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Fast Food And Obesity Working Together Toward A Bigger World

September 21, 2008

In an effort to prove that the fast food industry is responsible for the growing obesity rate in the United States, independent filmmaker Morgan Spurlock followed a 30-day diet modification program that consisted only consuming only food from the McDonalds menu. His goal was to showcase the fast food industry’s efforts to promote an unhealthy diet for it’s own financial gain.  The movie, Super Size Me, was an Academy Award nominee in 2004 in the documentary film category.  This movie focused on proving fast food and obesity worked together to create the epidemic health and weight concerns that are becoming such a global problem.

Obesity And Fast Food Provide Ground Rules For Documentary Film

Spurlock’s dietary requirement for the film included 5,000 calories per day of McDonald’s menu items.  He was required to eat at the restaurant three times per day, consuming every item on the menu at least once in the thirty-day period.  Prior to beginning his experiment, Spurlock was a thirty-two year old, healthy man that stood 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighed 185 pounds.  He gained 24.5 pounds in 30 days.  His Body Mass Index (BMI) went from 23.2 to 27.  When reviewing body mass index requirements, a healthy range for a man of his size and age should have a BMI of 19-25.  At the level of 27, Spurlock went from healthy to overweight in just thirty days while eating at the fast food restaurant, appearing to many people to substantiate his claim that fast food and obesity really are related.  In the first five days of Spurlock’s experiment, he gained almost ten pounds.

Results of Fast Food And Obesity Experiment

Spurlock’s movie made a very big impression on America and other countries that support the McDonalds fast food industry.  McDonalds soon phased out the “supersize” menu option and though they denied that it was due to the impact of the movie, the action was taken shortly after the movie was released.  In addition, McDonalds began offering “healthy” choice menu items such as salads.  It is interesting to note that while the salads are offered as a healthy option, when combined with fried chicken breasts and fat laden salad dressings, many of the salads contain more calories and fat grams than the burgers and fries.  McDonalds never agreed that fast food and obesity were related nor did they admit that their menu items were a cause for obesity.

While McDonalds does provide a fast food fat-filled meal for its customers, they do provide healthy alternatives.  However, you cannot force a customer to eat healthy just because the option exists.  The McDonalds menu can be modified by personal ordering preferences to be lower in fat; most customers do not make these modifications.

With this in mind, it should be noted that training the consumer in more important that pointing a finger at big business.  Subway has made every effort to advertise their low fat options and practices, McDonalds simply chooses to ignore health guidelines and continue to sell what made them famous.  It is the responsibility of the consumer to make the right choice.

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Understand The Physical And Psychological Effects Of Obesity

April 27, 2008

The effects of obesity is more far reaching than you know. If you are thinking that the effects of obesity are limited to your appearance, know that this is simply not true. According to experts, the effects of obesity are complex. Obesity affects both the body and the mind of the person. An obese person may suffer from different kinds of physical diseases such as diabetes, asthma, hypertension, heart problems, arthritis and others. According to experts, obese people are several times more likely to suffer from hypertension as compared to people who are within their ideal weight.

Psychological Effects of Obesity

An obese person may experience some psychological effects of obesity such as loss of self-esteem and depression. It is not uncommon for obese people to feel insecure and inferior to others. A lot of obese people are reclusive and find it uncomfortable to go out with their friends. To compound the situation further, the social life of the obese person may suffer a lot because of his or her condition.

In most cases, obese people have trouble finding some romantic relationships. Obese women in particular have trouble finding some romance because the standard of beauty set by society today requires that a woman should be thin. Since the media uses ultra thin models to promote the idea of beauty, even women who are just slightly on the fleshy side find themselves threatened.

It is not uncommon for obese people to be discriminated against in some places. For instance, it is not uncommon for obese people to meet some disapproving stares from people on a crowded train. In fact, some people do not have qualms about letting an obese person know that he or she is taking up more space than he or she should. In most cases, the effects of these incidents make an obese person feel more self-conscious and depressed than ever.

Getting Help

The best way to fight obesity to is to acknowledge the situation and to get some help from professionals. Obese people should never hesitate to get help regarding their situation. The effects of obesity are something that people should not tolerate. Nobody should suffer through the effects of obesity in silence. Obesity is an illness and there is nothing to be ashamed about this. We should understand that obesity is not just a result of too much eating and leading sedentary lives. There are many factors that contribute the obesity that people should never hesitate to consult a professional regarding their situation.

