. (2008) points out how important it is to conduct blood tests on the individual who is suspected for obesity, for the extremely overweight person could be suffering from something called a thyroid disorder, which can actually cause a person to be overweight and obese.
Brown, et.al. (2008) makes a number of excellent points that pertain to an obesity diagnosis. The researchers claim that surprisingly, government agencies, like the Food and Drug Administration do very little to educate individuals about the harmful and negative effects of sugar consumption on health in general; they do not warn individuals about the causes of CVD or type two diabetes, even though the research makes it clear that sugar is contraindicated. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration, even though they have a strong control of all ingredients in food and drugs in the United States, still, the agency has continued to place its imprimatur on the labels of thirty thousand corn syrup products that are currently found in U.S. food chain markets across the United States. Corn syrup studies prove that obesity is linked to this single ingredient in myriad foods. Unfortunately, ethnic groups like Mexicans and other Latino individuals consume large amounts of sugary drinks and corn syrup products. In fact, Brown et.al. 2008) makes an excellent point that immigrants do not understand the link between obesity and disease, but there is a strong link. African Americans, immigrants from Asia and India, Bangladesh and South America have participated in obesity studies. Immigrants eat more “junk food” and no surprise there; usually have higher Body Mass Indexes than other non-immigrant status individuals.
Brown et.al. (2008) says that soft drink over-consumption is now considered to be a major public health concern with implications for cardiovascular diseases (Brown, et.al. 2008, p34). Brown, et.al. (2008) also says that high-fructose corn syrup is gradually replacing sucrose as the main sweetener in soft drinks and has been blamed as a potential contributor to the current high prevalence of obesity (Brown, et.al., p34). Brown, et. al. (2008) focuses on the potential role of sugary drinks, especially the fructose component, in the pathogenesis of obesity and cardiovascular diseases (Brown, et.al., p35). The link in the Brown study between sugar (fructose) and CVD is very strong. The link between sugary drinks and the new alarming obesity figures generated by western world countries has definitely been established, but the figures for obesity still remain, according to Brown, is the highest in America.
While Brown et.al. (2008) explains what obesity is, as well as the possible causes of obesity, along with the correlations between a number of important variables and obesity, the second article “ The impact of child and adolescent obesity treatment interventions on physical activity: a systematic review” by Cliffs, et.al. (2010) conducts a study that attempts to evaluate treatment for obesity in adolescents and young children, to see if certain kinds of evidence-based strategies that pertain to physical exercise makes a significant difference in weight gain/weight loss. Cliffs says that evidence based strategies are important, because these strategies make an important distinction between a sedentary life style and a lifestyle that includes physical activity. Cliffs examines the lives of a certain number of overweight adolescents to see whether certain strategies that help youth to exercise more, but to exercise in certain ways that cannot be labeled as purely physical exercise. This distinction was made by the researcher’s ends up being critical, for many studies concluded that exercise is main key in weight loss or in the maintenance of stable weights, but the evidence for evidence based strategies has yet to be gathered.
While the Brown article focuses on diagnosis (causes – etiology) of obesity, Cliff et.al. (2010) conducts a study that proves that obesity is an interlinked disease that spreads it evil rolls of fat everywhere. Once a child is obese, they are prime subjects for other diseases, and for living a life that definitely lacks “quality.” The obese child is generally not active, does not exercise, and loses interest in a number of activities that require energy, which is something the obese child does not possess. Lacking all these things are very important. This prevents the child from actively playing with other children and being part of a team.
Cliff et.al. (2010) study a group of students in middle school, to see what difference diet restriction and an exercise regimen will do to improve their health. This study has import for people in the OT profession, for workers here must deal with obese people who refuse to change their lifestyle habits, whether these habits are eating habits or exercise habits. The OT professional becomes interested in the metabolic rates of their clients/patients and notices that poor exercise choices may lead to low metabolic rates. Also, workers in the field notice that poor exercise choices fuel other conditions for example; high triglycerides and other unhealthy cholesterol. Cliff, like Brown makes the point that the persistent use of sugar and sugary drinks amongst Americans, according to Brown, et.al. (2010) leads, in fact, to something called: Metabolic Syndrome. This is a serious condition that ultimately invites CVD and Diabetes type two to be a part of the ill-health horizon for obese people.
In the Brown article, the authors concentrate on diagnosis, and how a person is determined to be obese, and not just overweight; there is a big difference. While Brown attempts to link obesity with a number of other diseases, the authors do not mention or investigate treatment or intervention. On the other hand, Cliff wants to know if information based strategies can lead to better treatment for adolescent and childhood obesity. Still, the question is: what can be done about obesity? Here the researchers investigate various treatments and interventions that can prevent obesity in middle school children. The authors focus on changes in diet and changes in habits of middle school children. Cliff (2010) suggests in the discussion part of their study that education may be the key to obesity, or the key to helping children understand the causal link between exercise and obesity, or the causal link between the consumption of high fat foods and obesity. Until understand the etiology of “fatness”, we will never understand how to intervene with a worthwhile treatment layout and plan.
To sum up all that has been concluded about the high prevalence of obesity in the United States, both the Brown article and the Cliff article link a good number of maladies to obesity, but the Brown study makes it clearer that obesity is very serious; it is related to type two diabetes and even to early mortality. However, for the OT worker, it is important to know that obesity can be prevented. If it is not prevented, still, it can be treated. The most effective treatment is diet restriction and an exercise regimen, most importantly, it should be consistent. It should be noted, however, that obese people need a change of mind in order to achieve permanent weight loss. In my personal opinion, I believe the start begins in motivation. They must understand that they are risking their life, an early death or risk of contracting a number of serious diseases.
The seriousness of obesity cannot be stressed enough, and so the best article that makes this clear is the Cliff study that attempts to investigate treatment for obesity. What both articles need to stress more is the fact that the American public is often led astray by food ingredient labels that hide sugar and corn syrup additives. F fast food advertising makes it extremely difficult for parents to keep high fat foods away from children. Also, most schools and other venues for children often do not cooperate with the parents plans to feed their children a healthy diet. Last, sitting in front of CRT’s and looking at video games, and basically nowadays accessing all information through the computer leads to a sedentary life style that is not good for adults or children.