GROWTH OF OBESITY AS AN EPIDEMIC

Obesity and obesity related health issues have increased considerably in New Zealand over the years, because of this rapid increase obesity has been referred to as an epidemic (Ministry of Health, 2004).  The table below shows the increase that occurred between 1977 and 2003. 

Selected sample statistics, ages pooled, 1977–2003

	Males			Females
	1977	2003	AAPC (%)*	1977	2003	AAPC (%)*
Mean BMI	25.5	26.9	0.20	24.5	26.4	0.28
Median BMI	25.1	26.3	0.18	23.8	25.2	0.23
Overweight (%)	41.5	42.1	0.05	26.1	27.7	0.23
Obese (%)	9.4	19.9	2.93	10.8	22.1	2.79

*Average annual percentage change; assumes linearity.

(Ministry of Health, 2004).

The above graph shows a dramatic increase in obesity rates with males showing an increase from 9 to 20 percent, and with females showing an increase of 11 to 22 percent (Ministry of Health, 2004). 

Below, a more recent study shows an ever increasing percentage of obesity rates in both male and female of varying age groups.

 Prevalence (%) of obesity, by age group and sex, 2006/2007

            Age group (years)

                5–14    15–24    25–34    35–44    45–54    55–64   65–74    75+

Males      8.1       12.7       22.2       29.9       30.8       35.9       29.9      21.7

Females  8.6       15.7       26.6       26.9       30.2       35.9       35.7     20.1

Total       8.3       14.2       24.4       28.4       30.5       35.9       32.8     20.8

(“2010 The Social Report,” 2010).

Globally there are 2.8 million people dying each year due to obesity.  In the past, obesity has been connected to countries with high-incomes, whereas now obesity is also associated with countries with low to middle-class incomes (“World Health organization,” 2013). 

Today, New Zealand is ranked 7th out of 29 countries with 20.9 percent of people being obese.  See here for other countries results. With statistics like these it is no wonder that obesity is referred to as an epidemic.  This epidemic has major effects on the public health, it is contributing to the increase of obesity related health issues such as type 2 diabetes, stroke and heart disease, it is also contributing to the increase in deaths relating to obesity related diseases and health issues (Ministry of health, 2004).

References

Health Statistics > Obesity (most recent) by country. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/hea_obe-health-obesity

 Ministry of Health. (2004). Tracking the obesity epidemic. Retrieved from http://www.health.govt.nz/publication/tracking-obesity-epidemic

 

2010 The Social Report. (2010). Retrieved from http://socialreport.msd.govt.nz/health/obesity.html

World Health Organization. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/obesity/en/

OBESITY

The social issue I have decided to discuss is obesity.  Obesity is a social problem not only in New Zealand, but globally.  Obesity is a condition which can be caused by a combination of circumstances;  mainly eating in excess of your total daily energy expenditure, which is the total quantity of calories your body requires each day to function, combined with insufficient physical activity.   Also genetics and certain medications can contribute the chances of becoming obese.  There can be serious health issues associated with obesity such as diabetes and heart disease to name a few, which in turn can lead to death.  

Obesity is a preventable health problem which contributes to an increasing number of deaths worldwide.   The reason I have chosen to discuss obesity is because I see the causes and effects that obesity has on people on a daily basis.  The amount of processed foods and sugar laden foods that are available at the supermarkets has increased.  Also the convenience of fast food outlets, along with an increase in meal sizes.   Many children go to school with lunch boxes full of snack food which is filled with sugar and too much sodium.  Some parents see it as a convenient way to fill a lunch box, rather than making healthy sandwiches combined two pieces of fruit.  If we can educate our children to make healthy choices when they are young, then the chances that they become obese in adulthood are less likely.     

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