ISALC, Lewis and Clark College

Obesity: A Hidden Killer Among Us by Anonymous

It would be easy to blame depression or emotional problems as the main reason for eating too much, but there are deeper factors to take into consideration. Even though it's true that some people try to compensate for sentimental delusions or personal failings with exaggerated amounts of food, it wouldn't be the best idea to advise every obese person with the elementary concept of "eat less and do more physical activity."(Liebman, 1998, p.1). Dr. Walker S. Carlos Poston II, assistant professor in the department of medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, continues saying, " I don't think it's (losing weight) simply a matter of people shutting their mouth." (1998, p. 3). Sometimes there are biological, genetic, or cultural reasons that are hard to eliminate even with great determination in following a diet. In fact, certain people easily see food as a sign of economic welfare. Maybe the memory of the lack of an appropriate diet is too vivid in their mind; therefore, they don't care about being overweight. In Arlington, Va.,, Dr. Denise Bruner thinks that this is the case for many Afro-American women. In fact, some African-American women who have participated in Dr. Bruner's study showed that almost 50% of them, not only are not concerned about their overeating, but also think that some extra pounds are a sign of beauty. Their companions also reinforce this philosophy, in fact, "they do not hesitate to say that they like their women with a little meat on their bones." (Why so many, 1998, p. 2).

It is clear at this point that there are several reasons for abusing food. Moreover, Dr. Bruner thinks that one of the explanations that most helps to understand why so many people weigh even 30 pounds more than what is considered normal, is the almost total absence of exercise in their lives. Nowadays it is becoming easier and easier to avoid any kind of physical activity: just think about cars, garage door openers, elevators, cordless phones, computers, and many more (1998). Even though, according to Dr. Tim Johnson, Americans spend 33 billion dollars every year in fitness centers and on fitness supplies (1999) still the result is that only 25% of Americans do regular exercise (Why so many, 1998). On the other hand, in an interview for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Dr. Kelly Brownell says that the main motive for the spread of this plague of obesity is that "Americans are exposed to a toxic food environment." (Liebman,1998, p.2) and they have easy access to high-fat food "low in cost, heavily promoted and good tasting." (1998, p.3). Thanks to the development of so many fast foods and the strong competition for bigger portions among restaurants, it is becoming more difficult for people to resist the temptation of not considering a better deal buying a super-value meal. Moreover, this junk food is available everywhere, systematically bombing ingenuous consumers. Dr. Brownell continues saying, "I have asked myself whether Joe Camel is different than Ronald McDonald. One could claim that they both encourage children to adopt habits that could be bad for their health." (1998, p.7).

Most of the doctors seem to be agreeing with the concept that people don't really understand how their bad culinary habits seriously threat their lives. Therefore, even when they decide to lose weight they usually do it for vanity reasons without thinking that "being overweight should be a health problem first and an aesthetic problem second" (Why so many, 1998, p.2). Obesity is the cause of almost as many deaths as smoking. It is also responsible of several other health hazards like heart diseases, strokes, diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancer. It is clear that people who overeat have a low life expectancy.

Since obesity affects people in their early childhood, it is interesting to know that they experience not only health problems, but also psychological repercussions. A recent study published in Pediatrics concluded that obese children suffer discrimination in their early childhood. Those children become an easy cruel jokes target, and the study's author William H. Dietz says "children ranging in age from 6 to 10 years already associate obesity with a variety of negative characteristic such as laziness and sloppiness."(1998, p.2). The result is that they will tend to isolate themselves or they will find younger playmates (1998).

Nowadays obesity is a very serious disease that affects 1/5 of the U.S. population. Moreover, this statistic will soon increase if we don't pay enough attention to its causes. Psychological stress, lack of physical activity, and easy access to food, all together are a lethal combination that brings many people to overeat. The real problem is that the seriousness of obesity is underestimated and not sufficiently seen as a threat to our health. It would be helpful to keep in mind what William Castelli, chief of the Framingham Heart Study, recently said, "Most Americans who have chronic health problems, would not have them if they ate a low-fat diet." (1999, p.3).

Taking a look at the available statistics on the effects of obesity should be enough to let us think more about our exercising and eating habits. Too serious are the effects that we may face if we don't change our daily approach to life. Moreover, research shows that obesity should be considered as a serious health issue, not, like often happens, as a beauty problem. We should be worried about our size not for pure vanity, but essentially for our physical well being.

Dietz, W. H. (1998). Health consequence of obesity in youth: childhood predictors of adult disease. Pediatrics, 101 (3), 518-525. Retrieved October 26, 1999 from Infotrac.

How high-fat diets cause obesity and other serious health hazards. (1999). Retrieved October 26, 1999 from the World Wide Web at http://www.obesity.com/health_library/satis/satis_2_hifat.html

Johnson, T. (1999, October 27 7:15 AM). Obesity Study. ABC News.

Liebman, B. (1998). The pressure to eat: why we're getting fatter. Nutrition Action Healthletter, 25 (6), 3-5. Retrieved October 26, 1999 from Infotrac.

Why so many Americans are overweight. (1998). Jet, 94 (4), 54-56. Retrieved October 26, 1999 from Infotrac.

Created by: krauss@lclark.edu
Updated: 11/14/99