Discuss possible reasons for the current obesity epidemic seen in the United States and other countries and the relative efficacy of currently available obesity treatment options and preventions.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Sample Answer: The causes of obesity in the modern world tend to be related to advances in technology. People are sedentary and prone to eat unhealthy, caloric dense, inexpensive food. It is also possible that genetic factors are interacting with these dietary choices.Although most overweight individuals start with self-directed weight loss programs or commercial weight loss programs, people tend to lose only four to seven pounds, have trouble sticking with the diet, and gain weight back again over time. Professionally directed behavior modification programs have better success rates if people comply, but the results do not appear to be permanent. For the dangerously obese, the combination of diets, behavior modification, and medication can result in minimal weight loss, but surgery may eventually be the best option for this population.A suggestion that has gained nationwide interest is the taxing of unhealthy foods and the price reduction of health foods. There has been a great deal of controversy over a "junk" food tax. The idea is that like cigarettes, for example, the more they cost, the less likely people are to buy them while healthy foods that are reduced in price become a more health alternative.