Obese People

The number of obese people has alarmingly risen to over 300 million around the world in the past few years (Forseth, 2013). Research has shown regular physical activity helps maintain and prevent weight gain, as well as prevent many health issues. The many negative effects to one's health for being obese can contribute to diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and even cancer (Forseth, 2013). With the rise in medical issues, obesity has become a common disease in most households due to lack of exercise and poor eating habits.

A sedentary lifestyle presents itself as a major conflict; therefore, life-altering measures are needed to be taken to combat this growing epidemic of obesity. The household environment sets the stage for the behaviors in exercise. The home setting sets exercise cues, providing motivation to engage in a more physical aspect. More and more households are being equipped with more TV's, computers, and video games, decreasing one's desire to engage in more physical activity.

The main culprit for weight gain is the amount of food consumed as well as the type. While exercise can produce weight loss, a proper diet can mediate weight gain. Food high in sugar content and fat will result in weight gain (Forseth, 2013). The availability for processed and readily prepared food has become a leading cause. With busy schedules affecting our minds, people tend to prefer a fast food chain such as McDonalds to provide a quick and easy meal instead of taking the time and preparing a healthier low fat meal. The cost of eating healthier is on the rise and affects the types of food purchased as well. It is sometimes cheaper to buy the meats with a high fat content versus buying the leaner meat. Also with vegetables, buying a bag of potatoes, which can feed your family for a few meals instead of buying broccoli where it will feed the family for a night is a factor in determining the types of foods we eat.

While the rate of obesity rises worldwide so does the healthcare costs. It is estimated that billions of dollars have been spent treating and tackling this epidemic. Treating the obese has become a medical challenge as well. For example, the risks of performing surgery on an obese individual pose a greater risk of post- op complications. There is also the psychological aspect of being obese. There are laws to protect one from being discriminated against race, gender, and religion, but there are none