The Obesity Epidemic Of Obesity - 2053 Words

Over the last 15 years the rise in obesity has reached global epidemic proportions (World Health Organisation (WHO), 2015). Obesity is defined as an â€Å"abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health.† Body Mass Index (BMI) is a common tool used to measure a person s weight in kilograms divided by their height in meters squared (kg/m2) (WHO, 2015). An individual with a BMI greater than or equal to 30 is considered clinically obese (WHO, 2015). However this may not be the most valid way of measuring obesity as it does not take into account muscle which weighs considerable more than fat (WHO, 2015). The National Health Service (NHS) therefore recommends using waist circumference as a more valid measurement of body fat (NHS,†¦show more content†¦Research indicates that in the Western world, there are three primary factors that have caused a rise in obesity; overconsumption of energy dense foods in large portions (Ello-Martin, 2005) poverty (James, 2008) and sedentary lifestyles including reduced physical activity (Chaput et al, 2010). These three factors have contributed to an imbalance between energy consumption and energy expenditure. This is also mirrored in the developing world as they have adopted an increasingly westernised lifestyle with the Middle East, Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia and China facing the greatest threat (Hossain et al, 2007). It appears that the most common cause of the obesity epidemic is the overconsumption of energy dense foods in large portions. Foods produced in large quantities tend to be of poor quality and high in both calories and saturated fat. Energy dense foods are tastier, cheaper, and more readily accessible. Ready meals from supermarkets have also seen a massive growth and alongside it, a substantial rise in the intake of fat. Packaged food that is found on supermarket shelves is often high in saturated fat, sugar and salt. Ello-Martin, Ledikwe, and Rolls 2005 state that â€Å"Fat increases the energy density of a food to a greater extent than either carbohydrate or protein.† Studies that have shown that