Title of the Paper: Anatomy of Obesity: A Cross –Cultural Concern

Anatomy of Obesity: A Cross-Cultural Concern Author’s Name The Institutional Affiliation Course Number and Name Instructor Name Assignment Due Date Introduction The term “obesity” refers to the physiological condition characterized by the accumulation of excessive fats, leading to an increase in BMI above 30. From the Canadian perspective, obesity is a grave healthcare issue as it is the direct cause of chronic healthcare issues, including diabetes, cardiovascular problems, asthma, gallbladder stones, and body pain (PHAC, 2011). The proportion of obese people is much higher in Canadian society, making it a significant healthcare threat; as per recent estimates, the proportion of obesity is much higher in rural areas (31.4%) than in urban areas (25.6%) (Government of Canada, 2020a). This higher proportion of obesity in Canada demands a careful investigation of causes and remedial measures. In addition to the healthcare cost of obesity in Canada, the economic burden that obesity produces in Canada is a significant cause of concern. Given the healthcare threat obesity poses to Canadian society, it is crucial to understand the overall impact of obesity across different domains of Canadian society, including the economy, social fabric, and quality of life. Moreover, understanding the significance of the threat of obesity facilitates identifying the risk factors and causative agents for this problem, and this discussion identifies these using a typical Canadian perspective. Finally, this essay addresses the issue of obesity from a typical Canadian perspective using specific solutions and remedial measures. Significance of the Problem To understand the significance of the obesity problem across various domains from the Canadian perspective, one has to identify different perspectives of Canadian healthcare and social profile directly affected by this problem. In the first place, for instance, one may refer to the healthcare cost and burden that obesity causes; according to one estimate, the prevalence of diabetes is much higher in obese Canadians, as approximately 13.4% of obese people suffer from this chronic healthcare issue (Statistics Canada, 2019). In comparison, only 2.9% of Canadians with normal weight have diabetes (Statistics Canada, 2019). Hence, this aspect of the healthcare problem associated with obesity highlights the significance of this issue. Other chronic and lethal healthcare conditions commonly occurring in Canadians are associated with obesity. For instance, according to official estimates, the prevalence of high blood pressure (29.5%) and cardiovascular diseases (6.0%) is much higher in obese Canadians in comparison with normal Canadians (Statistics Canada, 2019). In comparison, the prevalence rates of these deadly diseases are 9.5% and 2.7%, respectively (Statistics Canada, 2019). These statistics highlight the gravity of the increasing rate of obesity in Canada, as it is the root cause of other deadly diseases, making the Canadian population susceptible to graver healthcare issues. Unlike common perception, obesity is a major issue in Canadian children as an overwhelming proportion of Canadian children suffer from obesity. According to a recent study, the proportion of obesity in Canadian children is 1:7; however, this proportion may increase based on socioeconomic profile and ethnic and geographical background of the target population (Rao et al., 2016). The worrying issue associated with childhood obesity in Canada is that obesity is the direct source of physical health problems, including bone and joint issues, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular diseases in Canadian youth (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2023). Hence, obesity poses a graver life risk to Canadian youth, and this aspect enhances the significance of this issue. In addition to these problems, Canadian youth also suffer from emotional problems at various levels due to their obesity or plus-size bodies. Based on the findings of recent studies, obese Canadian children suffer from low self-esteem, depression, and bullying in their social and academic lives (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2023). Understanding the impact of emotional issues on the mental and physical well-being of Canadian children facilitates acknowledging the significance of addressing the problem of obesity in Canadian youth. Since children are the future of Canada, any defects in their psychological uplift will deteriorate the Canadian cultural and social fabric. Regarding the geographical distribution of obesity in Canada, the inequality in the distribution of obesity also creates a ground for understanding the gravity of the problem. As per official estimates, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, and Quebec are some rural regions with a higher obesity rate than the rest of Canada (Anonymous, 2019). Since obesity is higher in rural areas, the role of lack of education and awareness is imperative in understanding the disparity in obesity rates across Canada. Arguably, the most crucial aspect of obesity in the Canadian context is its economic impact, as obesity is the direct cause of loss of revenue and rise in healthcare expenditure across Canada. As per evidence-based studies, the fiscal burden of obesity in the Canadian perspective was CAD$22,974 million in 2021 (Kotsopoulos & Connolly, 2024). Since obesity is the direct cause of life-threatening and chronic diseases, it increases the bedtime of Canadian people, leading to revenue loss due to unemployment. Accordingly, in 2021, the revenue loss due to unemployment reached the CAD$9404 million mark (Kotsopoulos & Connolly, 2024). Likewise, the loss of indirect taxes was approximately CAD$2374 million in the same year (Kotsopoulos & Connolly, 2024). These statistics provide empirical evidence that obesity is a significant social, economic, and healthcare risk. In addition to revenue loss, the healthcare cost incurred by the government to address the issues related to obesity also makes obesity a top threat to the Canadian economy. In 2021, the healthcare cost of obesity was CAD$7881 million annually, and disability costs were CAD$3686 million annually (Kotsopoulos & Connolly, 2024). Understanding the huge economic and fiscal impact of obesity on Canadian society clarifies the gravity associated with the problem of the rise in obesity in Canadian society across all domains. Understanding the significance of obesity is also imperative to understand its relati...