Description of Risk Factors of Adult and Children Obesity

Description of risk factors

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The major health issue that the state is facing is obesity that affects both children and adults across the different counties in the state. Adult and children obesity in New Mexico is ranked at 8.3 which is the nineteenth percentile. Several risk factors have caused the high risk of suffering from obesity in the state. The first risk factor is the poor diet that is caused by poverty. A large number of residents of New Mexico engage in heavy drinking which results in joblessness and poor living conditions (Harcombe, 2010). Lack of decent earnings mean that people have no access to balanced diet and this leads to obesity. The second risk factor is limited physical activity. The majority of residents of New Mexico do not engage in physical activities during their leisure time (Harcombe, 2010). Lack of physical activities mean that extra calories in the body are not burnt and this result in excess accumulation of fat in the body. Some environments in the state do not allow for physical activities such as bicycle riding, walking and running and this limits physical activities that can help fight obesity. The third risk factor is genetic makeup (Harcombe, 2010). The family history determines the propensity of getting some health issues such as obesity. Some people in the state get obese as a result of their family lineage that has a history of being obese.

Description of pathophysiological process

A person suffering from obesity is at risk of suffering other lifestyle diseases if the obesity is not treated well and at the right time. Obesity affects the performance of several organs in the body such as liver, kidney, and heart that carry out essential functions in the body (Blackburn & Kanders, 2014). Obesity results in illnesses that are caused by improper functioning of the organs. Obesity leads to high cholesterol in the body which if accumulated near the heart lowers the work rate of the heart. The poor performance of the organs of the body puts obese people at a risk of certain cancers that come as a result of organ failure. Diabetes and blood pressure are also brought by obesity and unhealthy lifestyle (Blackburn & Kanders, 2014). People suffering from obesity have difficulties performing physical activities and often have sleep apnea as a result of having a lot of cholesterol in their body. Proper performance of the body is facilitated by proper functioning of all organs in the body. As pointed earlier, obesity mainly affects the organs lowering their performance, and this adversely affects the health of the obese person. Obese people are likely to have reproductive issues and often suffer from joint diseases. The illnesses of the joints affect the mobility of the obese person, and with time they become totally immobile and without the capacity to perform any physical activity (Blackburn & Kanders, 2014).

Genetic and lifestyle factors that contribute to the incidence of the health issue

Obesity is caused by both lifestyle and genetic factors. The causing factors are predisposed by work habits, technology, and travel patterns. Many people assume that unhealthy diet solely causes obesity, but this is not the case (Harcombe, 2010). Eating a lot of unhealthy food and lack of physical activities solely cannot cause obesity. The genetic makeup of an individual determines if he or she can become obese (Hernandez & Blazer, 2006). This means that some people have a hereditary disposition to being obese. The chances of becoming obese for a person suffering from a genetic predisposition to being obese is increased by the environment one lives (Harcombe, 2010). Lifestyle factors that increase the chances of being obese include the type of food one eats, the activities he or she engages in and the kind of work. Most of the obese people eat foods rich in excess carbohydrates because some of them cannot afford a balanced diet. Individuals who become obese in the state are often engaged in excess drinking and do no exercise to keep their bodies fit.

Social and environmental factors that contribute to the incidence of the health issue

Social and environmental factors contribute to the incidence of obesity in the state. The state has a form of segregation that sets people into different social classes. The various social classes have different living standards and ways of life. People from the lower classes are poor and thus struggle to put food on the table. The economic hardships faced by the people of lower social status make them have stress which contributes to obesity (Hernandez & Blazer, 2006). This means that stress and other mental issues increase the chances of suffering from obesity. Some neighborhoods in the state are poorly and not have room for recreational activities that can help reduce obesity. The majority of the residents of the state who are obese do not have access to resources that can help them cut weight such as gym (Hernandez & Blazer, 2006). The environmental also determines the people one lives with as his or her neighbors. If one lives with neighbors, who know the value of healthy eating he or she is likely to make a decision to take a balanced diet. On the other hand, if one lives with neighbors who see nothing wrong in putting a lot of weight he or she is likely to see no big deal becoming overweight, and this will lead to obesity.

References

Blackburn, G. L., & Kanders, B. S. (2014). Obesity: Pathophysiology, psychology, and treatment. New York, NY: Chapman & Hall.

Harcombe, Z. (2010). The obesity epidemic: What caused it? how can we stop it?. U.K: Columbus Publishing Ltd.

Hernandez, L. M., & Blazer, D. G. (2006). Genes, behavior, and the social environment: Moving beyond the nature/nurture debate. Washington. D.C: National academy press.