In your opinion, is the obesity epidemic as serious as news media makes it?

Answer Explanations

• Yes

  user-705613
  Striking ever younger ppl at an alarmingly increasing rate. These will a few years impose a huge financial burden b/c of premature diabetes, kidney disease, cardiovascular disease and stroke.
• Yes

  user-109647
  Obesity is the result of an unconscious and expanding lack in self-perception
• Yes

  user-811187
  Yes various media reports in India have highlighted the rising trend of obesity in India and the Global nutrition report also highlights the similar trend 
• No

  user-487626
  The seriousness of the obesity epidemic is real, but the way it's presented in the media can sometimes be exaggerated or overly simplistic. 
   The obesity epidemic is serious because it has an Impact on health: Obesity significantly increases the risk of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, certain cancers and musculoskeletal disorders. It also has an economic burden, with healthcare systems incurring huge costs associated with treating obesity-related illnesses, and productivity losses due to obesity can affect economies.
  
  
• Yes

  dingsli
  It is the leading cause for a variety of health burdens in some countries.
• Yes

  user-476126
  This is a more nuanced question, due to the phrase, "as serious as news media makes it".   There are two questions, is the obesity epidemic serious, yes it is.  As serious as the news media makes it completely subjective depending upon how one defines the news media.  Depending upon which news media one considers, the answer could be yes, no, or maybe.  Not a well constructed question. 
• Yes

  user-445218
  Diabetes is an epidemic
• No

  user-713413
  There is a conflation of obesity with "unhealthy" that isn't supported by evidence. There are however diabetes, cardio disease epidemics largely caused by structural/systemic issues related to food access, health literacy, stress, and sleep and of course healthcare access. Additionally obesity is largely defined by BMI, which is a poor measure of body composition. While body composition has some correlation with health, BMI is not a greater measure of body composition, and in reality other clinical measures are much better indicators of health than body composition or BMI related to such as blood sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure, presence of fatty liver disease, etc. 
• Yes

  user-777357
  All the recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys in the U.S. indicate that obesity s on the rise.
• Yes

  user-714443
  Data analyses show a significant increase in body mass index (BMI) since 1980 in the USA.  It is serious due to how it impacts metabolism, physical and mental health.
• Yes

  user-642702
  Yes, it is due to health issues, comorbidity, and the impact on psychological well-being.
• Yes

  user-113837
  Yes, this is more true in light of more contemporary definitions of obesity which  do not simply rely on BMI measurement and tend to consider the biological and social context the individual lives in.
• Yes

  user-390617
  Obesity is common in the USA and linked to reduced life expectancy
• Yes

  user-361990
  The obesity epidemic is undoubtedly as critical as depicted in the media. It is a major contributing factor to various chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and certain types of cancer, all of which significantly raise global morbidity and mortality rates. Beyond its impact on individual health, obesity places a substantial financial strain on healthcare systems and leads to decreased productivity, making it a prominent public health challenge.
  
  

  Sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy eating patterns, and environmental influences fuel the rise in obesity prevalence. Additionally, socioeconomic inequalities further hinder access to nutritious food and opportunities for physical activity. Worryingly, this issue is no longer limited to adults but is increasingly affecting younger populations, including children and adolescents, creating long-term health risks for future generations.
  
  

  A comprehensive strategy is essential to combat this epidemic, encompassing public health initiatives, educational programs, and policy changes. Media platforms play a pivotal role in raising awareness and fostering collective and governmental actions to address the widespread impact of obesity on global health
  
  

  
  
