Today, I want to discuss something readily apparent in our surroundings. Many young Malaysians are gaining weight more quickly than in the past, if you look closely. These days, it's not just the elderly. Weight gain is a problem for even teenagers and twentysomethings.
Therefore, the issue is: Why is this occurring? Yeah its food
Let's start by discussing food. Malaysia is a culinary haven. There is food everywhere you look. People are eating Nasi Lemak in the morning and Roti Canai, Teh Tarik, or Burger Ramly at the roadside kiosks at night. It's not that these foods are unhealthy. How frequently we eat them is the issue. Many young people order takeout, dine late at night, and eat a lot of sweet or oily food nearly every day. The body gradually begins to store more fat when this becomes a daily routine.
Obesity is now associated with a number of factors that increase cortisol production, including eating foods with a high glycaemic index, long-term stress, and altered sleep patterns (Knutson et al., 2010; Cohen and Janicki-Deverts, 2012). According to estimates, almost one-third of Americans consume junk food multiple times per week (Bauer et al., 2009). Junk food has been linked to obesity (central adiposity), which is a major risk factor for heart disease and other non-communicable diseases, according to studies (Rouhani et al., 2012; Musaiger, 2014).
Azemati et al. (2020) investigated the link between junk food consumption and cardiometabolic risk factors in Iranian children and adolescents. The study highlighted a correlation between fast food intake and metabolic syndrome, noting that poorer dietary habits were associated with an increased likelihood of being overweight. Junk foods contribute to obesity due to their high energy content, fat, sugar, chemical additives, and sodium, while lacking essential micronutrients and fiber. Sweetened beverages, in particular, are linked to weight fluctuations by reducing feelings of fullness. The findings suggest that increasing awareness about junk foods may empower adolescents to make healthier dietary choices to combat overweight and obesity.
Metabolic syndrome is the main mechanism via which obesity and overweight are associated with several heart problems. They cause organ damage, alter leucocyte counts and cell-mediated reactions, and decrease immunological function. Additionally, a child's personality and intelligence may be harmed by the psychological repercussions of obesity. People who are obese are more vulnerable to changes in their immune systems, which emphasizes the necessity for people who consume junk food to maintain good hygiene and get vaccinated during the pandemic. The immune system and general health are seriously harmed by junk food and its packaging. Singh S, A., Dhanasekaran, D., Ganamurali, N., L, P., & Sabarathinam, S. (2021)
Lifestyle comes in second.
Nowadays, a lot of young people spend a lot of time sitting. Sitting in the office, watching Netflix, sitting in front of laptops, or even lying down and swiping through a phone. There is a decline in physical activity. Before this, people were more likely to walk, engage in physical labor, or simply move around during the day. However, everything is convenient now. With just one click, you may get groceries, food, and even transportation.
Our bodies are gradually becoming less active due to this comfort.
Additionally, it has been found that playing video games on a computer for more than two hours a day is linked to a higher chance of being overweight, and watching television has also been found to be positively correlated. Due to increased exposure to food marketing, a higher frequency of thoughtless eating while watching, the displacement of time spent on physical exercise, the reinforcement of sedentary behavior, and the reduction of sleep length, screen time may raise the risk of obesity(Zhang et al., 2024b).
High-quality international research shows that environmental and behavioral factors, particularly food habits, have a significant impact on the rising prevalence of obesity. Skipping breakfast has been linked to a higher risk of childhood obesity, whereas eating more than three meals a day has been linked to a lower risk. The idea that eating multiple smaller meals throughout the day is more beneficial to metabolism than eating three larger meals could account for this latter outcome (Zhang et al., 2024).
The development of teenage obesity is significantly influenced by family history. According to research, obesity frequently runs in families, with many overweight kids growing up with obese parents or in settings where siblings also battle obesity (Mahmoud et al., 2022). There is general agreement that the strongest risk factor for childhood and teenage obesity is parental obesity. This risk is strongly influenced by the degree of parental obesity, and it is significantly increased when both parents are obese. Numerous studies show a marginally higher association between offspring BMI and maternal BMI than paternal BMI, which may be due to intrauterine settings, imprinting effects, mitochondrial gene influence, or nurture effects (Hebebrand & Hinney, 2008).
In the end, we shouldn't disregard our health while we're still young.
And occasionally, the little behaviors we develop now will determine our long-term health. "💪✨
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