OBESITY – A GLOBAL PROBLEM

Obesity is not solely caused by only the lack of willpower but also for the other factors that contribute to this global problem. So modern food eating habits must be revised and changed to solve this problem.

• Marketing: Unhealthy products are aggressively marketed as healthy with misleading claims about the product, and the market is targeted especially towards children. Childhood obesity is very common these days and children are addicted to junk food as they lack the knowledge and can be easily misled.

• Insulin: Insulin resistance and high insulin levels are linked with being overweight and obese. So, it’s important to manage and lower the insulin levels by eating a diet high in fibre and by reducing the intake of refined carbs.

• Medications: Some drugs can cause and promote weight gain as they tend to reduce the no. of calories burned and also increase appetite. Example: antidepressants, antipsychotics, etc.

• Leptin Resistance: It is the appetite-reducing hormone which is produced by the fat cells. High leptin levels are directly linked to a reduced appetite, but in obese people, the leptin does not work properly as it is not able to cross the blood-brain barrier, this leptin resistance is a leading factor to weight gain and obesity.

• Genetics: The children with parents suffering from obesity are more likely to be obese, but obesity is not pre-determined as what a person eats has a major effect on their genes. But some people have a genetic susceptibility to obesity and weight gain.

• Junk Food: Processed food has refined ingredients mixed with additives. They are cheap and made so tasty, which promotes overeating. They are engineered and designed in a way to get people hooked to them and are very hard to resist.

• Food Addiction: Sugar and high-fat junk food stimulates the brain in a certain way and has the same effect on our brain as alcohol, nicotine, cocaine, etc. Junk food addiction is common in today’s society, where people lose control and struggle with their eating behaviour similar to a person struggling with nicotine or alcohol addiction. Food addiction and cravings are difficult to overcome for high fat and sugary foods.