The Obesity Epidemic
The Obesity Epidemic
This chapter analyses the data on obesity, healthy eating, and health by taking a closer look at the numbers behind the obesity epidemic. It explains the meaning of overweight and obesity by providing illustrations. It points out the distribution of the body mass index (BMI) and its trends. It shows that many non-communicable diseases associated with obesity are concentrated in disadvantaged groups, those of lower socioeconomic group, and lower education, which suggests a behavioral explanation. It attributes the biological cause of weight gain over time is higher energy intake than expenditure. It enumerates the adverse health consequences of obesity like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and several cancers. It also offers that the study of economics on obesity can help address these issues.
Keywords: healthy eating, BMI, economics, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, energy intake, energy expenditure, health
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