Obesity

Depression, health problems, and a miserable life; imagine living this kind of life everyday, who would want to be alive? According to Weight-control Information Network, obesity is becoming a huge issue in America today. “Obesity has reached epidemic proportions world-wide, affecting large percentages of the global population in both developed and developing nations.” (WHO) Among Hawaiian children the numbers are drastically increasing. Obesity is the second cause of deaths after smoking (Kana'iaupuni, 54). “Between the major ethnic groups in Hawai’i, Hawaiian children have the highest numbers of obesity” (Kana'iaupuni, 54). Obesity is a magnet to diseases that needs to be prevented before it’s too late. “Obese children are most likely to grow into obese adults,” (WHO) and thus needs to be stopped now in order to make a difference in these children’s lives and to help them better their near future. If Hawaiians don’t learn and change their mistakes in eating choices, we may become extinct and our culture may die.

Obesity is excess fat on an individual. Obesity is determined from a body mass index test (also known as a BMI) (Libal, 44). One’s BMI is defined in kilograms divided by the square of one’s height in meters (kg/ m2) (Libal, Pg. 45). If someone’s results were to come out to be over 30kg/m 2, they are unfortunately considered obese. Other methods to define obesity are skin fold tests and advanced machines. Skin fold test consists of skin fold calipers that are placed on your body. There are three to nine possible sites that it can be pinched. From that, they get certain numbers they divide. Besides the two methods above, they also have machines that calculate BMIs. Note that there maybe some other factors that may cause a high BMI such as muscle. Muscle weighs more than fat, so that may cause a high number.

Obesity is a problem all around the world that affects many people, both young and old. According to the National Institutes of Health, “the number...