{"id":414,"date":"2019-03-11T18:56:20","date_gmt":"2019-03-11T18:56:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/sunyltnutrition\/?post_type=chapter&p=414"},"modified":"2020-03-07T22:32:21","modified_gmt":"2020-03-07T22:32:21","slug":"9-1-prelude-to-energy-balance-and-body-weight","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-mcc-ltnutrition\/chapter\/9-1-prelude-to-energy-balance-and-body-weight\/","title":{"raw":"9.1: Prelude To Energy Balance And Body Weight","rendered":"9.1: Prelude To Energy Balance And Body Weight"},"content":{"raw":"
Here, we take a look at the obesity epidemic and eating disorders\u2014the extremes of energy imbalance\u2014and we look at evidence-based recommendations for maintaining a healthy weight.\u00a0You will learn how to assess body weight and fatness and learn that it is not only society and environment that play a role in body weight and fatness, but also physiology, genetics, and behavior\u2014and that all of them interact. We will also discuss the health risks of being underweight and overweight, learn evidence-based solutions to maintain body weight at the individual level, and assess the current state of affairs of combating the obesity epidemic in the United States.<\/div>\r\n

As you probably already know, the number of people who struggle with being overweight and\/or obese is rising rapidly in the United States of America and in many other countries around the world. There is a new term being used\u00a0to try to understand this rapid rise in obesity. The new term\u00a0is \"obesogenic\" environments. \u00a0The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines an obesogenic environment\u00a0as \u201can environment that\u00a0promotes increased food intake of\u00a0non-healthful foods, and physical inactivity<\/strong>.\u201d The CDC reports that in 2009 in the United States, 33 percent of adults and 16 percent of children were obese, a doubling and tripling of the numbers since 1980, respectively, while in Canada the obesity rate was 24.1 percent for 2007\u20132009. The health consequences of too much body fat are numerous, including: increased risks for cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, and some cancers. The medical costs related to obesity are well over one hundred billion dollars and on the individual level, people who are obese spend $1,429 more per year for medical care than people of healthy weight. \u00a0No one WANTS to become obese, so what are the factors causing rates of obesity to rise so rapidly? \u00a0What can we do about these factors?<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\n[embed]https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/vCORDl4bqDE[\/embed]\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\nVideo 9.1.1<\/strong>: The Obesity Epidemic: This video from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides an overview of the burden of the obesity epidemic in the United States and its contributing causes..\u00a0http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/cdctv\/ObesityEpidemic\/<\/a><\/em>\r\n

Numerous obesogenic agents contribute to the\u00a0immense public health problem that has become a part of everyday life in American society. Most agree that the\u00a0fast food\u00a0<\/strong>industry is playing a role. \u00a0Fast food has been growing for decades and continues to grow, even when the economy struggles. In America today there are over twelve thousand McDonald\u2019s restaurants, while in 1960 there was one. Another factor is that\u00a0food portions have been getting bigger<\/strong>\u00a0since the 1960s, and in the 1990s North American society experienced the \u201csuper-size\u201d marketing boom, which is still very popular.\u00a0Another factor is physical inactivity is getting worse<\/strong>. \u00a0Between 1960 and 2000 more than 123 million vehicles were added to the American society. Escalators, elevators, and horizontal walkways now dominate shopping malls and office buildings, factory work has become increasingly mechanized and automated, the typical American watches more than four hours of television daily, and in many work places the only tools required to conduct work are a chair and a computer.\u00a0The list of all the societal obesogenic factors goes on and on<\/strong>. They are the result of modernization, industrialization, and urbanization continuing on without individuals, public health officials, or government adequately addressing the concurrent rise in overweight and obesity.<\/p>\r\n

With obesity at epidemic proportions in America it is critical we make changes that will help to remedy this growing problem. \u00a0The good news is we can make a difference! \u00a0\u00a0Policies are being implemented and\u00a0reinforced at all levels of society including: education, agriculture, industry, urban\u00a0planning, health care, and government. Reversing and stopping obesity are two different things. The former will require much more societal change and change on the individual level than the latter. The following are some ideas that are being demonstrated to work for constructing an environment in America that promotes health and confronts the obesity epidemic:<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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    Individual Level: What you can do NOW<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n