• Yes

  user-145402
  The prevalence of obesity is very high and increasing globally. Associations with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, fatty liver etc is well established. 
• Yes

  user-490985
  It is major public health emergency in developed countries 
• Yes

  user-424827
  Yes definitely from my point of view. It is more and more challenging both to find and to afford healthy food.
• Yes

  user-562800
  Yes in poor people more.
• Yes

  user-900364
  A number of diseases which had a downward trend in prevalence have either plateaued or increased specifically of the cardiovascular type. New conditions now exist which are metabolically driven and of which there is no treatment for, such as Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. It is now known that this is fully obesity driven and its prevalence is on the increase. 
• Yes

  user-523578
  There is ample evidence that the obesity rates are very high.
• Yes

  user-424142
  In fact, in my opinion, the effects of obesity on health are not discussed enough.
• No

  user-724195
  Obesity is not as prevalent in low middle income countries as it is in High income ones. Infact, it's rarely a problem in LMICs because many people live below the poverty margin and are unable to afford three square meals. 
• Yes

  user-448477
  Yes, the obesity epidemic is as serious as the media portrays. It significantly increases the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, and certain cancers, while also burdening healthcare systems globally. Beyond physical health, it impacts mental health, quality of life, and productivity. Addressing it is critical for both individual well-being and societal sustainability.
• Yes

  user-819907
  The people I see is enough evidence that they are struggling with their weight
• Yes

  user-689977
  Obesity is the leading symptom of unhealthy lifestyle and dietary choices which many have downplayed to their detriment. The media cannot emphasise enough about the dangers and risk factors associated with obesity. 
• Yes

  user-643355
  The observed weights across all ages seeking health care indicate an alarming shift in the distribution. The rise of adverse clinical outcomes (cardiovascular, cancer etc) associated with obesity confirm the problem. 
• Yes

  user-475346
  The general public's idea of baseline BMI is changing and there are so many related comorbidities stemming from the associated sedentary lifestyle and chronic inflammation that it is a main driver of many healthcare complications.
• Yes

  user-683654
  It is very serious in Nigeria because of foreign food.
• Yes

  user-673903
  It is a risk for young people who don't know the consequences of long term obesity. It is so much worse than when I was growing up in the 1950-60s as a child.
• Yes

  user-828959
  It may be more severe than they say. If we observe our surroundings, we will find that more than 7 out of 10 people walking through the streets are at least overweight, and many of them are obese. This fact is also reflected in the clinic and research, as most of the patients have these diseases.
• Yes

  user-911298
  The data seem pretty strong.  Plus, behavior in the US, that is, sedentary lifestyle supports the finding.
• Yes

  user-532952
  About 40% of adult pedestrians I  pass in the street in Pretoria , South Africa are markedly obese.  Both males and females of all races.
• No

  user-372463
  The real epidemic Is the worsening in quality of food and environment pollution. 
• Yes

  user-884919
  Yes, obesity is a serious public health epidemic, with a significant global increase, associated with chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and joint problems, affecting quality of life and generating high economic costs, driven by factors such as poor diets, sedentary lifestyles, and socio-economic influences, and requiring a multifaceted approach to prevention and treatment, with media support for responsible awareness.wYes.
• Yes

  user-386423
  Apart from the family genetic predisposition, this is due to the desire of many young people to eat fast food full of fats and appetizers, which may be cheaper than traditional home-cooked meals, not eating vegetables, and not exercising regularly, which leads to the accumulation of fat in the body. This is all due to the rapid change in lifestyles, and the decline in the income level of many individuals as a result of the deterioration of the economic situation in many countries, which leads to malnutrition. This is in addition to climate change and its direct and indirect impact on the resources available to many countries and the decline in the income level.
• Yes

  user-325101
   

  Obesity is not only an aesthetic issue, but a serious and complex disease. It is life-threatening.
  Cardiovascular Diseases: Obesity leads to conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and atherosclerosis, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
  Type 2 Diabetes: It has a strong relationship with insulin resistance and makes blood sugar control difficult.
  Types of Cancer: It is linked to many types of cancer such as breast, colon, uterine and pancreatic cancer. Reduces Quality of Life, There is a Risk of Early Death, Obesity can shorten life expectancy. Studies show that overweight individuals have a higher risk of dying at an earlier age compared to normal weight individuals.
   Metabolic Syndrome and Organ Burden, Obesity leads to many metabolic problems such as fatty liver, kidney dysfunction and hormonal imbalances. Within the Social Cost; It also poses a major problem in economic terms due to treatment costs, loss of productivity and burden on the health system. As a result, obesity is a preventable but progressive condition that threatens not only individual health but also public health and resources. Balanced nutrition, regular exercise and awareness are the basic elements in the fight against obesity. Therefore, it is critical that both individuals and society treat obesity as a public health priority.
  
