The Link Between Healthy Lifestyle and Eating

Habits and Obesity.

By: Katie L. Jeffs

Over the past couple of years, there has been an epidemic reaching

record numbers in the United States. This epidemic is killing one in five

Americans. This epidemic is known as obesity. The number of obese

individuals in America is on the rise. It is said that in 2010, 66% of Americans

are obese by at least 30 pounds. There are many links as to why this

epidemic is on the rise. Well what is obesity, and how what causes it?

Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to

the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health.[18] It is defined by

body mass index (BMI) and further evaluated in terms of fat distribution via

the waisthip ratio and total cardiovascular risk factors Obesity is most

commonly caused by a combination of excessive food intake, lack of physical

activity, and genetic susceptibility. A few cases are caused primarily by

genes, endocrine disorders, medications, or mental illness.i But the main

reason I focus my research on is, the fact that parents and caretakers of

children arent teaching the youth of America healthy lifestyle habits.

It has been studied very heavily in the recent past, when children learn

healthy eating habits from the beginning they continue those habits

throughout their life time. Childrens health behaviors are highly influenced

by their parents, with whom children are in close proximity for the early part
of their lives. ii Children look to their parents for almost every aspect of who

they will come to be. For example, this includes physical activity, and eating

habits. Though the child will learn habits from other social activities, the

parents or caretakers are the direct line to what the child eats every day. So,

it is the parents and caretakers responsibility to educate themselves on the

subject to know what is best for their children. Many studies have shown that

the link between childhood obesity, and adult obesity are very closely

related. The acceleration of obesity trends among the US pediatric

population is of particular concern, as studies have shown that body mass

index (BMI) usually increases with age, and obesity during childhood is
iii
associated with persistence of obesity into adulthood. So, basically as you

grow in age, you also grow physically. So, if you are already obese as a child,

it is almost guaranteed that you will be obese as an adult as well.

Next I will discuss on the genetic factor linked to obesity. The researchers

said they found 97 genetic associations linked to BMI. They also found that

genetic locations associated with BMI are linked to areas that control factors
iv
such as appetite and energy use. They have also linked this to where most

of the fat is located could be linked to what obesity caused illness they

receive. One of the papers focused on genes that affect where fat is stored

in the body, which affects health risk. For example, people with more belly

fat are more likely to have metabolic conditions such as type 2 diabetes and

cardiovascular disease than those with more fat in the hips or distributed

throughout the body. This tells us a lot about the links between genetics,
obesity, and obesity caused illnesses. It tells us that it is not all life style

choices, but you cant deny the evidence that supports it. There has been a

remarkable increase in the prevalence of childhood obesity in most countries

in recent years, which indicates that modern lifestyle is the triggering factor

for genetic susceptibility. v It is interesting that they would suggest this, or is

it? There is a significant correlation between physical activity, and nutrition,

in genetic susceptibility. Genetic contributions to individual differences in

obesity risk are well documented but given our focus on identifying

opportunities for early prevention, we need focus on potentially modifiable

aspects of early environments that may moderate obesity risk.vi Children in

the modern lifestyle are being fed with soft drinks, fast food, and high

sodium processed foods. Which is creating this life-long habit to not think, or

care about what you eat. We need to understand what we can do to prevent

ourselves and our children from becoming obese.

Why do we care so much, how much harm could it do to be obese? Well The

U.S. Surgeon General has predicted that the number of preventable illnesses

and deaths connected with obesity will soon likely outnumber those from

smoking.vii Just to reference google says that 1,192 people die a day in the

U.S. from smoking. So if we are predicting that the number of people dying a

day from obesity related illnesses, is going to outweigh the people dying

from smoking, that is a significant number of peoples children. If we become

more educated on preventing individuals from becoming obese in the first

place, we could save a significant number of people from dying at an early

age. Eating disturbances are associated with a variety of health problems

and have one of the highest mortality rates of any psychiatric order.viii

Eating disturbances are a huge problem in Americans youth. If we can

prevent these early on we can prevent a huge number of mortalities.

In conclusion, there is a significant genetic link to obesity, but it is not all

genetics. There is also I significant correlation between nutrition and physical

activity habits individuals learn as children, to becoming obese as a child and

on to an adult. If we educate ourselves, our children, friends, and family, we

have a much higher chance of preventing children from starting out with

these habits. We need to learn what we should, and shouldnt eat, and pass

those skills on to the next generation so they can life happy, healthy, long

lives as adults.
i https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity

ii Evelyn Pyper, Daniel Harrington, and Heather Manson. The impact of different types of
parental support behaviors on child physical activity, healthy eating, and screen time: a
cross-sectional study.
https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-016-3245-0

iii International Journal of Obesity (2010). Pediatric Highlight. Getting heavier, Younger:
Trajectories of Obesity Over Life Course.
http://web.b.ebscohost.com.libprox1.slcc.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=6882649c-
e444-4499-8b8d-58f94cec6c13%40sessionmgr101&vid=7&hid=116

iv Robert Preidt. Studies Find More Genetic Links to Obesity.

http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20150211/studies-find-more-genetic-links-to-obesity#1

v Nowicka, Paulina. Dietitians and exercise professionals in a childhood obesity

treatment team. Acta Pdiatrica.

vi International Journal of Obesity (2010). PEDIATRIC REVIEW Parental influence on

childrens early eating environments and obesity risk: implications for prevention.
http://web.b.ebscohost.com.libprox1.slcc.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=6882649c-
e444-4499-8b8d-58f94cec6c13%40sessionmgr101&vid=17&hid=116

vii Bessinger, Jeanette L., CHHC, with Yablon-Brenner, Tracee, RD, CHHC. Best Food for
Your Baby and Toddler. From First Foods to Meals Your Child Will Love. New York/London:
Sterling Publishing, 2010.

viii Smolak, Linda and J. Kevin Thompson. Body Image, Eating Disorders, and Obesity in Youth.
Assessment, Prevention, and Treatment. Washington D.C.: American Psychological Association,
2009.