Obesity: Nutrition and Healthy Body Composition Essay

Submitted By Giomechita
Words: 742
Pages: 3
Open Document
* Obesity * * * * SCI/241 – Nutrition * * Jose Garcia * * 03/01/2013 * * Dr. Straub * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * . *

Obese people have an overall mortality rate almost twice that of non-obese people. They are more than three times as likely to develop diabetes. Obesity is associated with unhealthy cholesterol levels and impaired heart function. It is estimated that if all Americans had a healthy body composition, the incidence of coronary heart disease would drop by 25%. Other health risks associated with obesity include hypertension, many kinds of cancer, impaired immune function, gallbladder and kidney diseases, and bone and joint disorders. These risks from obesity increase with its severity, and they are much more likely to occur in people who are more than twice their desirable body weight.
The effects of obesity on health were further clarified by the Nurses’ Health Study, in which Harvard researchers have followed more than 120,000 women for over 16 years. It found that even mildly overweight women had an 80% increased risk of developing coronary heart disease compared to leaner women. This study also confirmed that to reduce the risk of dying prematurely of any cause, maintaining a desirable body weight is important.
The distribution of body fat is also an important indicator of future health. People who tend to gain weight in the abdominal area have a risk of coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke twice as high as those who tend to gain weight in the hip area. The reason for this increased risk is not entirely clear, but it appears that fat in the abdomen is more easily mobilized and sent into the bloodstream, increasing disease-related blood fat levels.
In addition to risking physical health, obesity can impair psychological health. Being perceived as fat can be the source of ridicule, ostracism, and sometimes discrimination from others; it can contribute to psychological problems such as depression and low self-esteem. For some, the stigma associated with obesity can give rise to a negative body image, body dissatisfaction, and eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia.
Overweight and obesity are not associated with or caused by a single variable. Rather, they are multi-factorial in nature. The research on overweight and obesity provides convincing evidence that they result from a complex of interacting traits, acquired conditions and lifestyle variables that implicate various environmental, behavioral, psychological, physiological, social and genetic factors.
Some risk factors are described in the literature as being independent because they have the potential to bring about overweight or obesity single-handedly. However, risk factors and causes can and most often interact and work together with one another to create a greater likelihood of becoming overweight or obese and have a greater deleterious impact on health. It stands to reason that the more risk factors and causes an individual possesses for obesity the
Show More

Related Documents: Obesity: Nutrition and Healthy Body Composition Essay

Body Fat And Eating Disorders Essay

Body Fat and Eating Disorders Nicole Sloan SCI/241 Body Fat and Eating Disorders Body composition refers to the proportion of fat and fat-free mass in the body. Those with a higher proportion of fat-free mass to a lower proportion of body fat have a healthy body composition ("Body Composition", 2014). When a person is overweight due to carrying excess fat, they are at risk for several weight related health problems. Excess fat can also cause a person to have a weaker immune system which leads to…

Words 601 - Pages 3

Essay on Childhood obesity

Childhood Obesity: Private or Public Problem Obesity in America is a growing problem, more than one third of the children and adolescents in the United States are considered overweight or obese. Since 1980 the number of obese children and adolescents has almost tripled. Genetics, parenting habits and poor lifestyles, particularly poor nutrition and lack of physical activity are significant factors that have lead to childhood obesity. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention article on Obesity…

Words 1508 - Pages 7

Sci/241 Wk 8 Essay

Body Fat and Eating Disorders SCI/241 December 16, 2012 Stephen Murray Body composition is the body’s relative amount of fat to fat-free mass. Those with optimal body composition are typically healthier, move more easily and efficiently, and in general, feel better than those with less-than-ideal body composition. Achieving a more optimal body composition goes a long way toward improving your quality of life and overall wellness. Body composition is divided into two separate types of mass:…

Words 602 - Pages 3

Essay Body Fat And Eating Disorders

Body Fat and Eating Disorders Crystal Garza Nutrition 11-2-2014 Body Fat and Eating Disorders The body’s composition is the composition of fat to non-fat mass. It is the division of fats to bone, muscle, liquids and organs in the body. The body’s fat to non-fat is a way for doctors and physicians to measure the possible “healthiness” of a person compared to those who have less fat. A measurement sometimes used is the body mass index (BMI) which is a method to assess how much an individual's…

Words 864 - Pages 4

Childhood Obesity Research Paper

Childhood Obesity ENG 122 English Composition II October 5, Childhood Obesity Childhood obesity has become a serious health concern in the United States. Obesity rates have doubled in children from the ages of 2 – 11 and tripled in teens ages 12-19 (American Psychological Association 2014). This statement is not surprising considering that the lack of physical activity and unhealthy eating habits together causes childhood obesity, which can be the leading factor in the increase in childhood…

Words 2599 - Pages 11

Body Fat and Eating Disorder Paper

Body Fat and Eating Disorder Paper Michael Mullady SCI/241 March 29, 2015 Gari Bodor Body composition consists of fat and fat free mass in the body. It is the proportion amongst those two. People who have a healthy body composition have a lower fat mass while having a higher fat free mass at the same time. People with a body composition that includes excessive body fat are more likely to suffer from health complications that are also related to weight including but not limited to: high blood…

Words 901 - Pages 4

English Comp C456 Essay

general populous continues to be misinformed by government agencies regarding what a normal, healthy diet, should be, as well as what a balanced diet looks like. Eating a low-carb high-fat, or ketogenic, diet of high fat, adequate protein and low carbohydrates can provide many health benefits as compared to the alternative of an unhealthy diet. Research suggests that a ketogenic diet builds a healthier body than…

Words 3964 - Pages 16

Weather or Not All Good Foods Are Healthy and Nutritious. Essay

are healthy and nutritious. Not all good delicious tasting foods are good for you. At sacred chef cooking school not all foods were healthy and nutritious. The areas this essay will address are good nutrients such as iron, vegetables, protein, vitamins, minerals and more. This structure will also discuss menu analysing and the Australian guide to healthy eating. The menu that is analysed has a variety of good nutrients in food but this still does not mean that they all good foods are healthy. All…

Words 674 - Pages 3

Physical Worksheet Essay

Associate Level Material Physical Fitness and Nutrition Worksheet In order to obtain optimal health, it is critical to be physically fit and eat a healthy and balanced diet. Becoming knowledgeable about what it means to be physically fit and learning how to evaluate the nutritional value of what you eat may greatly increase your ability to improve your health and wellness. In this three-part worksheet, you identify the five components of health related fitness, critique a recipe for nutritional…

Words 836 - Pages 4

Bartlett Mariam 5th Hour Research Paper

Bartlett 1 Mariam Bartlett Mr. Logan Freshman Composition Final Research Project Obesity and Income A child walks down the fruit and vegetables isle, looks up at her mother with glossy big brown eyes and asks her if they could buy some apples and carrots for the week. The mother stares back down at the child and says, “We cannot afford healthy foods honey.” As families start to run out of money at the end of the month, the amount they eat decreases exponentially. Nearly 27% of Low­Income people are likely to be…

Words 1922 - Pages 8