Obesity is not just an American problem; it has become a global concern.
You will explore obesity around the world. You will research information on obesity in the United States and two other countries, each from different continents.
For this assignment:
- Discuss obesity in the United States and the two countries you selected.
- What comparisons can be made?
- What are the cultural differences in these countries that contribute to obesity?
- What are some of the contributing factors to worldwide obesity rates?
- What are some social determinants that may contribute to obesity rates?
- What are shared causal or associative factors that contribute to the global spread of this condition?
- Compile your response into an APA-formatted, three- to four-page paper (excluding cover page and reference page) that addresses each item listed above.
- Use APA (6th ed.) format to style your paper and to cite your sources. Integrate your sources into the paragraphs and use internal citations pointing to evidence in the literature and supporting your ideas. You will need to include a reference page listing those sources.
See the rubric for specific grading criteria.
Due: Sunday, 11:59 p.m. (Pacific time)
Points: 125
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
Obesity is a significant health issue that affects people across the globe. The increasing rates of obesity have become a major concern for healthcare providers, policymakers, and society as a whole. In this paper, we discuss the prevalence of obesity in the United States and two other countries from different continents, comparing the cultural differences that contribute to obesity rates. We also discuss the contributing factors to the global spread of obesity, including social determinants, shared causal or associative factors, and ways to mitigate obesity rates.
1. Discuss obesity in the United States and the two countries you selected.
Obesity is a significant health problem in the United States, affecting over 40% of the adult population. In Brazil, obesity rates have tripled over the past four decades, affecting over 20% of the adult population. In Japan, the prevalence of obesity is relatively low, with only 3.7% of adults classified as obese. However, as the Japanese diet has shifted towards a Westernized diet, there has been an increase in obesity rates.
2. What comparisons can be made?
Although the prevalence of obesity in Japan is considerably lower than in the United States and Brazil, there is a rising trend of obesity in Japan, perhaps due to changes in their diet and lifestyle. The cultural differences in these countries are noteworthy. In the United States and Brazil, the traditional diet consists of meat, fried foods, and fast food, leading to high-calorie intake. In contrast, the Japanese diet is rich in fish and vegetables, and low in fat and calories, reducing the probability of developing obesity.
3. What are the cultural differences in these countries that contribute to obesity?
In the United States and Brazil, fast food is a common meal due to the busy lifestyle of individuals living in urban areas. Brazilian meals tend to be rich in meat, dairy products, and fried foods. The Japanese diet consists mainly of rice, fish, seasonal vegetables, tofu, and green tea. The cultural differences in diets influence the prevalence of obesity in these countries.
4. What are some of the contributing factors to worldwide obesity rates?
The contributing factors to worldwide obesity rates include urbanization, globalization, availability of fast food, sedentary lifestyles, and dietary habits. The availability of high-calorie foods and a sedentary lifestyle are particular challenges.
5. What are some social determinants that may contribute to obesity rates?
Social determinants of obesity include access to healthy food, cultural habits, socioeconomic status, stress, and mental health. The easy availability of processed and unhealthy food products in low-income neighborhoods reveals a relationship between social strata and obesity.
6. What are shared causal or associative factors that contribute to the global spread of this condition?
Shared causal or associative factors that contribute to the global spread of obesity include marketing of unhealthy food to children, changes in diet and lifestyle, socioeconomic factors, inactive living, consumption of high-calorie foods, and inadequate regulatory mechanisms for food industries.
Conclusion:
Obesity is a global public health issue and a barrier to the reduction of chronic illness rates worldwide. It is crucial to address obesity rates from a behavioral, societal, and cultural perspective. Governments and health institutions should take action to reduce the alarmingly high number of obesity rates by changing lifestyle habits while also addressing social, environmental, and economic variations.
