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| Is this what our world is coming to? |
Obesity
has become the 'killer' epidemic that everybody is aware of. The World Health Organization (WHO) agrees, declaring the "...prevalence of obesity as an epidemic" (as cited in Ministry of Health, 2012, para. 1). The Ministry of Health (2012) clearly defines this social issue of obesity by stating that "If you're obese, it means: you're excessively overweight, [and that] your weight is above what it should be, for you to be healthy" (para. 1). WHO (2013) describes obesity in more of a rounded way, by suggesting that "Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health" (para. 2). These definitions, although worded differently, concur with each other as they both suggest that being overweight or obese means that you are carrying excessive fat or 'weight'.
Beginning in the late 1970s, there was an increase in the obesity levels in the United Kingdom for men and women. Percentage increases went from 2-3% in the 1970s to well over 25% today (more on these statistics later). This killer epidemic that has grown gruesomely out of control in the past 40 years is one that we do not talk about today, and political correctness is partly to blame. Tragically, obesity is so common around the world that most people either know someone who has a serious weight issue, or they themselves have the issue. However due to political correctness in this modern day and age, all over the world we are restricted in what we say and do, and for that reason, we dare not mention the word ‘overweight’ or ‘obese’.
Beginning in the late 1970s, there was an increase in the obesity levels in the United Kingdom for men and women. Percentage increases went from 2-3% in the 1970s to well over 25% today (more on these statistics later). This killer epidemic that has grown gruesomely out of control in the past 40 years is one that we do not talk about today, and political correctness is partly to blame. Tragically, obesity is so common around the world that most people either know someone who has a serious weight issue, or they themselves have the issue. However due to political correctness in this modern day and age, all over the world we are restricted in what we say and do, and for that reason, we dare not mention the word ‘overweight’ or ‘obese’.
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| The future of our world. |
A newspaper article published in 2010 in the United Kingdom is a clear example of
how PC this world has become, as it headlines “Council to ban the word ‘obesity’
– so fat children don’t get offended”. Instead of ‘obese’ this council in
Liverpool, England, will be using the phrase ‘unhealthy weight’ – which they hope will ‘encourage’ obese children of the United Kingdom to lose weight – or will
it? The article goes a step further saying that they also want to “...drop the
word from all local authority schemes aimed at improving children's health”. The article goes on to state that “...the
word obese has negative connotations...” and they feel that the phrase “...unhealthy
weight is more positive and a better way to promote it. The term ‘obese’
would turn people off, particularly young people” (Narain, 2010). I feel that this is quite
ironic as the word ‘obese’ came into the regular language to replace the word ‘fat’
because that offended people. Now they need to take up two words to describe ‘fat’
because the word ‘obese’ is offending people. Soon the phrase ‘unhealthy weight’ will be seen as offensive. What other term or expression will be used? Perhaps ‘fat’ will have to do – who knows.
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| What's your fat percentage? |
Looking back on the history of
obesity in the United States, the number of Americans who are overweight or
obese is growing each year. According to McTigue, Garrett, and Popkin (2002),
research showed that in the years 1960-1999, a sample of the adult population (people aged 20-74) who were carrying excess weight (based
on a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2), showed an increase in their weight of “...44% to 61%...”. Furthermore, the
amount of people classed as obese (in the same age group) “...doubled from 13%
to 27%” (p. 857). During that period, the amount of people becoming overweight
and obese sent alarm bells, and obesity was soon to be acknowledged as an
important medical and health problem (Allison & Saunders, 2008).
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| A fatal epidemic. |
In New
Zealand’s history of obesity there are trends relating to the occurrence of extreme
obesity (based on a BMI of 40 kg/m2). Results are seen in the
Ministry of Health’s study using graphical methods to visualise
the trends in the BMI
distribution of the New Zealand adult population from 1977 to 2003. The
population of New Zealand was approximately 3,000,000 in 1977 growing to almost 4,000,000
in 2003. Trends show that cases of extreme obesity have increased sharply over
the years (Ministry of Health, 2004). In 1977, of the adults aged 25-64, “0.32%
of males and 1.28% of females” were classed as being extremely obese. These
conclusions are consistent with the suggestion that the obesity epidemic began
in the late 1970’s, and earlier among females, as the percentage of obese woman was 4
times greater than that of males. Levels of extreme obesity from 1977 to
1989 did not increase significantly. From 1989 to 1997 rapid growth
began when extreme obesity levels showed that “1.2 % of males and 3.0%” of
females were extremely obese. However from 1997 to 2003, male’s extreme obesity
levels went from “1.2% to 2.2% and female levels continued at 3.0%” (Ministry
of Health, 2004). In conclusion, in the year of 2004 an estimated “58,000 (±
8,000)” extremely obese people lived in New Zealand, of whom
almost “60% were female” (Ministry of Health, 2004, p. 85; WHO, 2013).
The most recent (2013) key statistics based on the obesity epidemic
have been published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) stating that:
- "Worldwide obesity has more than doubled since 1980.
- In 2008, more than 1.4 billion adults (approximately 20% of the adult world population), aged 20 and older, were overweight. Of these over 200 million men and nearly 300 million women were obese.
- 65% of the world's population (approximately 6.7 billion) live in countries where overweight and obesity kills more people than underweight and malnutrition.
- More than 40 million children under the age of five were overweight in 2010.
- Obesity is preventable".
