Obese Obesity Is the Health Disorder in Term Paper

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Obese

Obesity is the health disorder in which there is excess proportion of total body fat. An individual is an obese when his or her weight is approximately twenty or more percent above the normal weight. Scientist uses body mass index (BMI) as the common measure for obesity as the health disorder. Obesity affects the development of human beings. If the weight of an individual is between 25 and 30 in relation to BMI, the individual comes out as overweight. Any rating of BMI that is above the approximation of 30 qualifies an individual as obese. When an individual weighs either 50 or 100% over the normal weight, scientist categorizes the condition as morbid obesity. This degree of obesity indicates that the individual has more than 100 pounds extra weight (40 BMI and above). This condition might interfere with the health or normal functioning of the body of the victim.

There are several causes of obesity within the contemporary societies. The constant factor that leads to the obese condition is overconsumption of calories that the body of an individual cannot burn. This comes down to eating too much and spending little time in exercising. Despite this being the main cause of obesity, there are other crucial factors that play vital roles in the development of the obesity. One of the factors influencing obesity is age. As an individual gets older, the ability of the body to metabolize food particles declines. This is an indication that the body does not require many calories to maintain the development in weight. This factor illustrates that individuals at the age of 20 consume the same quantity as they utilize. When they reach 40, they start to slow down the process of utilization of calories thus gain weight. The second factor that influences obesity is gender. There is a notion that women tend to be more overweight than their male counterpart is (Wang, et al. p. 1572-1578).

This is because scientific research indicates that men have higher resting metabolic rate in comparison to women. This is an indication that men have higher capacity to burn more energy while resting than women do. High resting metabolic rate in men is an illustration that men require many calories in order to maintain their weight. Another reason in relation to gender is that as women approaches their menopause, their metabolic rate decreases. This is an expression of why most women gain weight after reaching menopause. The third factor that plays critical role in development of obesity is genetics. Researches indicate that obesity runs in families. In experiments to determine the cause or development of obesity within the American society, it was noted that environmental set-up plays minimal role in comparison to genetic make-up. There is a scientific notion indicating that if an individual's mother is heavy in adulthood, there are more than 70% chances that her children would be heavy. The other factor is environmental set-up.

Environmental factors that influence obesity include eating habits and exercising patterns of an individual. Individuals who consume large quantities of calories and participate in minimal exercise activities tend to obtain excess weight in relation to the normal human weight. The other factor that enhances obesity is physical activity. Scientific researches indicate that active individuals require more calories in comparison to the dormant people within the society. It is also clear that physical activity has the capacity to limit appetite in individuals experiencing obesity. Physical activity also promotes the capacity of metabolism within the body system. Most cases of obesity within the American society prove to result from minimal physical activities. The other factor that influences obesity within the American society is psychological element. Some of the psychological elements that promote obesity are boredom, sorrow, and anger. Some individuals eat in response to emotions such as anger and sorrow thus consume large amount of calories. Researches indicate that most individuals who have difficulties in managing their weight issues experience psychological and emotional issues. The other rare factor that might contribute towards the development of obesity is illness. Some illnesses can cause obesity. These illnesses might include hormonal problems such as hypothyroidism, depression, and some rare brain diseases that might result into overeating activities. The other factor that might cause obesity is medication. Scientific researches indicate that some drugs have the capacity to influence obesity. Some of these drugs are steroids and antidepressants. These drugs might leaf to excessive weight gain within the American society (Wang, et al. p. 1572-1578).

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One of the most painful aspects of the health disorder (obesity) is the emotional element. Obesity causes crucial emotional suffering to the victims thus affecting their human development. The American society focuses on the importance of fighting obesity to further the development of the citizens. This is through the promotion of physical appearance in relation to slimness and muscularity. Emotional suffering of the obese individuals within the American society might come down to stereotyping acts such as being referred to as lazy and gluttonous people. Victims of obesity face serious prejudice and discrimination at work, school, and social situations. These acts result into development of shame, depression, and rejection affecting the obese individuals within the American society. Individuals should seek medical attention in the presence of psychological and emotional issues in relation to obesity. The medical assistance would enable the individual to lose weight thus maintain the normal human weight (Stewart p. 202).

Obesity and Age in America

There is great relationship between obesity, age, and racial differentiation in America. Research conducted in 2010 indicates that about four in ten middle-aged blacks suffer from obesity. This number is greater than any other racial or age group within the context of the United States of America. For instance, within the capital city, Washington, D.C, it is clear that roughly 3 in ten Americans aged 45 to 64 suffer from obesity. This number is more than any other age group in relation to the data from the Gallup-Health ways Well-being index.

Obesity in the United States by Age

The graph above illustrates those individuals at their early ages of development (18-29) experiences minimal obesity status. This is an indication that these individuals have the capacity to burn excess calories within the body system during metabolism. This age group represents individuals in their youth stage thus have greater capacity to participate in physical activities. This enables them to burn excess calories thus maintenance of normal weight. There is a rise in the percentage of obesity within the second age group (30-44) indicating that the level of physical activity starts to decline. Individuals falling within this age group consume more calories than their body system can burn. These individual lack energy and enthusiasm to participate in the physical activities like the younger generation hence increase in cases of obesity within the age group.

There is increase in the percentage of obesity cases in America as illustrated in the third age group (45-64). This is an indication that individuals have the capacity to consume calories with minimal efforts to burn the excess fats within the body system. This causes percentage of obesity cases in America to rise to over 38% across the third age group. As individuals grow old, their capacity to consume large food particles decreases. This is an illustration of minimal consumption of calories due to lose of strength and urge to consume food. This drags down cases of obesity in old age as illustrated within the fourth age group. As individuals approach above 65 years, their tendency to consume drops thus decline in the percentage of obesity incidences in America. This follows that as age increases, incidences or percentage of obesity cases in America increase up to optimum limit then the curve starts to come down. This leads to the formation of a bell-shaped curve in depiction of age and obesity relationship within the context of America.

Obesity and Gender in the United States of America

Researches indicate that there are more incidences of obesity in women than in men. This is down to the body system in relation to gender. Biologically, it is precise that men have higher resting metabolic system than women do. This allows men to have higher capacity of burning calories while resting than women. This leads to minimal cases of obesity amongst the male individuals within the context of the United States of America. Another explanation that demonstrates why more women suffer from obesity than men is the experiencing of menopause. This renders women's body weak hence unable to burn the excess calories within the body system. Accumulation of the excess calories enables women to gain weight in excess of the normal weight thus obesity. Men also perform physical activities thus keeping their body weights in constant checks unlike women. This reduces the excess calories within the body system thus allowing men to avoid incidences of obesity in most scenarios (Menifield p. 83).

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