Introduction
Obesity is among the most pervasive and dangerous illnesses in the world, which affects urban and rural regions because it is a prevalent and growing issue. Moreover, because children are less bothered by their well-being than adults, they may also suffer from it. As a result, it affects people of all ages (Metcalf, 2019). Since obesity is increasing in both adults and children, it is a problem that has genetic factors that are challenging to control while dieting, abnormal or excess fat storage that may impair health, and the environment.
Over 1.4 billion people aged 20 and older are overweight, and the international rate of obesity has doubled since 1980. In addition, among these fat people, over 300 million women and over 200 million men were obese (Palevskaya, 2020). Since 857 million people were overweight or obese in 1980, the number of overweight or obese people globally has increased to 2.1 billion, according to the Global Burden of Disease Study. 2013. Rates do, however, vary widely on a worldwide scale.
Only ten nations account for more than half of the world’s 671 million obese people: Egypt, Brazil, Pakistan, Mexico, Russia, Germany, and Indonesia. In addition, more than 15% of people in China and India are obese (Palevskaya, 2020). The frequency of adult obesity has recently increased in the US, one of the high-income nations, where perhaps one in every five seniors is fat.
Factors That Lead to Obesity
Adipose cells, which are cells that store excess energy, typically contribute to obesity when they proliferate in large quantities (hyperplasia). Conversely, hyperplasia refers to an increase in the number of fat cells. Hypertrophy refers to an increase in the size of adipocytes. As a result, an increase in hypertrophy or hyperplastic tissue is the cause of obesity.
Additionally, the growth and development of fatty cells follow a similar pattern. Children’s adipose tissue develops more quickly. Each cell swells rapidly, causing hypertrophic or hyperplastic obesity (AB, 2018). The amount of fatty cells in an adult is usually constant, but each cell contains a significant quantity of fat. Perhaps adult-onset obesity exhibits combined hypertrophic and hyperplastic characteristics.
Additionally, obesity frequently comes from slow, long-term weight gain. When more calories are ingested through food and drink than are expended through physical activity, physiological functions, and metabolic processes, weight gain occurs. Here, the phrase “positive energy balance” is also appropriate.
Fat will be produced from the excess energy and stored. One kilogram of fat has approximately 9,000 kcal. Fat can be removed from the body’s energy reserves. The body needs more energy than meals (AB, 2018). This situation is referred to as a negative energy equation. Consequently, an unhealthy energy balance may ultimately lead to obesity.
Poor diet and unregulated eating habits are the main contributors to obesity. Many people consume food at will without considering its nutritional value. Fast-food establishments are expanding worldwide at an increasing rate.
Fast food, which has a high calorie content and may raise LDL cholesterol in the body, increases the risk of cardiac arrest and other cardiovascular problems (Kumari et al., 2020). Examples of these rich foods in trans fats are cheese and French fries. In addition, one will gain weight if one eats canned food, consumes a lot of sugary drinks, or drinks alcohol, all of which are high in fat and sugar.
Comfortable eating habits and eating in excess are also poor choices because feeding more than one’s need prevents complete digestion. A well-planned, wholesome, balanced diet is essential to lower the risk. Increasing the intake of vegetables and fruits is a key component of a healthy diet. A balanced diet should include foods from the seven major categories (Gower & Goss, 2018).
Eat fewer items that are high in sugar and fat, and try to substitute calorie-dense desserts with fruits. One should not eat more than the recommended serving sizes to keep a healthy weight and a proper meal. Inactivity has a substantial impact on obesity as well.
Many people have busy lives and work jobs that require them to spend most of the day at a desk. Additionally, people drive or take buses instead of riding bicycles or walking. People occasionally decompress by watching television, playing computer games, or browsing the web, even under stressful situations. They did not burn off the fats in their bodies due to their sedentary lifestyle.
Additionally, extra energy from food will be accumulated as fat in the body if it is not used (JafariNasabian, 2018). As a result, regular exercise is essential because it helps to burn calories and reduce body fat. To maintain good health, it is recommended to engage in moderate-intensity activities for at least 60 minutes, several days a week.
Impact of Obesity
Poor mental health, socioeconomic marginalization, uncomfortable relationships with peers and adults, high-risk behavior, including drug and alcohol use, lowered aspirations for a great future, and misunderstanding by family members are all consequences of obesity. An obese person often feels unpleasant, lacking in confidence, and experiences depression or stress, as they can lead an everyday social life like other people, in addition to experiencing changeable emotions. Due to their appearance, many people with excess fat often lack confidence in themselves (Leong, 2019). They constantly compare themselves to those with more attractive bodies, which negatively affects their daily activities, quality of life, and social interactions.
Obesity can harm the hips and knees by putting excessive strain on the joints. Although injured joints are commonly treated with hip replacement surgery, there is a higher likelihood that the artificial joint may degenerate and exacerbate the condition (Rao, 2020). In addition, the effects of obesity may also increase the chance of vitamin deficiencies (vitamin B12 insufficiency, for example). These effects can result in mental illnesses like depression, low self-esteem, and issues with the bones and joints, such as sliding bowlegs and femoral epiphysis.