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    • Purchase less prepared foods and eat more whole foods.<\/li>\r\n \t
    • Decrease portion sizes when eating or serving food.<\/li>\r\n \t
    • Eat out less, and when you do eat out choose low-calorie options.<\/li>\r\n \t
    • Walk or bike to work. If this is not feasible, walk while you are at work.<\/li>\r\n \t
    • Take the stairs when you come upon them or better yet, seek them out.<\/li>\r\n \t
    • Walk your neighborhood and know your surroundings. This benefits both health and safety.<\/li>\r\n \t
    • Watch less television.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t
    • \r\n

      Community Level: What you and your friends, family and co-workers can do together!<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n

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      • Request that your college\/workplace provides more access to healthy low-cost foods.<\/li>\r\n \t
      • Support changes in school lunch programs\u2014this is happening now but needs vocal parents to continue!<\/li>\r\n \t
      • Participate in cleaning up local green spaces and then enjoy them during your leisure time, get outside!<\/li>\r\n \t
      • Patronize local farms and fruit-and-vegetable stands.<\/li>\r\n \t
      • Talk to your grocer and ask for better whole-food choices and seafood at a decent price.<\/li>\r\n \t
      • Ask your favorite restaurant to serve more nutritious food and to accurately display calories of menu items.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t
      • \r\n

        National Level: What we can do as a country!<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n

          \r\n \t
        • Support policies that increase the walk-ability of cities.<\/li>\r\n \t
        • Support national campaigns addressing obesity, such as America on the Move.<\/li>\r\n \t
        • Support policies that support local farmers and the increased access and affordability of healthy food.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
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          INTERACTIVE<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n
          \r\n\r\nWatch this video about \"Shape up Somerville\" in which a city in Massachusetts was able to make some amazing changes to the health and wellness of its citizens!\r\n
          \r\n
          \r\n\r\n[embed]https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WT7NqVLhteE[\/embed]\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n
          Video 9.1.2<\/strong>:\u00a0An interview, with Mayor Joseph Curtatone, about a groundbreaking community health and wellness program in Somerville, MA<\/em><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
          \r\n
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          YOU DECIDE<\/h3>\r\n\r\n
          \r\n

          How can you assist in the American transition from an obesogenic environment to a healthier environment at the individual, community, and national levels?<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\nIn this chapter you will learn how to assess body weight and fatness. You will also learn that it is not only society and environment that play a role in body weight and fatness, but also physiology, genetics, and behavior\u2014and that all of them interact. We will also discuss the health risks of being underweight and overweight, learn evidence-based solutions to maintain body weight at the individual level, and assess the current state of affairs of combating the obesity epidemic in the United States.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"

          Here, we take a look at the obesity epidemic and eating disorders\u2014the extremes of energy imbalance\u2014and we look at evidence-based recommendations for maintaining a healthy weight.\u00a0You will learn how to assess body weight and fatness and learn that it is not only society and environment that play a role in body weight and fatness, but also physiology, genetics, and behavior\u2014and that all of them interact. We will also discuss the health risks of being underweight and overweight, learn evidence-based solutions to maintain body weight at the individual level, and assess the current state of affairs of combating the obesity epidemic in the United States.<\/div>\n

          As you probably already know, the number of people who struggle with being overweight and\/or obese is rising rapidly in the United States of America and in many other countries around the world. There is a new term being used\u00a0to try to understand this rapid rise in obesity. The new term\u00a0is “obesogenic” environments. \u00a0The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines an obesogenic environment\u00a0as \u201can environment that\u00a0promotes increased food intake of\u00a0non-healthful foods, and physical inactivity<\/strong>.\u201d The CDC reports that in 2009 in the United States, 33 percent of adults and 16 percent of children were obese, a doubling and tripling of the numbers since 1980, respectively, while in Canada the obesity rate was 24.1 percent for 2007\u20132009. The health consequences of too much body fat are numerous, including: increased risks for cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, and some cancers. The medical costs related to obesity are well over one hundred billion dollars and on the individual level, people who are obese spend $1,429 more per year for medical care than people of healthy weight. \u00a0No one WANTS to become obese, so what are the factors causing rates of obesity to rise so rapidly? \u00a0What can we do about these factors?<\/p>\n

          \n
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