A Worldwide Epidemic of Obesity and Ways to Handle It

Obesity is among of the most concerning issues humankind faces today. From the last three decades till now people have been experiencing this problem more often. Obesity is defined as a condition of abnormal or excessive fat accumulation in adipose tissue, to the extent that health is impaired. World Health Organisation (2020) stated that “Obesity is referred to as a health disease or condition that happens when an individual has extra weight or body fat that could impact his or her health. Body mass index is the best way to measure the obesity and overweight. Callahan (2013) defined that body mass index is amount of excess fat. According to world health organisation (2020) An adult is considered as obese who has BMI 30 or higher An adult is considered as overweight who has a BMI between 25 and 29 and this can lead to diabetes. This essay will argue that we are really experiencing a worldwide epidemic of obesity, which we can control only through to overcoming the current popularity of the fast food diet.

To begin with, an epidemic is characterised as a disease which occur rapidly and suddenly influence the health of numerous people and the incidence of any number of disease cases evidently exceeds and generally prevails through the usual expectations. Nowadays, numerous of developed and underdeveloped countries confronting the obesity and overweight health issues that is becoming a major epidemic across the globe. There is clear evidence from the OECD report 2017 that showed that the rates of overweight and obesity are sharply rise mostly in Mexico, United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, Switzerland. The most noticeable terrible figures are found in UK and USA whereas strongest numbers in japan and Korea. Most nation are facing a serious rise in overweight rates.

Secondly, there are projections that rates of obesity and overweight already historically high and Currently, reached at the epidemic levels and will be rise in the future. According to the Whiteman honor (2014) researches in the past few decades millions of people across the world or globe are affected from this obesity epidemic either its adults, children and elder people. A report of national health and nutrition (2012) also depicts that approximately 35 % people are under the age of 20 -30 who suffering from the obesity and overweight problem. Despite this, there is another evidence from the Centre of Disease Control and prevention (CDC) survey stated that People who had been in the 40-59 age group had the maximum levels of obesity as compared to other age categories. People from this age group recorded 34.6% obesity while adults of age under 20 to 39 and aged 60 and more witnessed a ratio of 26.5% and 30.1% respectively. According to world health organisation (WHO) estimation report by 2030 the percentage of overweight and obese people will be increased by 2.16 billion and 1.12 billion respectively.

Additionally, there are multiple aspects related to the rising numbers of obesity epidemic that representing a significant hazards or risks. For example, changing atmosphere and varying eating habits and absence of physical activity. Among of the above cause, present day diet, such as over use of inexpensive or unhealthy food or fast foods, as the main cause that making People around the world are obese and sicker than they used to. Studies show that hospitality industry is root cause of obesity epidemic because these industries are producing the high calories food such as, cheap quality and excessive fat or low nourishments and sugar, drink, and salty snacks. for examples-McDonald, coca cola, Pepsi-co which are international organizations, making lots or profits from selling these high fat or calories food. This contributing to the world’s major -or long-lasting diseases such as, diabetes, hypertension, heart stroke and making people disable as well as effecting the life quality and reducing the life expectation. There is another studied of Guardian burden of disease show that in 2017, as a results of obesity, 4.7 million people pass away internationally.

As it can be clear from the above investigations that obesity is a multifactorial issue and deeply rooted in our cultural framework which means that there are no simple solutions for this. but still, there are various way suggested by the World Health Organization to handle the epidemic of obesity which can be applied by people and government as well. Firstly, at individual level people have to control their bad eating habits and participate in physical activities. Another way to control obesity is to stop the uptake and popularity of the fast foods. For this reason, various policies or strategies are required to actually improve nutrition and minimize the overconsumption of unhealthy food. Therefore, strategies that can be involved are:

• banning of marketing and advertising of processed food in public places and schools
• labeling the additional nutritional value on the packaging of readymade food
• implementing strategies regarding the food charges.

Therefore, the research suggests that the major intervention from government and food industry would play an important role to stop or reduce the rise of obesity in future that is the main objective or goal of WHO. It can improve the quality of food framework - like nourishment and surroundings.

From the reasons discussed above it can be concluded that obesity really become an epidemic in the world. Due to this, people are suffering from the various health issues or diseases all around the world. The government and people need to work together to stop this happening in the future.