Given that obesity damages all of the body’s organ systems, it may reduce life expectancy by two to five years. Moreover, it affects a person’s mental health. These referencing effects of physical obesity have not been adequately investigated. Nonetheless, there is evidence that excessive use can also affect mental health. People who are obese and do not lose weight feel inadequate. The frequency of depression and anxiety is alarming because, according to a Swedish study, people who are severely obese are three to four times more likely to have these symptoms than those of a healthy weight.
One of the diseases that obesity frequently leads to is coronary heart disease, which is typically brought on by the development of fatty plaques in the arteries surrounding the heart (Milano & Capasso, 2018). Usually, the things we eat daily cause this layer of accumulated acid. As a result, foods high in fatty acids will eventually lead to atheroma, a rich deposit of plaque.
The coronary arteries become narrower, and the blood flow to the cardiac muscle is decreased when atheroma forms on their walls. This process is known as atherosclerosis. In more severe cases, obesity can result in heart failure, a condition in which someone’s heart cannot pump sufficient blood to satisfy their requirements. Additionally, if obesity is not managed, it can lead to heart failure.
Type 2 diabetes is another health issue brought on by it. Fat adults are more prone to develop it because being overweight makes it more difficult for the body to use insulin to regulate blood sugar, which raises the risk of diabetes (Milano & Capasso, 2018). Although the body produces insulin, type 2 diabetes prevents it from being efficiently utilized. The body first generates too much glucose to maintain a constant blood sugar level. However, over time, this reduces the body’s capacity to produce enough insulin to sustain an average blood sugar level, resulting in kidney failure and heart disease.
A further silent killer is high blood pressure, which obesity may also contribute to. The body’s extra fat tissue requires both oxygen and nutrients to function, so the blood vessels must pump more blood to it. The increased blood volume needs the heart to pump more blood, which puts more strain on the organ. The pressure on the arterial wall increases as more blood is pumped through it. As a result, the heart rate will rise due to the increased pressure on the arterial wall.
Pregnancy-related obesity is linked to a higher likelihood of becoming pregnant, higher blood pressure, and a higher chance of fatalities for both the mother and the fetus. Pregnant obese women are more likely to have complications with labor and delivery, diabetes mellitus, and other conditions. Obesity is linked to increased gallbladder disease, surgical risk, continence, and depression. It can reduce an individual’s quality of life by limiting their range of motion and physical power, resulting in prejudice in social, educational, and professional contexts. They also experience the mental side effects of this illness and obstacles to an active lifestyle brought on by obesity.
The genes provide the body with instructions on how to respond to environmental changes. Studies of the similarities and differences between twins, relatives, and adoptive parents provide circumstantial evidence that the variation in adult weight is primarily due to hereditary causes (Tam et al., 2018). Other studies examined obese and non-obese individuals to search for genetic differences that may affect traits such as a propensity to overeat or to be sedentary. These investigations suggest that specific gene variants may increase food cravings, which could potentially contribute to obesity.
Methods of Treating Obesity
Both pharmacotherapy and bariatric surgery are effective treatments for obesity. However, the latter has a higher success rate. Due to their long-term usefulness, orlistat and desipramine are the recommended medications for drug treatment management. People who use orlistat, a gastric lipase inhibitor, lose an average of 3 kg of weight and have a decreased risk of acquiring diabetes (Steinberg, 2019). It will be advantageous to combine a low-calorie diet with the therapy, as utilizing orlistat as a medication allows the body to absorb and digest fat more effectively.
Then, it acts on the stomach and small intestine to stop the functioning of two digestive enzymes. The enzyme often breaks down the calories consumed during meals. Orlistat hinders the body’s ability to absorb fat by causing it to excrete fat rather than absorb it. With another drug, the monoamine absorption inhibitor sibutramine, an average weight reduction is between 4 and 5 kg. However, there is a stronger connection between it and heart rate and blood pressure.
The appetite suppressant sibutramine alters the brain’s hunger-regulating regions to reduce appetite and hunger. Bariatric surgery, also known as gastrointestinal surgery, offers the added benefit of accelerating weight loss by modifying the digestive system (Steinberg, 2019). Two types of the process can be distinguished: limited and malabsorptive. The majority of the nutrients from the gastrointestinal tract are eliminated during malabsorptive weight loss surgery, resulting in a reduction in the number of nutrients and calories consumed.
A combination of dietary adjustments, lifestyle modifications, and gradual increases in physical activity is used to manage obesity. One’s doctor may advise prescription medications or weight-loss surgery in addition to an overall commitment to a healthier lifestyle. Switching to a healthier lifestyle takes time, effort, and commitment.
Conclusion
Obesity plays a significant role in premature death in the United States and worldwide. This medical condition arises when there has been essential hypertension due to body fat, which occurs as a result of poor lifestyle decisions. Diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart issues are just a few dangerous ailments closely associated with obesity. These ailments drain the global economy because the majority of them are expensive and deadly. Furthermore, obesity promotes a sedentary lifestyle, in which individuals with the condition limit their activity by engaging in passive activities.
Additionally, the psychological toll that social rejection has on obese people is very high. A person’s life may be in jeopardy due to obesity’s numerous adverse effects. Everyone needs to be more worried and knowledgeable about obesity because it is a disease that is becoming more common in contemporary culture.
Therefore, everyone needs to lead a healthy lifestyle. Destructive behaviors that threaten one’s life and health must be severed as soon as possible. A healthy diet is not always tasty, despite the cliché, but it is crucial in ensuring that everybody lives a long life.
References
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