Thunder thighs, beached whale, fat-ass – these nicknames are often rudely and commonly given to overweight people. Being overweight doesn’t just hurt someone emotionally, but also physically such as cardiovascular disease, bone and joint disease, and possibly high cholesterol. One of the largest growing public problems related to obesity is type two diabetes mellitus. The obesity epidemic in relation to diabetes mellitus is a health concern for children and adults; health educational programs provide information and access to healthy food choices to help decrease obesity and diabetes. During studies in the early 1900s, scientists found a genetic mutation within certain strands of DNA that could be a factor …show more content…
Causes of obesity range from factors that can be controlled and others possibly inherited. To seek opportunity for a healthier lifestyles, a person may choose to exercise, choose a healthier diet, and choose to quit bad habits such as smoking. An uncontrollable factor is age, and as a person becomes older, they tend to lose muscle. The chance of becoming obese can depend on other factors such as ethnicity; “… 50% of all non-Hispanic black women are obese” (“Obesity Epidemic,” n.d.). Many variables affect the probability of becoming obese, but genetics alone is not a direct cause. In the United States alone, about one-third of adults are obese, but with a healthy diet and proper exercise, a person can decrease their chance of obesity even if they have a gene mutation that may cause a person to come overweight or …show more content…
Children who are overweight suffer from not only physical problems but also emotional difficulties. They may feel low self-esteem, negative body image, or depression. Youth who are overweight have a higher percentage of becoming overweight or obese adults. While researching, researchers found that “16.9 percent of children and adolescents ages 2 to 9 are obese, and 31.7 percent are overweight” (“Facts About”, n.d.). When a child is diagnosed with being at risk for obesity, there are multiple problems that arise. Metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer represent some of the complications that can arise. To understand why kids were becoming obese, studies show that the environment influences how kids eat and exercise along with genetics they may inherit. Not only are kids not eating enough healthy foods, but also they mainly consume energy-dense, unhealthy foods. Kids are also not getting enough physical activity at home, recess, or physical