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The Effects Of Childhood Obesity Can Be Traumatic

January 13, 2008

Obesity in children is a very serious issue. The effects of childhood obesity can have health and social consequences that continue into adulthood. Prevention programs and understanding the treatment for youngsters is extremely important in controlling this obesity epidemic. Parents are very concerned about their children’s weight and how it affects them in with their peers and in society. They are looking for specific answers for the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity.  The effects of childhood obesity range from major psychological problems to serious health issues and chronic social problems.

Health Issues

First and foremost are the effects of childhood obesity that plays in the health of a child. Hypertension and diabetes are two of the most prevalent diseases which are direct results of childhood obesity. These health problems continue into adulthood and the results are astounding. The quality of life is another adverse effect of childhood obesity. These children cannot join into sports programs or even play certain games with their friends. This is a lasting psychological effect of childhood obesity. These children grow into adults with very low self-esteem which leads to depression and most often suicide. If children do not get adequate nutritional and exercise guidelines at a young age they will have a very hard time grasping the concept as an adult. The old saying that fat babies make fat adults is coming true.

Most schools have eliminated P.E. in their curriculum which has helped with the onset of childhood obesity. Exercise is a very important aspect to children’s health. Parents are starting to rebel and demand that their school districts reinstate P.E. into the daily school regimen. Obesity is more common in girls, but more noticeable in boys. Fat deposits are located in far less areas of the exterior of the male body than the female body, therefore, it becomes larger in a much shorter period of time, in a limited number of places. Boys become fatter in the stomach, back and chest and may even grow small breasts. Other slimmer boys are very cruel to the fat boys, which results in all kinds of psychological problems. Obesity in children is becoming an epidemic and a cure needs to be found. Whether it is chemical answer or strict daily nutrition and exercise, the family and school need to come to the forefront of the fight against the effects of childhood obesity. This is a disease that children do not need to be faced with. They need to be playing with their friends and learning how to become productive individuals. Childhood obesity needs to become a disease of the past.

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Get Guide And Help From National Childhood Obesity Foundation

November 25, 2007

Obesity is a growing problem with adults and, more recently, with children as well; parents are often at a loss for answers and treatments when it comes to obesity in their children. Here is how you can find help and guidance from the National Childhood Obesity Foundation in order to understand and deal with this disorder.

The Answers To Your First Questions

When you are faced with a disorder that you don’t know anything about, you want as much information as possible about it. You want to, first, understand exactly what it is that you are dealing with and then you want to know how to go about treating it. The National Childhood Obesity Foundation will have all those answers for you and also additional information of why and how your child got to be obese and how you can help him or her.

At the National Childhood Obesity Foundation, you will also find other parents who are dealing with the same issues you are dealing and you can correspond with them, as well, in order to find support and some guidelines on how others have dealt with, and are dealing with, obesity.

Consult Your Doctor

While the National Childhood Obesity Foundation will help you greatly with answers, support, diets and exercise plans that are applicable to your child, it is essential that you consult your doctor in order to have your child examined. You are looking for a diagnosis as to what caused obesity in your child’s case and then you want to know the proper treatment procedure.

The most common cause of obesity is overeating, however, it is not the only cause and, if you adopt a diet for your child that will cut out essential nutrients without first consulting a doctor because you feel that may be the right course of action, you can cause more harm then benefit to your child in the long run.

As you will find out from the National Childhood Obesity Foundation, it is harder to deal with obesity in children than it is in adults because they are still in the growing stage and following a strict diet can seriously affect several different factors. Therefore, it is essential that you consult your doctor regularly and, only through his or her advice, adopt the right diet and exercise plan.

Helpful Tip

It is extremely hard dealing with child obesity, both for the parents and for the child, therefore, learn everything you can about it, speak to your child openly, do not be obsessive about food and, with your doctor’s advice, a lot of determination and love, you and your child will get obesity under control.

