Index IntroductionCauses of ObesityEffects of ObesityWorks CitedIntroductionWhen most people think about contemporary social problems, obesity is usually out of the equation. Many people will think about corruption, racism and poverty. However, the rate at which obesity cases have grown in modern society has made obesity one of the major social problems facing society today. Basically, obesity can be defined as a metabolic disorder that results from consuming too many energy-rich foods while having poor physical output. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Causes of Obesity In simpler terms, obesity is caused by eating a lot of food and doing very little exercise to use up energy. When energy remains unused in the body, it is converted into fats which are stored in strategic places in the body. Gradually, the individual gains weight, a condition called obesity. It is important to note that obesity can affect anyone, regardless of age, but children and adolescents are the most vulnerable. As a matter of fact, the majority of obesity cases in black American society are adolescents and younger children. There are several factors that have contributed to the rise of obesity in the black American community. One major factor is the consumption of fast food, a trend that has gained popularity among Black Americans. As unaware as individuals may be of the effects junk food has on their health, the rate at which fast food is consumed is alarming. For this reason, obesity cases have also relatively increased. It is unfortunate that Black parents are doing so little to contain this social problem. Parents should counsel their children about their eating habits or at least enroll them in some exercise sessions to avoid obesity (Bailey, 2013). In black American society, body size matters a lot. In most black residents, younger children reported instances of bullying by older children. For this reason, many teenagers value a large body to avoid bullying. However, this behavior has made the war on obesity tough since young black Americans already have the perception that a large body serves to defend themselves. To get a good look, children and adolescents continuously eat high-energy foods but rarely perform exercises to distribute energy in the body. Immobility combined with poor eating habits therefore play a major role in promoting obesity among black Americans. It is important to recognize the fact that obesity does not happen overnight. It is in fact the result of continually consuming high amounts of calories and doing too little to break down the calories (Barbour, 2014). Obesity in childhood is therefore linked to obesity in adulthood for some individuals. It is also important to appreciate that people's metabolisms are different, so there are people who will become obese more quickly than others. The reason why most cases of obesity affect children is due to their immobility and limited physical activities. Unlike children, adults therefore have daily tasks to carry out in the process; many calories are used. This supports why there are fewer cases of obesity among adults. According to the World Health Organization, people who were obese in childhood are at greater risk of becoming obese in adulthood, especially if they expose themselves to the causative factors. It is a fact that iBlack Americans make up a large portion of the unemployed masses in the United States (Bailey, 2013). For this reason, unemployed black adults are at greater risk of becoming obese because, like children, they do not engage in many activities that workplaces provide, so over time, the fat content in their bodies increases.continue to packing until the individual becomes obese. In addition to poor nutrition, there are many other factors that have led to obesity in black American society. These factors include genetics, medical causes, and an individual's general lifestyle. People give various reasons when they find themselves in obesity. It has been medically proven that there are very rare cases of genetic conditions that lead to obesity. One of these genetic conditions is called Prader-Willi syndrome which is very rare. This eliminates the belief that some people can't lose weight because it's in their genes. However, it may be true that some traits are passed from parents to children, which explains why we have families in which all individuals are large or obese (Carson, 2014). However, the genetic aspect is mild and such cases could be caused by the family's lifestyle or appetite which makes it difficult for individuals to lose weight. Genetics plays a very limited role in the spread of obesity. Certain underlying medical disorders can play a significant role in weight gain in some individuals. One of the common conditions that have promoted obesity is hypothyroidism in which the thyroid glands do not produce enough hormones. Another disorder is called Cushing's syndrome which causes excessive production of steroid hormones. These conditions can greatly affect an individual as they can cause massive weight gain. However, once diagnosed, conditions can be treated or controlled to avoid obesity. It has also been noted that parapharmacy, or the consumption of many prescription drugs, can alter the body's metabolism and cause weight gain. Some of the medications that should be used with caution include diabetes medications, epilepsy medications, corticosteroids, and mental illness medications (Bailey, 2013). These drugs have been shown to increase an individual's weight over time. Effects of Obesity In addition to the social stigma and low esteem that obesity causes, there are other negative health effects it brings. Obesity claims more than 300,000 lives each year and wastes more than $150 billion on the treatment of related diseases. One of the conditions caused by obesity is high blood pressure. This is due to the accumulation of fatty tissue in the circulatory system which narrows the blood vessels, thus increasing blood pressure. Increased pressure also affects your heart rate and puts pressure on the walls of your arteries. Obesity also causes type 2 diabetes (Barbour, 2014). As much as this condition affects adults, there have been reports of children suffering from this disorder. Obesity causes insulin resistance, which means blood sugar remains unregulated. For this reason, blood sugar levels increase as a result of the condition. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay These factors and effects support the hypothesis that childhood obesity is linked to obesity in adulthood. This is because the causal factors are static. When both adults and children are exposed to the same factors, they are all likely to be obese. On the other hand, genetics, as stated earlier, is not a major factor leading to obesity. For this reason obesity does not, 24(3), 176-188.