When thinking about obesity, it's easy to associate this issue as a current epidemic, but upon some research I found that this social problem has a distinct presence in earlier times. According to "The History of Obesity" on Ezine@rticles.com, obesity dates back to the Ancient Egyptians. The Ancient Egyptians considered obesity as a disease as seen drawn of the walls of various illnesses. Along with this, the Venus figurines, which were drawings of a female obese torso, were suspected to be used for rituals. China has also been aware of the dangers of obesity and have worked towards prevention as the key to overcoming the problem. The Aztecs, on the other hand, believed obesity was the workings of the supernatural and seen as an affliction from God. Prior to the 1900's, obesity was seen as a status symbol of wealth and prosperity. After the 1900's, however, this view changed dramatically. This outlook changed due to a variety of things including the production of more revealing clothing, the increase of obese individuals as well as the development of a chart which established your ideal weight according to your height. Along with this, doctors began to discover the negative effects that obesity had on the body including cardiovascular disease. According to organizedwisdom.com, some factors of the increase in obesity is the evolution of transportation, the amount of prcoessed foods available and the patenting of trans fats.
Today there is an estimated 1 billion obese individuals. Matthew Edmund's article, "A Very Brief History of Obesity" lists the key factors as to how this has happened. Here are the highlights:
1. 1780's - The production of the steam engine enabled foods to be transported, produced and distributed more easily.
2. 1820's - This marked the creation of railroads and steamships which increased the ability for increases in production and transporting goods cheaply.
3. 1860's - New ways of growing and preserving food were developed as well as the decrease in sleep from 8.5 hours to 7 hours a night due to industrialization and people begin working around the clock.
4. 1903 - As stated earlier this was the patent of trans fats which enabled the longevity of various products.
5. 1890's on - The car dominates the transportation domain which changes the overall dynamic of transportation from horses to automobiles.
6. 1890's on - Supermarkets emerge which allows for the increase in processed foods.
7. 1950's on - The development of the interstate highway system.
8. 1950's on - The television becomes prominent so instead of playing outside in the cold, many people resorted to watching television in the comfort of their home.
9. 1960's - Marked the growth of farming subsidies which made payments to farmers to produce specific crops particularly corn and cotton. "Corn, now 46% of government agricultural subsidies, is converted into dextrose, which revolutionizes supermarket foods and the fast food industry." This leads to an increase in food production and fuels the obesity epidemic.
10. 1970's - Rise of the computer which often involes sitting and looking at a screen.
As stated by Matthew Edmund, there is no one reason for the rise of obesity but many of these factors have contributed to the overall downfall of our health. Many people who used to walk to work now drive, people that bought their food locally now buy from supermarkets where the food is filled with salt, sugar and is usually processed, kids who once played outside are now being transported by cars and play video games for hours. It's not a surprise that obesity is the result of eating too much and not exercising enough, yet many people fall prey to the consequences. The unfortunate truth is that in order to diminish the effects of obesity, there requires a dramatic change in how we live. But at the same token, how are we able to work backwards, when technology has allowed us so many conveniences and changes that we have no control over. We don't have control of how our food is processed unless we own our own farm. We don't have control over the fact that our work is 15 miles away and it would be illogical to walk that distance. The really hit this epidemic head on it would take a throrough educational program as well as changes in how foods are processed.
Today there is an estimated 1 billion obese individuals. Matthew Edmund's article, "A Very Brief History of Obesity" lists the key factors as to how this has happened. Here are the highlights:
1. 1780's - The production of the steam engine enabled foods to be transported, produced and distributed more easily.
2. 1820's - This marked the creation of railroads and steamships which increased the ability for increases in production and transporting goods cheaply.
3. 1860's - New ways of growing and preserving food were developed as well as the decrease in sleep from 8.5 hours to 7 hours a night due to industrialization and people begin working around the clock.
4. 1903 - As stated earlier this was the patent of trans fats which enabled the longevity of various products.
5. 1890's on - The car dominates the transportation domain which changes the overall dynamic of transportation from horses to automobiles.
6. 1890's on - Supermarkets emerge which allows for the increase in processed foods.
7. 1950's on - The development of the interstate highway system.
8. 1950's on - The television becomes prominent so instead of playing outside in the cold, many people resorted to watching television in the comfort of their home.
9. 1960's - Marked the growth of farming subsidies which made payments to farmers to produce specific crops particularly corn and cotton. "Corn, now 46% of government agricultural subsidies, is converted into dextrose, which revolutionizes supermarket foods and the fast food industry." This leads to an increase in food production and fuels the obesity epidemic.
10. 1970's - Rise of the computer which often involes sitting and looking at a screen.
As stated by Matthew Edmund, there is no one reason for the rise of obesity but many of these factors have contributed to the overall downfall of our health. Many people who used to walk to work now drive, people that bought their food locally now buy from supermarkets where the food is filled with salt, sugar and is usually processed, kids who once played outside are now being transported by cars and play video games for hours. It's not a surprise that obesity is the result of eating too much and not exercising enough, yet many people fall prey to the consequences. The unfortunate truth is that in order to diminish the effects of obesity, there requires a dramatic change in how we live. But at the same token, how are we able to work backwards, when technology has allowed us so many conveniences and changes that we have no control over. We don't have control of how our food is processed unless we own our own farm. We don't have control over the fact that our work is 15 miles away and it would be illogical to walk that distance. The really hit this epidemic head on it would take a throrough educational program as well as changes in how foods are processed.
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