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Common Causes Of Obesity In Young Children

November 19, 2007

Being overweight, resulting in obesity, is a very common concern today with people of all ages, but also in children. Many people are obese due to various unavoidable circumstances, such as stress, genetic disorders and/or an existing medical condition, however, the most common problem, especially in young children, is overeating and/or eating the wrong types of foods at the wrong time.

Here are some common causes of obesity in young children, as well as some treatments and preventions.

Daily Education

Knowledge is the most powerful weapon you can have against a disorder such as obesity and that can be passed on to your child on a daily basis. Many adults put on weight and get to be obese because they simply don’t know simple facts, like how many calories one should consume in a day, what is the ideal weight in relevance to your height, how to prepare a balanced diet and when to eat what types of foods.

As a parent, it is very important you know all the factors about nutrition first and foremost for your own health and secondly in order to be able to look after your child and, more importantly, so that you can teach your child about it. Make time and educate yourself and your child on a daily basis, read labels and try as much as possible to sit down at the dinner table and enjoy a meal with your family while discussing the importance of eating a balanced diet. One of the main causes of obesity in young children is that they don’t know when to eat what types of food and how much.

The Importance Of Physical Activities

We all lack physical activity because we drive to work, get fast food and coffee in drive through aisles, sit on a chair at work, drive back home and we are lucky if we spend a half-hour standing in the kitchen preparing some dinner before we sit to eat at the dinner table and/or in front of the television for the rest of the night.

Lack of activity is yet another common cause of obesity in young children and it is up to the parents to initiate and make sure it is being carried out. If you do not have the facility to exercise at home or go to a local gym, try and have simple exercises with your children, such as walking, yoga and/or pilates. The good part about exercising with your children is that it will keep you in shape, too, while teaching your children to stay healthy.

Helpful Tip

Obesity in young children usually occurs due to parent’s negligence and lack of knowledge in the right nutrition and exercises required for their child. Speak to your doctor and find out the ideal weight for your child depending on his height and age as well as what types of foods are nutritious and what exercises are best applicable at what time of the day.

Learn everyday about your health and that of your family in order to prevent obesity in young children, as well as to treat it, if your child is already overweight. Try not to make the mistake that many people do and fall from one extreme to the other, and that is from eating everything at any time to being too strict about food, calories and exercises; remember that stress is one of the main causes of obesity and you should avoid it as much as possible.

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Obesity Health Problems Capturing Public Concern

September 24, 2007

Due to increased awareness of obesity and health problems, many individuals, as well as medical professionals, are beginning to view being overweight as a medical condition and not simply a bad lifestyle choice. For years, many health professionals and most of public opinion focused on the lifestyle of those suffering from being overweight, refusing to accept the need for medical intervention for excess weight, but a renewed effort by many physicians have brought the connection between obesity and health problems into the public light.

Although obesity, those having a body mass index of 30 or higher, has been around for centuries, it was not until recently that the announcement of a gene being found that controls a person’s weight. Researchers in 1994 made the worldwide public announcement that the gene, related to obesity and health problems, controlled the appetite as well as metabolism, giving credence to the tie in of obesity to being a medical issue and not just a lifestyle issue.

While there is little dispute that diet habits contribute to many of the overweight problems people of every walk of life and economic status suffer. There are many convinced that those of less economic means suffer from being overweight more than those financially secure, the obesity and health problems know no boundaries in inflicting the problems either caused by or associated with obesity.

Major Ailments Connected To Being Overweight

Coronary artery disease and heart problems have been tied to obesity since a Framingham, Mass., study in 1948 showed the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases in respect to weight. Additional connections between obesity and health problems were earlier announced after a study at the University of Minnesota determined that so-called yo-yo dieting could lead to health problems.

In addition to heart problems, it has been well documented that a connection exists between obesity and health problems such as diabetes and osteoporosis. Diabetes can be further complicated by high blood pressure often present in those overweight and the extra weight may also cause mobility problems, reducing the person’s ability to exercise further damaging heart muscles. Additionally, the lack of exercise reduces the production of good cholesterol, further complicating heart health.

The lack or exercise, especially those with a sedentary lifestyle can cause problems with joints and the increase weight being carried can add to the obesity and health problems often suffered by those with a weight problem. Regardless of the type of exercise, once cleared by the doctor, it can with weight loss as well as mobility.

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