Physical activity: the leading cause of obesity within Australia is
maintaining a poor diet. Consuming too much or consuming the wrong types of
foods can have a large impact on the body as the body is unable to burn off the
energy that have been consumed, and nutrients are unable to be absorbed. In
turn, this can lead to weight-gain and furthermore, obesity. Maintaining a good
diet is essential for reducing the risk of obesity in youth as they are able to
consume a nutrient dense diet while ensuring that they do not eat food that
they are unable to burn off. The diet of youth should be based on the level of
activity that the individual does every day to ensure that they have optimal
energy for everyday tasks, and that it follows the Australian guidelines for
healthy eating to ensure that we are getting the most of our food intake
Diet: the minimum time adolescence should engage in physical
activity to gain potential health benefits is 60 minutes per day. This time
spent engaging in moderate activity along with additional time spent building
muscle is essential to burn off energy that has been consumed and reduce the
risk of weight gain that can obesity. If individuals do not exercise, energy
cannot be burned off, and individuals are at a greater risk of obesity.
Maintaining optimal level of exercise is essential for reducing the risk of
obesity in youth as individuals are able to burn off food that they have
consumed, thereby reducing the chances of gaining weight, and increasing their
level of fitness. An optimal level of exercise is not only beneficial in
reducing the risk of obesity, but also in ensuring that the body systems of
young people are working properly and efficiently, such as circulatory systems,
the nervous systems, and the immune system
Genetics: genetics play an important role in the likelihood of
obesity in individuals. Up to 50% of all cases of overweight or obese people,
are a result of genetics, that it is carried through generations. Those with a
predisposition to obesity have to be extra precautious when it comes to making
life-style related decisions such as diet and exercise as they are more
susceptible to weight gain, and the effects of obesity such as diabetes,
cardiovascular disease and health related conditions.
Hormones: hormones are important for regulating specific functions
within the body. Thyroxine is a hormone produced in the thyroid and is
important for regulating an individual’s metabolism. Your metabolism refers to
all the chemical processes within your body, including those that break down
food, and control the amount of energy burned at any given period. Although
metabolism is generally influenced by fat-to-muscle ratio, the level of
thyroxine can influence whether an individual’s metabolism is fast or slow. A
slow metabolism means that the breakdown of food and the rate in which energy
is burned is slow. As the consumption of energy is generally faster than the
rate in which it is burned, a slow metabolism generally causes weight gain. On
the other hand, a fast metabolism means that the breakdown of food and the rate
in which energy is burned is fast. As consumption of energy is generally slower
than that the rate in which it is burned, a fast metabolism generally leads to
weight loss. Those with a slow metabolism need to ensure that they take extra
precaution when it comes to consuming the right types of food. To ensure that
weight gain is kept to a minimum, individuals with a slow metabolism should
stick to a diet low energy or take medication to help regulate. As exercise is
essential to boosting metabolism, individuals must also ensure that physical
activity is high priority in their lifestyles.
Access to recreational facilities: access to recreational
facilities is a significant determinant influencing the likelihood of youth
being overweight or obese. If individuals do not have access to recreational
facilities that enable them to stay fit and healthy such as parks, gyms, and
swimming pools, they are not able to burn off energy that they consume. This
can lead to weight gain and furthermore obesity. To prevent the risk of being overweight
or obese, youth who have access to such facilities are encouraged to use them
to benefit their health. If individuals do not have access to such facilities,
they are encourage to develop their own exercise regimes that do not require a
specific setting or equipment to compensate for the lack of recreational
facilities.
Access to education: youth who are adequately educated about the
causes and effects of obesity are generally more likely to adopt preventative
measures, such as a good diet and exercise, to reduce their risk of being
overweight or obese. On the other hand, youth who are not educated may not
understand the importance of eating well and exercising to prevent weight-gain
and obesity. Thus, they are unlikely to adopt behaviours that will reduce the
risk of weight-gain, and continue to increase their risk of being overweight or
obese. To prevent uneducated youth from being at a greater risk of weight-gain,
they are encouraged to seek professional advice on healthy behaviours to reduce
the risk of obesity and weight-related conditions to better educate themselves
on the importance of eating well and maintaining a healthy weight.
Socio-economic status: the socio-economic status of youth is
dependent on the income of their parents. If individuals cannot afford
nutritious food, where socioeconomic status is low, they often resort to
unhealthy food that may be cheaper than the nutrient-dense healthy ones. Such a
diet does not provide youth with the right sources of energy and nutrients that
they need during this developmental period in their lives, causing malnutrition
and perhaps obesity, if unhealthy foods are consumed in excess. Alternatively,
if the socio-economic status of youth is high, they can often use money to
purchase meals from restaurant and takeaway stores as an alternative to making
it at home. Takeaway stores and restaurants often serve food that is highly
processed, high in fat and carbs, and often loaded with added artificial
colours, flavourings and salts. Such food does not provide youth with the
essential nutrients that they need. The consumption of energy-dese foods can
also lead to weight gain, furthermore causing to obesity.