Obesity is a rather large, no pun intended, problem in the
United States. When I hear the mention
of obesity I immediately think of the US.
However, this is quickly becoming a problem for many other countries across the world. The CIA reported the top 10 countries in the world with the highest obesity rates
and five of the countries are in Oceania, four are in the Middle East and then
the United States. Worldwide obesity rates have doubled since 1980. In 2008, 35% of the adults aged 20 and over
were overweight and 11% were obese. (WHO)
That was back in 2008, since then obesity rates have been rising faster
and faster with each new year. As you
can see this is a problem.
The expansion in the world's waistline caught the eye of the
WHO and in May of 2004 they adopted a Global Strategy on Diet, Physical
Activity and Health. "This new
strategy provided recommendations for Member States, WHO, international
partners, private sector, civil society and nongovernmental organizations on
the promotion of healthy diets and regular physical activity for the prevention
of noncommunicable diseases. " (WHO
diet). First lady, Michelle "Guns"
Obama is the creator and leader of the Let's Move program here in the US. Her program fights to get kids moving, how to
be active on a daily basis and to educate kids on eating healthy and making
better choices when it comes to nutrition and health habits. (Let's Move) This
effort has been wildly successful. The
efforts of the program have decreased childhood obesity by 13% in Mississippi
as well as a decrease in Philadelphia, New York City and California. (Let's Move)
The US has made it a focus to slim down our population and
clean up our plates to a healthier version.
Other countries are catching on slowly. But when will this become a more
urgent focus? I realize that obesity may not be a problem for all countries or
has not been a problem for as long as it has been here in the US. BUT obesity
is almost entirely PREVENTABLE! There
needs to be a bigger movement towards bringing global obesity rates down and
then maintain those rates. Obesity leads
to a number of diseases that are once again PREVENTABLE.
Being a personal trainer for many years now, I have a
passion for helping other people reach a new healthier version of themselves. Why not a new healthier version of the
overweight countries? I know that weight loss is hard work, but it can be
done. Weight loss is a joint effort and
requires many resources, especially on a global scale, however the benefits of
a healthy population are exponential.
With health care being such a pain these days, why not make the extra
effort to work towards staying out of the hospital and doctor's office. Healthy individuals means less money having
to be pumped into poor health care infrastructures, means more people back at
work and working more productively, which means a stimulus in the economy,
which means a way of overcoming debt and unemployment.
In closing, here comes the personal trainer, go out a make a
healthy decision every day. Even if it
is just a small one. Every step counts and together our efforts can make the
world a better place.
Excellent post Brittney. Now, can you please engage more with your view:- like "go out and make a healthy decision everyday". Can all people really do that? Are some sections of society forced to take unhealthy decisions due to structural violence? What do you think?
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree wholeheartedly with Brittney’s post, I do also have to agree with Lala’s point regarding people not being able to make healthy choices due to structural violence. We actually discussed this issue in another class, and one of the major problems is “food deserts,” which are areas where grocery stores that offer fresh fruits and vegetables are not found. Instead, the main options are prepackaged foods high in preservatives and fat content; foods that contribute to the obesity epidemic. Perhaps a solution to these food deserts would be for the local community to work with the government to create subsidies for stores to make it easier for them to carry healthy options.
ReplyDeleteAnother form of structural violence that makes it difficult to lead a healthy lifestyle is the community itself. Sometimes the environment one lives in is not conducive to exercise. It’s not really a secret or surprise that lower income areas are prone to violence, so going out for a walk or jog isn’t possible, and gym memberships can really add up. Not to mention that for single parents or parents who work multiple jobs or odd shifts, finding the time to exercise is difficult. A solution to this would be to work with local community centers to hold exercise classes at a time that would be convenient and maybe provide childcare. It would be a way for the community to get to know each other as well as a way to slim down the obesity problem.
Basically, I agree that people should make healthy choices because obesity is a preventable problem that leads to major health problems down the road, but I acknowledge the fact that in some cases, it is not always realistic and there are ways that these problems can be addressed.
Lala, people can absolutely make a healthy decision everyday. Do not over think the word "healthly". I am referring to behavior changes, food choices, exercise habits, personal health upkeep, sexual health, and so on. I understand people are limited by their environment, but people are also able to decide if they want to park at the front or back of the parking lot, taking the stairs, washing their hands, going to the doctor for a check up, using a condom, seeking treatment if you have HIV/AIDS and many more scenarios.
ReplyDeleteThere are many areas of the world that have a heavy structural violence that stands in their way of health but they still can make the most of the situation and find the healthy option. Even if it is just a positive mindset, that still is a healthy choice and contributes to mental health which will contribute to physical health.
Awesome points Brittney! Still as your teacher for this class, I would ask you to keep your knowledge and expertise aside and engage more with this concept. Engage from the viewpoint of the poor, the under served, the people who live in slums, inner cities and visit them, talk to them. And form your strategies. The world needs passionate people like you.
ReplyDelete