obesity epidemic
Widespread weight problem
The obesity epidemic refers to the dramatic rise in obesity rates across populations, particularly since the late 20th century.
The term frames widespread weight gain as a public health crisis requiring urgent intervention, like an infectious disease outbreak: Public health officials have been fighting the obesity epidemic for decades.
Critics note the framing can stigmatize overweight individuals while obscuring complex causes.
- diabetesMetabolic disorder affecting glucose
- food desertsRegions without grocery access
- metabolic syndromeClustered cardiovascular risk factors
- healthcare costsFees for medical services
- cardiovascular diseaseAilment of circulatory organs
school lunches · stigma · genetics · discrimination · socioeconomic status · hypertension · hormonal imbalances · sleep deprivation · sedentary lifestyle · insurance premiums · cancer risk · government policies · processed food · stress · public awareness campaigns · respiratory issues · BMI · body mass
- food issuesfood additives, food labeling, food waste, factory farming, GMOs
- public healthdisease prevention, immunization, disease control, health education, epidemiology
- health crisespandemic, outbreak, health emergency, public health emergency, disease spread
- Health Hazardsair pollution, asbestos, carbon monoxide, chemical spills, cholera
- food politicsfood policy, food justice, food security, food insecurity, hunger
- social challengeshomelessness, inequality, affordable housing, mental health crisis, food insecurity
obesity epidemicGreat Famine
Mass starvation in Ireland
Irish Potato Famine · wartime rationing · subsistence living