  
• No

  user-787895
  While obesity rates are climbing quite quickly, this is to do with the fixed BMI value categorising obesity of 30 combined with the non-uniform distribution of BMIs in the population. As people gradually get heavier, which populations are, there are points when the % of people designated obese increases more quickly because of the nature of the normal distribution of BMI, and this is what is happening at the moment. So people are getting bigger, but not at the rate implied by the rate of increase in % of people who are designed obese.
• Yes

  user-455251
  It is becoming an epidemic moreover on the era of refucrd physical activities and excessive consumption of junks
• Yes

  user-510547
  It exibits all characteristics of epidemic, while the Life Expectancy of the U.S. lags behind to other Developed countries (largely due to this factor) in spite of the Healcare costs skyrocketed
• Yes

  user-107074
  Obesity has an impact on overall health, obesity causes various chronic diseases such as DM and hypertension
• Yes

  user-259567
  We all eat too much and we don't do physicl labor like we used to.
• Yes

  user-311093
  I believe there is a serious obesity epidemic that is borne out not just by personal observation but also by empirical data that supports this contention.
• Yes

  user-604552
  Statistics are giving the real picture. All the above mentioned factors contribute largely in the epidemic but there are additional factors such as the decrease of nutritional value of foods and the increase of obesogenic chemicals.
• Yes

  user-214851
  The media is not exaggerating on the growth of obesity in the U.S. in the last decades. The data speak by itself. This is one of the most serious public health problems today.
• No

  user-813332
  Everyone dies of something and social choices can make that easier or harder.  There is a lot that individuals can do about obesity, with support from the community, but choice is part of a democratic society that we promote.
• No

  user-197329
  Obesity is a serious problem in the global north, in developed countries, where there are high average incomes and a fast food culture is promoted. On the other hand, in underdeveloped countries, where incomes are lower and fast food is not part of daily culture, there are other problems before obesity.
• No

  user-781826
  No, Lack of timely consumption of food. Chemicals in food that disrupt hormonal balance are the factors causing obesity today. Being overweight is not a problem at all, but society's taunts and the media cause psychological tensions are the other main causes of the problem.  If food is taken only when one is hungry, there wont be a obesity condition. Due to genetic inheritance some families face it, but if they are happy and living a content life, I feel that is not a problem at all. 
• Yes

  user-762331
  Esta claro su relación con múltiples problemas cardiovasculares que está aumentando de forma paralela
• Yes

  user-433580
  Food habits and sedentary lifestyle, contribute to obesity 
• Yes

  user-65202
  Yes, obesity epidemic is very serious issue and responsible for the development of type 2 diabetes, stroke, hypertension, cancer, neurological disorder and cancer etc. 
• Yes

  user-926536
  Of course. It is the largest current epidemic in the Western world, greatly enhanced by the lifestyle of the population.
• No

  user-62978
  From Pakistan Prosective, its  not highlighted in news. 
• Yes

  user-924733
  Yes, people are no longer eating organic food due to high prices of food. Mostly just food is advertised as "cool" or better lifestyle 
• Yes

  user-892521
  Obesity can result in diabetes and hypertension.
• Yes

  user-550063
  Obesity is a serious public health issue linked to diabetes, heart disease, and respiratory problems, including asthma. While the media highlights its importance, it often oversimplifies the problem, ignoring factors like genetics and environment. Tackling obesity needs holistic solutions, including policies, awareness, and research, without sensationalism.
  
  
• No

  user-687952
  Using my country as a context, obesity can only be seen rarely, and only among the adolescent sub-population.
• No

  user-695428
  There are obese and overweight people but not in a considerable manner.
• Yes

  user-821082
  The news media reports the results of reliable peer review research which shows an obesity epidemic.
• No

  user-577239
  Obesity is surely an health problem but may be that alone gives not, in my opinion, the burden of cardiovascular risk that journals are saying