Obesity 'is a pandemic'

# 8

Posted: 09/06/2010 13:47

http://obesitythunderbay.ning.com/forum/topics/govt-should-take-the-lead-on

Childhood Obesity  is a crisis ,and I am seeking volunteers to explore and challenge my work. www.obesitythundserbay.ning.com   is eagerly trying to find  supports . Obese children are not the enemy. They are the victims  of this food environment.  Let's build a community driven action plan.

# 7

Posted: 09/07/2009 14:33

Economic Disparities

In America childhood obesity is having a larger impact on children from low-income families. How does this compare to Ireland's experience?

 

Poor health care: Over 1.6 million children were unable to get needed medical care because the family could not afford it. Medical care for an additional 3 million children was delayed because of worry about the cost.

Limited access: In part because they lack access to healthy food and sports facilities, children from lower incomes are more likely to be overweight or obese.

Fewer opportunities to stay healthy: In a study of 200 neighborhoods, there were three times as many supermarkets in wealthy neighborhoods as in poor neighborhoods leaving fast food restaurants as the most convenient meal option for many low income families.

# 6

Posted: 12/11/2007 09:04

ancaman Well done on your efforts to ge tot the heart of what Patricia described in extremely superficial terms :"people just eat too much" is so over-simplistic as to help no-one.

# 5

Posted: 11/11/2007 21:11

Yes, the world and in particular the Western world, is facing a pandemic in obesity levels. Obesity in adulthood leads to an increased risk for future death from coronary heart disease, atherosclerotic cerebrovascular disease, and colorrectal cancer, as well as serious medical problems such as hypertension, gallbladder disease and diabetes mellitus (New England Journal of Medicine 1999).

However, obesity does not discriminate. Obesity in childhood and adolescence has also been associated with serious medical problems including high blood pressure, diabetes and coronary heart disease. In addition, obesity in childhood and adolescence has been found to lead to lower educational attainment (Journal of Nutrition 1998).

We are living in an 'Obesogenic' environment with nearly an unlimited food supply, wide availability of high-fat, highly palatable and prepared foods, large portion sizes, and technological advances leading to a sedentary lifestyle.

Efforts to stem this pandemic have so far paled into insignificance. A recent article in the New York Times described how 'In the war against Obesity, Obesity was not only winning - but Obesity was 'crushing' the opposition'.

From Ireland's point of view the increase in obesity levels in recent years will have a profound and marked impact on the health of its population and the country's economy in general. The Health Service Executive is already under tremendous pressure and barely able to cope. Now is the time to make a stand against obesity. Focusing on diet and nutrition alone will only be of limited value. We need to adopt a holisitc approach to this problem, which needs to take into account a person's biology, lifestyle, attitude and nutritional problems.

W. Hempel
MSc. (Psy), Eating Disorder Pract.

# 4

Posted: 09/11/2007 16:44

Obesity is only an outward sign of underlying difficulties. many people who are at this stage have been in many cases through traumatic events in their lives.All that the general public sees is this heavy person and of course the immediate answer is stay away from the table. many cases of obesity and due in no uncertain circumstances to very low self esteem and people causing great fun of the fatty of the group .

# 3

Posted: 30/10/2007 19:46

The definition of a pandemic simply means widespread, or general.

About 2 in 5 adults in the UK are overweight and a further 1 in 5 are obese. The main causes of obesity are: overeating and/or eating the wrong kinds of food; little physical activity; some people inherit a tendency to be obese; a combination of these reasons.

People just eat too much, in general terms.

# 2

Posted: 26/10/2007 19:44

If the situation is that serious how come there is only one obesity related clinic/unit in Dublin, sorry don't know if there are any in the rest of the country.

# 1

Posted: 24/10/2007 12:48

I thought pandemic only applied to something infectious, such as flu.