the Oxford Scientist
Obesity and Sweet Tooth Syndrome Who is to blame?
O
besity
is
clinically
defined
Alicia Hayden
when strategies, we should examine who is to blame for
someone’s Body Mass Index (BMI) ex‐ this global crisis in the first place. ceeds 30. It is a metabolic disorder
Historically, obesity has been regarded as a
whereby energy intake from food and drinks ex‐ disease of irresponsible personal choices. Eco‐ ceeds energy consumption from metabolism and nomic growth and rapid improvement in living physical activities. There are many health-related standards suggest that we are better off, with our risks associated with obesity, especially for chil‐ purchase and consumption of food no longer lim‐ dren. This includes increased susceptibility for ited by financial ability. At the end of the day, our type II diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and even calorie intake and physical activeness are down to premature deaths. In 2016, at least 650 million individual choices. We buy and consume more adults over the age of 19 and 340 million aged 5– unhealthy foods that contain high amounts of 19 were obese worldwide, which makes it a press‐ sugar, saturated fats, and salt. Individuals often fail ing global issue. Fortunately, as with most non- to recognise the long-term effects of overconsum‐ communicable diseases, obesity is highly prevent‐ ing energy-rich food and children are particularly able. But before we rush into preventative susceptible to this. 90% of households exceed the
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