Obesity as a Medical and Social Problem
Obesity is increasingly becoming a global problem. It affects not only people’s health but also their social life. A person with a Body Mass Index (BMI) above 30 is obese. Those with a BMI above 40 have extreme obesity. Obesity is a health problem that not only contributes to diabetes mellitus but also coronary heart disease and some types of cancer. It also leads to breathing disorders when a person is asleep.
Lack of physical exercise, consumption of high-energy foods, and genetic susceptibility are the leading causes of obesity. It is becoming more popular than infectious diseases and under-nutrition, particularly in some industrialized countries such as the US. Poor people are also affected; they lack adequate revenue to purchase healthy food and avenues of physical exercise. Obesity has led to an increase in deaths due to cancer and heart diseases.
Obese people undergo various social problems; they are discriminated against and stigmatized. Stigma leads to physiological and psychological impairments, such as anxiety and depression. It also lowers a person’s self-esteem. Stigma can lead to a lack of interest in engaging in physical exercise and receiving care.
Obesity causes more than 3.4 million deaths worldwide. It also leads to disability; most obese individuals suffer from joint pains. They are also at risk of developing breast, prostate, ovarian, and kidney cancers. Studies show that there are more women with obesity than men. Obesity can lead to stroke, heart failure, asthma, osteoarthritis, gall bladder disease, and chronic back pain.
Obese individuals face rejection, humiliation, and ridicule from their peers, teachers, and physicians. That leads to mood disorders, problems in interpersonal communication, and eating problems. Stigmatization of obese patients in hospitals leads to health inequalities. Obesity health effects increase financial burdens due to hospital bills. They also burden the health care systems.
Studies reveal that obese people have poor sexual health. They encounter challenges in sexual activities. They also have a lower life expectancy. The industrialized countries are likely to face an increase in the number of obese individuals. Research reveals that minorities are more affected than whites. Obese people suffer from social and psychological impairments that affect the quality of their lives.
Obesity contributes to a loss in national productivity. Obese individuals receive lower wages due to difficulties in physical functioning and absenteeism during hospital visits. Close to 30% of US youths cannot join the military because of obesity. Obesity is preventable; you can prevent it through physical exercise and consumption of healthy diets.
References
Kopelman, Peter G. “Obesity as a medical problem.” Nature 404.6778 (2000): 635-643.
Saguy, Abigail C., Kjerstin Gruys, and Shanna Gong. “Social problem construction and national context: news reporting on” overweight” and” obesity” in the United States and France.” Social problems 57.4 (2010): 586-610.
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