We Should Be Treating Obesity Like a Pandemic
Through heart disease, diabetes, strokes, and other health issues, obesity kills more people each year than Covid-19.
By TIFFANI CLARK
Did you know that we have been facing an even deadlier epidemic than Covid-19 for decades now?
I’m talking about obesity, which the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global epidemic in 1997. Since then, it has been on a constant rise. The WHO has estimated that over 650 million adults worldwide are obese, and if this trend continues, the majority of the world’s population could soon be obese. Where is media uproar about this epidemic?
America has one of the world’s highest obesity rates. So far, 40% of American adults over the age of 20 (132 million people) are obese, as are 1 in 6 children. But obesity itself is not just the problem. It’s the other health risks that develop from obesity that kill thousands of people every day.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America, with 650,000 people dying from it every year. The most common types are coronary heart disease, where the coronary arteries are blocked by the build-up of fatty deposits or cholesterol, and high blood pressure, which is when the force of a person’s blood against their artery walls is too high. These types of heart disease are much more common in obese people, as are strokes, diabetes, and even mental illness.
Obesity also puts you at a much higher risk for dying from Covid-19. It increases the risk of chronic inflammation and impaired immune function, which makes it harder for the body to fight off the virus. It also decreases lung capacity, which makes it harder for a person to breathe if they do contract the virus. Countries in Asian with lower obesity rates have not seen anywhere near the Covid fatalities that the U.S. has.
I bet you’re wondering, how has obesity become such a problem in American society? One answer to that question is the amount of unhealthy food options there are in our country, including over 200,000 fast food restaurants. A typical fast food meal has enough calories, sodium, and unhealthy fats for an entire day. And while it’s okay to eat some fast food every once in a while, around 84.8 million adults eat fast food every single day, according to a report by the CDC.
Another reason behind obesity’s rise in the U.S. is that millions of Americans are living in poverty. Studies have shown that low income areas have less access to fresh and healthy foods compared to higher income areas. Even here in Brooklyn, lower income neighborhoods tend to lack supermarkets that sell healthy foods, such as Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s, which are usually seen in higher income neighborhoods. Less wealthy neighborhoods usually have several fast food options and one small, underfunded supermarket.
About 40% of American adults are obese. The problem is worst in the South and Midwest. Image: The Journalist’s Resource
The media have been rightfully focusing a lot of attention on Covid-19 this past year, as this virus hit everyone by surprise and has led to over 580,000 deaths. In this case, the media is doing its job, and keeping people alert and safe.
But our longest running and even deadlier epidemic -- obesity -- has not gotten the media attention it truly deserves. We have seen more Covid-19 related commercials and news reports this year than we have seen obesity-related stories in perhaps our entire lives. For a condition that can lead to a number of serious health issues, the media has not been informing the public about obesity and its causes enough. Meanwhile, the rates keep rising.
The U.S. needs to start treating obesity like the crisis it has been for decades. The media needs to discuss the risks that come with obesity and what people can do to stay healthy. The government also needs to take bolder action. Doing this would do far more in the long term to help people live longer, healthier lives.