Analysis

This section analyzes the data that was collected from the secondary sources in a

qualitative manner. In this analysis, the data reveals the effects of obesity on the health of

individuals in different countries. Specifically, data from countries, namely, USA, Ireland, South

Africa, UK, and China was used as a representation of the majority of countries in different parts

of the world. Apart from analyzing the obesity cases I different countries, the research will also

identify the prevalence of obesity cases in different age groups including childhood and adult

obesity. The information used in this part of the research seeks answers to the research questions

that were identified in chapter one.

In a research conducted by Northern Ireland Assembly in 2009, it showed that obesity

has grown too much as a global epidemic. Other than the developed nations, the epidemic is

increasing significantly in other developing regions such as China, where the number obese

people increased from less than 10 percent to over 15 percent in a span of fewer than three years,

an indication that the obesity rate is very much high (Kirk, 2006). In other places such as

Colombia and Brazil, the obesity levels have increased to more than 40 percent of the

population. In sub-Saharan Africa, obesity levels are increasing amongst most women, despite

the region having the highest number of hungry population in the world. In this report released I

2009 by the United Nation’s World Health Organization, the obesity levels are more

concentrated in most of the modern societies in Europe and the US.

Obesity levels in Northern Ireland.

The research on obesity was carried out by the Northern Ireland Assembly in conjunction

with the ministry of public health. It showed increasingly high levels of obesity in the country

especially in young people and the children. In this case specifically, there have been deaths of

about 450 people per year as result of obesity since 2002 (McCurdy, 2010). The largest

population of this figure was made up of children. This report also indicated that in every five

children aged five years in Northern Ireland, one child is overweight or obese. The same case

applies to young people of between 12 and 15 years, whereby the obesity levels are much higher

than those of children of below ten years but lower than the levels of adults.

In the case of adults, the data from Social Wellbeing Survey showed that more than 59

percent of adults in Northern Ireland were obese, that included 25 and 23 percent in men and

women significantly. In a research report conducted by Investing for Health Organization, the

higher obesity and overweight levels were attributed to lack of physical activities, and this

resulted in deaths of at least 2000 deaths per year. Also, from the Northern Health and Social

Services Board, it indicates that there are about one people in Northern Ireland who are obese or

overweight (McCurdy, 2010). Due to this, therefore, most of the population that was obese

reported being suffering from cardiac, vascular, diabetic and respiratory complications. This

report was also supported by data from most of the morbidity clinics and other primary and

secondary care health institutions.

Due to this fact, therefore, the country spends a lot of money in treating the obesity-

related diseases. For instance, there are between 30,000 and 50,000 people with diabetes in the

country and the treatment for this results to very high costs which could have been channeled to

other sectors of the economy. In this case, treatment for diabetes takes up to 20 percent of
resources for inpatients and about 5 percent of the national health budget. The high spending in

fighting obesity was attributed to reducing the menace, and by 2011, the levels had started to

reduce (Cliff, & Wright, 2010).

The case of obesity in Northern Ireland represents the general perspective of obesity on western

and other developed countries in the western world.

Obesity in South Africa

South Africa depicts the state of obesity levels in the developing countries around the

world, especially in Africa and parts of Asia. In a research conducted by (Ali & Crowther, 2009),

it shows that obesity levels are increasing in African nations as in the case in other parts of the

world. In their research, the population sample indicated that the obesity cases will increase in

the coming years, as the Africans continue to embrace the western lifestyles. The obesity

prevalence levels in South Africa in a recent study by (health24.com, 2017), the obesity

problems have not only affected the adults but also the children and the youth. From this

research, in the latest South African demographic and health survey, it was found out that more

than 70 percent of South African women were obese or overweight (Wilborn et al, 2005). Also,

the report indicated that about 13 percent of South African children were obese, which is far

more than the global average of obese children which is 5 percent. In this case, South African

tops the list of highest obese cases in Africa. Due to this, both the government and non-

governmental organizations have termed this issue a worse disaster, and it is a major cause of

lifestyle-related illnesses. In this way campaigns for better nutrition practices have been held

across the country to sensitize on eating healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables. The obesity

rates in South Africa, and also in other developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa has reached

to alarming levels to become a serious health crisis that needs to be addressed on a serious note.
Health consequences

From the data collected on various consequences as a result of obesity, it has been found

that the most common are of two types that include physical and psychological health

consequences. In the case of physical consequences, these include the effects on the body and

other chronic health illnesses such as heart, kidney cancers, high blood pressure, breathing

complications, and diabetes. These illnesses are lifestyle related and they can be prevented if

people can take good nutritional habits. This may eventually lead to immature deaths

(Kopelman, 2007).

The other health effect includes Psychological health consequences. In this case, the

studies revealed that those people who are obese and overweight experienced psychological

disorders as compared to normal weight individuals. Some of the psychological effects include

depression and anxiety, and this is brought about by stigmatization in the public domain. They

get to be affected negatively, whereby they are accused of eating too much and also being

likened to animals that eat too much. However, in other cases, a person may become obese or

overweight as a result of genetic issues and not necessarily from eating a lot (Ghanayem, 2010).

People who are psychologically affected tend to spend time on their own, whereby in most cases,

this effect has been reported in most countries whereby their performances either in workplaces

or at school tend to lower significantly.

Conclusions and recommendations

The study showed various effects of obesity on the health and performance of individuals

in different countries. From the studies that have been performed before, they have indicated that

obesity has been a major issue that is increasing from various parts of the world. The studies
showed that in most developed countries, the obesity and overweight cases among children and

adults has been increasing. For instance, these cases have been rampant in countries such as

USA, UK, China, and most of the European countries. In sub-Saharan Africa, the issue of

obesity has been uncommon, but in the last two decades, the cases have increased significantly

as most of them embraced the western culture, including the diets. In this case, therefore, the

obesity cases have been rampant especially in South Africa. Even though Africa has the

hungriest population in the world, cases of people become overweight and obese have been

increasing especially in the countries that are rapidly developing.

Despite the cases of obesity increasing in most countries, governments and other health

stakeholders have raised alarm to the people in the worst cases of obesity. With this, therefore,

there should be campaigns on healthy living, whereby they need to be addressed on a serious

note, and also there needs to be funding on the same, in annual budgeting (Almonte, Charron &

Lord, 2013). This is because countries have been spending lots of money in fighting obesity-

related complication such as cancer, heart diseases, etc. considering this, therefore, it is important

to spend funds on preventive mechanisms because preventing a bad occurrence is better than

cure. Following this, countries have developed ways to keep fit, either at work, school or at

home, and with this, it will be possible to fight the menace in the future, before it becomes

uncontrollable.
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