The number of obese people in the world has more than doubled since 1980. While millions of people in the world’s poorest countries die from a basic lack of food, the number of overweight and obese people in developed countries continues to rise.
According to the World Health Organization there are currently more than 1 billion adults in the world classified as overweight (Body Mass Index 25-30), and at least 300 million of these are clinically obese (Body Mass Index over 30).
The implications of increasing obesity rates are serious. Many health experts believe obesity is the most pressing health issue in the developed world. Excess body fat is a significant risk factor for chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke and certain forms of cancer.
So why do obesity rates continue to rise?
It may appear simple on the surface - people gain excess body fat when they consume more calories than they burn – but there are many complex, and less obvious, factors that contribute towards this calorie imbalance. The solution to the obesity epidemic may also seem obvious - to eat less and exercise more - yet in reality things are not so simple.
1. Greater availability of food
Over the past few decades food has become more accessible. Today, we no longer have to leave our homes to be fed and watered. In towns and cities there is an abundance of food companies willing to deliver ready-to-eat meals to your door, 24-hours a day. Compare this with our ancestors who had to hunt for their next meal. In doing this they would burn hundreds of calories in the process. That’s hundreds more than picking up the phone and ordering a delivery pizza!
2. Increase in daily calorie intake
There has been an increase in the average number of calories people consume. From the start of the last century until around 1985 total calorie intake actually decreased. However, since 1985 it has increased continuously. This rise is generally attributed to the increased consumption of soft drinks and fast food, and larger portion sizes.
3. Fewer meals cooked at home
Traditionally, women have been the main cooks in the household. Yet with greater numbers of women having leading roles in the workforce, and less time at home, their role as a cook has diminished. In many cases, rather than other family members taking on the cooking duties, meals simply do not get cooked at home. Today’s busy lifestyles also mean fewer families sit down together for their meals. This is a worrying trend as research indicates families who eat together are healthier than those who eat separately. Rather than everyone sharing one healthy, home- cooked meal, family members often eat as and when they have time, frequently choosing ready meals and takeaways for convenience. Studies have shown meals prepared outside the home often have more calories than those prepared within the home.
4. Growth of fast food companies
For many people the easy option is to point the finger at large fast food chains when it comes to finding someone to blame for the global rise in obesity. Yet these companies argue that if consumed in moderation their products can be part of a healthy diet. However, the increase in ‘junk food’ – low cost, high calorie food products, often with poor nutritional quality – has contributed to the increase in calorie consumption.
5. Fewer manual jobs
The percentage of people working in manual labor jobs has fallen due to increased technology within businesses. Many physically demanding jobs that were once performed by people are now done by machines and computers. This is a fantastic advance for industry, but not for our waistlines.
6. Electronic gadgets replace traditional activities
Recent decades have seen a huge rise in the number of hours people spend using technology. Digital television offers countless channels for us to browse using only a finger to press the remote control, while the internet seems to steal our time as we click through endless websites. These gadgets have reduced the number of hours people spend being physically active.
Contributed by Hamad Medical Corporation