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Although obesity in adults is a
major concern for all parties, what is even more concerning and alarming is the
increasing rate of obesity in children. Heinberg and Thompson (2009) confirm this stating
that “Rates of obesity in youth have tripled in the past 20 years ... This emerging
epidemic has stimulated a great deal of new research into the formative
influences and the interpersonal, social, and psychological effects of obesity
on children” (p. 1). I am shocked by these results as these statistics fall within my life time. It has occurred to me, that if it weren't for my healthy introduction to life, I would have been part of these statistics.
“Obesity has been linked to
increased mortality and chronic morbidity from such diverse causes as
hypertension, diabetes, sleep apnea, certain types of cancer, and depression”
(McTigue, Garrett, & Popkin, 2002). The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) supports this saying that "Diabetes and obesity are the biggest public health challenge of the 21st century" (2006, para. 1). According to Healthy Living (2013) "Of the people diagnosed with type II diabetes, about 80 to 90 percent are also diagnosed as obese" (para. 4). Personally, I feel that this fact therefore provides evidence that diabetes is definitely linked to obesity.
I feel that the history, statistics, and studies have shown that the obesity is still making history not only in adults, but also in children which is a major concern. So what policies and legislation have been put into place in order to fight this epidemic that has become so well-known to us, not in New Zealand as a whole, but in early childhood services?
I feel that the history, statistics, and studies have shown that the obesity is still making history not only in adults, but also in children which is a major concern. So what policies and legislation have been put into place in order to fight this epidemic that has become so well-known to us, not in New Zealand as a whole, but in early childhood services?
References:
Allison, D. B., &
Saunders, S. E. (2000). Obesity in North America: An overview. Medical Clinic of
North America, 84,
305-332. doi:10.1016/S0025-7125(05)70223-6
Berk, L. (2010). Development
through the lifespan (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education.
Central Intelligence Agency.
(2013). The world factbook. Retrieved from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/xx.html
Healthy Living. (2013). A
co-dependent relationship: Diabetes & obesity. Retrieved from http://www.diabeticcareservices.com/diabetes-education/diabetes-and-obesity
Heinberg, L. J., &
Thompson, J. K. (Eds.). (2009). Obesity in youth:
Cause, consequences, and cures. Washington, DC: American Psychological
Association.
International Diabetes
Federation. (2006). 11th FEND ANNUAL CONFERENCE. Retrieved from http://www.idf.org/node/3030
McTigue, K. M., Garrett, J.
M., & Popkin, B. M. (2002). The natural history of the development of
obesity in a cohort of young U.S. adults between 1981 and 1998. Annals of Internal
Medicine. 136(12), 857-864. Retrieved from Scopus database.
Ministry of Health. (2004). Tracking the obesity
epidemic: New Zealand 1977-2003. Wellington, New Zealand: Ministry of Health.
Ministry of Health. (2012). Obesity.
Retrieved from http://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/healthy-living/food-and-physical-activity/obesity
Narain, J. (2010, April 12).
Council to ban the word ‘obesity’ – so fat children don’t get offended. Mail Online.
Retrieved from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1265327/Council-ban-word-obesity--fat-children-dont-offended.html
Obesity. (2013). In Wikipedia,
The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved April 17, 2013, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity
World Health Organisation.
(2013).Obesity and overweight. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs311/en/
3 comments:
Holly,
As I was reading your blog, I became very surprised at how quickly the rate of obesity is rising, not just in America, but all over the world. What really shocked me was the child obesity statistics. I couldn’t believe that the rates of obesity in children have tripled in such a short time frame of 20 years! You are right, it does seem to be a problem that is shaded by political correctness. Who is finding these words ‘fat’, and ‘obese’ offensive? There are only so many words we can come up with to disguise reality! What do you think is causing these extreme statistics? Especially for those children who cannot decide what to eat, but eat what is given to them. Is it the government? Families? Parents? Food companies such as McDonalds? You ended with a good point too. The role of early childhood services has a major part to play in helping to promote healthy eating, especially those who provide meals. I look forward to seeing where you take this social issue.
Thanks,
Jess
Hi Holly,
Well, I think you have used the statistics really well to establish this as an increasing problem. There was a nutritionist on the national radio talking about how she thinks the food industry has 'captured' nutrition and then packaged it as desirable but that much of the food is far from desirable or healthy. It was fascinating to listen to her perspective. I am not so sure about he words that jump out at me on the page. What is your purpose in writing them like this? I did find the conversation about 'labeling' an interesting one. Fat become undesirable for all the stereotyping about fat people that led to discrimination particularly around employment. A well researched entry. Just watch your use of emotive language unless you use it in an I statement.
Cheers
Cheryl.
Hi Holly,
I agree that obese is a problem in our society as it is killing our future. The statistics speaks for themselves and it is shocking to see how much this has changed over time. I wanted to question when you say its the parents fault is this because of the lack of nutrition knowledge or could it also be a cultural reason? I know for myself it is hard to rule out the traditional foods that my family and culture embrace such as TARO and CORN BEEF. However, who is to say that it cant be modified in a healthier way such as adding vegetables and draining the fat out of the corn beef. It was very interesting to read how "fat" turned into "unhealthy weight", I was thinking could this be to encourage "fat" people to look at this problem from a health point of view? because I know if someone called me fat or obese I would get angry and maybe go eat something unhealthy lol. It is to see how you have embraced this issue and it does start in early childhood and we need more advocates for our children. Excited to read more
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