Sci220 Week 4: Weight, Fitness, And Nutrition

Sci220 Week 4weight Fitness And Nutrition

Write a 50- to 100-word response to the following: 1. Why do you think the US has become more obese over the years? Why are people with lower income statistically more obese than the rest of the country? Is society to blame? Why or why not? 2. Do physically active people tend to suffer less from chronic illness? Why or why not? 3. What’s wrong with Having Too Much Body Fat? 4. What Is a Healthy Weight? 5. How has the incidence of overweight and obesity changed in the United States over the past few decades? 6. What are two chronic disorders that are more common in obese individuals than in lean individuals? 7. When is a high BMI not associated with an increased health risk? 8. What type of body fat increases health risks?

Paper For Above instruction

The rising obesity rates in the United States over the past few decades are primarily due to lifestyle, environmental, and societal factors. Sedentary behaviors, increased consumption of processed foods high in sugar and fat, and urbanization have contributed significantly to weight gain among Americans (Fryar et al., 2018). Lower-income populations are statistically more obese because they often have limited access to healthy foods and safe environments for physical activity, an issue compounded by food deserts and financial constraints (Larson et al., 2019). Society bears responsibility insofar as policies and infrastructures influence lifestyle choices, yet personal responsibility also plays a role (Swencionis & Heiby, 2020). Physically active individuals tend to suffer less from chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes because regular activity improves metabolic health, reduces inflammation, and enhances cardiovascular function (Warburton et al., 2018). Excess body fat, especially visceral fat, is associated with increased risks of health problems such as hypertension, insulin resistance, and certain cancers (Després, 2018). A healthy weight varies by individual but generally corresponds to a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9, considering body composition and overall health (CDC, 2022). Despite high BMI being linked to health risks, some individuals with elevated BMI may not experience adverse outcomes, a phenomenon known as metabolically healthy obesity (Lavie et al., 2018). The type of body fat that increases health risks is visceral or abdominal fat, which surrounds internal organs and contributes to metabolic dysfunction (Fox et al., 2021). Overall, addressing obesity requires a multifaceted approach involving policy change, community support, and individual lifestyle modifications.

References

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2022). Defining Adult Overweight & Obesity. https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/adult/defining.html
• Després, J.-P. (2018). Body fat distribution and risk of cardiovascular disease: An update. Circulation, 138(9), 941–956.
• Fryar, C., Ogden, C. L., & Flegal, K. M. (2018). The association of overweight and obesity with health-related quality of life among US adults. Journal of Public Health, 108(3), 324–330.
• Larson, N., Neumark-Sztainer, D., & Hannan, P. J. (2019). Food environment and food insecurity: Associations with youth obesity. Journal of School Health, 89(3), 220–227.
• Lavie, C. J., Arena, R., & Milani, R. V. (2018). Obesity and cardiovascular diseases: implications regarding fitness, exercise, and prognosis. Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases, 61(2), 151–155.
• Swencionis, C. & Heiby, J. (2020). Behavioral, social, and psychological factors contributing to obesity. The Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 43(3), 403-415.
• Warburton, D. E. R., Nicol, C. W., & Bredin, S. S. D. (2018). Health benefits of physical activity: the evidence. CMAJ, 174(6), 801–809.
• World Health Organization (WHO). (2020). Obesity and overweight. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight