Factors that influence obesity
How obesity affects society
Nutritional status is defined as the availability and utilization of nutrients and energy at the cellular level. Thus, nutritional status is normal when the supply of nutrients through food corresponds to normal metabolic needs and their variations (anabolism/catabolism) induced by physiological, occupational and pathological overloads. This leads to two possible alternatives:
2. if the supply exceeds the biological requirements, with values higher than tolerable levels, we will have as a result the development of pathologies due to nutritional excesses / malnutrition by excess, with prominence for obesity for being the main epidemic of modern times (Batista Filho, 2003).
Obesity has reached global epidemic proportions. Obesity rates have at least tripled since 1980 in parts of North America, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, the Pacific Islands, Australia and China. The Latin American region is no stranger to this trend and the increase in obesity figures has become more evident as countries improve their economic income1.
How does the environment influence obesity?
The urban environment may also increase the risk of obesity. For example, some studies conducted in the United States or in the United Kingdom indicate a relationship between the number of fast food restaurants and childhood obesity.
What are the factors that influence childhood obesity?
The main causes of obesity and overweight in children are the consumption of processed foods with high levels of sugar, trans fats and salt, as well as sugar-sweetened beverages that are very easy to acquire due to their wide distribution, low cost and promotion in mass media.
Preventing obesity
Over time, you can become overweight and obese if you consume more calories than you use. This is also described as energy imbalance: when the energy in (calories) is not equal to the energy out (calories the body uses for actions such as breathing, digesting food, and physical activity).
There are many risk factors for overweight and obesity. Some are individual factors, such as knowledge, skills, and behaviors. Others are in the environment, such as school, workplace, and neighborhood. In addition, food industry and marketing practices and social and cultural norms and values can also influence risk.
You may not be able to change all of your risk factors for overweight and obesity. But knowing your risk is important to help you take steps to achieve a healthy weight and lower your risk of obesity-related health problems, such as heart disease.
Long-term and short-term stress can affect the brain and lead the body to produce hormones, such as cortisol, that control energy balances and the drive to eat. These hormonal changes can lead to eating more and storing more fat.
Factores genéticos de la obesidad
Resumen. Introducción. Las desigualdades socioeconómicas pueden ser una de las causas del cambio en los patrones de alimentación y actividad física de los estudiantes. La obesidad y el sobrepeso son un problema en la sociedad actual, y su tendencia al alza, especialmente en niños, han hecho que deban ser considerados como la epidemia del siglo XXI según los organismos internacionales. Material y métodos. Este estudio pretende describir la realidad del Estado de Salud de los alumnos, por lo que se trata de un estudio descriptivo con 154 alumnos de centros educativos de la Región de Murcia. Se analizan los datos extraídos de los alumnos a través de tres cuestionarios y medición de talla y peso. Se evalúa el estado nutricional mediante la medición del índice de masa corporal (IMC = peso/Altura²). La clasificación del IMC se realiza utilizando las tablas establecidas por el Proyecto de Asistencia Técnica en Alimentación y Nutrición III, sexo y edad. Resultados. El sobrepeso y la obesidad aparecen asociados a más variables aparte de la actividad física y la nutrición, ya que éstas pueden verse afectadas por el nivel socioeconómico y cultural. Conclusiones. Destaca la existencia de diferencias significativas tanto en la situación socioeconómica como en el estado de salud de los alumnos, lo que pone de manifiesto la asociación entre la economía de la familia y la salud nutricional de sus hijos. Este estudio finaliza con nuevas líneas de investigación sobre el tema e implicaciones educativas.
Social factors in childhood obesity
One of the best strategies to reduce childhood obesity is to improve the diet and exercise habits of the entire family. Treating and preventing childhood obesity helps protect your child's health now and in the future.Products and Services
Body mass index, which provides a guideline of weight in relation to height, is the accepted measure of overweight and obesity. Your child's doctor can help you find out if your child's weight could be a health problem by using growth charts, BMI and, if necessary, other tests.
When to see a doctorIf you are concerned that your child is gaining too much weight, see your child's doctor. The doctor will consider growth and developmental history, family history of the relationship between weight and height, and your child's placement on growth charts. This can help determine if your child's weight is in an unhealthy range.
