Curious History

Curious History

The Long and Sad History of Obesity

Obesity is a worldwide health problem, and since 1980 its prevalence has doubled across the globe. Many weight loss doctors and scientists are working hard to treat and prevent obesity. While researchers do not have all the answers about the causes of the obesity epidemic, the historical timeline of obesity gives some signs of its origins.

 

Obesity and other health issues

Obesity puts a person at a risk of serious health complications, including high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, heart disease, stroke, respiratory problems, gallbladder disease as well as cancer. Understanding how obesity came into existence on world-wide level helps authorities in finding the ways of improving public health.

 

Rise of Obesity in the United States

In the United States, the obesity has actually originated in the early 20th century. It was when discovered that health of poor children is improved when their malnutrition was cured by feeding them extra calories. These calories were inexpensive sugars and fats. Cheap foods are supplied to the working class people then. Although these food articles were tasty and enough to fulfill their hunger, this diet started making them obese day by day.

 

Technological enhancements created ways in which availability of cheap and high-calorie foods became even easier. In the United States, the rate of obesity hardly changed during the 1960s and 1970s, but increased rapidly in the 1980s. In 1980, the obesity rate became thirteen percent, but raise steeply to thirty five percent in 2011 to 2012. Initially, obesity was considered as good, then it became bad and now it is ugly.

 

There are many reasons for the rise in obesity rates in the United States. The meal served in average restaurant is 4 times larger than it was in the 1960s. Likewise, the size of dinner plates has increased nearly 23%, since 1900. Thus, people consume more food when served on larger plates. These larger portions at home and at restaurants, more added sugars, lazy lifestyle, stress and lack of sleep are some documented causes behind the rise of obesity in the U.S.

 

It is not easy to live life with obesity and with obese people. It is important to keep check on body weight. So, eat healthy, workout every day and visit weight loss clinic to enjoy fit and active life.

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