Essay Example on Obesity: a Serious Disease with Severe Health Risks

Obesity is a dietary disease that involves an individual's having excess fat in the body. The condition has taken medical attention and is considered as a severe disease due to the potential side effects and exposure to other health risk problems to an individual. Some of the issues include heart disease, diabetes, some types of cancers, and high blood pressure. The cause of obesity varies from poor nutrition, personal diets and choices of exercise, inherited factors, and other environmental conditions. There are several interventions. However, that can aid in managing this condition and even avoided in those who do not have the disease. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the obesity condition among African Americans.

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Obesity among African Americans has been growing in recent years at an alarming rate. This has called the attention of health care providers to look into the situation as far as African Americans are concerned. Several factors contribute to these rising rates of obesity among African Americans. Some of the factors include inequalities in stable and affordable housing, low incomes, and quality education. These factors have the potential of reducing the number of years one can live. Lack of quality education makes these people not know the dangers they are exposed to in obesity. They may not even be aware of the concept of obesity and, therefore, will not take care of it. Most have low incomes, and they would spend their profits in basic need.

Some of the people cannot afford to maintain proper healthy diets. They end up eating junk food and having unhealthy eating habits. The school that the children are attending may be low class and would not have facilities for healthy exercise. The adult may not also have the money to pay or afford sporting activities and the training that would help them reduce their weight. Most, therefore, end up being obese. African Americans are among the minority group and often face several problems like racism from the whites. This causes stress to the individual. Fear is a potential risk factor that may cause obesity. Some of the obese people obtain it through inheritance. For the African Americans, they may not have the resources or enough financial facilities to maintain obesity, and thus, their conditions would continue worsening.

Statistics show that among the African American community, about 48% of the adult population is clinically obese, in comparison to the whites who total 32.6 %. Among the African Americans, women lead with a higher percentage of about 56.6 % and men at 37.1% (Abraham et al., 2013). This statistics is alarming because the majority of the obese population is adults. They are exposed to other health complications which their bodies, courtesy of age, may not be able to handle. According to Horton, 2015, the high rates, especially among the adult, date back to the slavery period. The black slaves used to be given leftover food from their masters, who had high percentages of calories. The African Americans became accustomed, and this formed their diet even to date. High-calorie content is what contributes to obesity.

Intervention of Obesity

The response of this condition among African Americans would need the implementation of various factors. One of the solutions would be to provide education on inexpensive and healthier food. This can be achieved through the use of community organizers, campaigns, social services, and health agencies. They should reduce eating food rich in high-calorie content and another lifestyle, which puts them at risk like excessive use of alcohol. They should also avoid using junk food in their diets. The places that the individual live in also play a role in the obesity game. Having groceries and shops that sell healthy food is scarce in African American neighborhoods. This, therefore, makes it hard to maintain the condition. It is recommended that these groceries and hops also beet I place which have the African American origin o that they can ace it easily. Individual also has the mandate for regular clinical checkups on their BMIs to ensure that they keep fit. In the case where an individual I born with the inherited gene of obesity, it would be very significant that they watch out on their diets and adhere to any other instruction and directions by medical personnel. The government also needs to support these individuals as it is evidence that their socio-economic conditions contribute to their requirements.

Conclusion

In conclusion, obesity is a serious issue that needs to be taken care of and responded to. It has severe consequences on the individuals, which may, in turn, affect the economy at large. The various causes of obesity can be managed only if people would understand and be willing to take up the challenge of protecting one's they. This way, the community would be healthier. The assistance by the government would alleviate the poverty level and the socioeconomic features. Junk food and food with which calorie content.

References

Abraham, P. A., Kazman, J. B., Zeno, S. A., & Deuster, P. A. (2013). Obesity and African Americans: physiologic and behavioral pathways. ISRN Obesity, 2013.

Horton, J., 2015. Adult Obesity in the US: Obesity Problems Affecting the African American Community DOI: 10.4172/2167-0420.1000261

American Psychology Association. 2020. Ethnicity and Health in America Series: Obesity in the African-American Community