Research on Obesity - What Does it Reveal?

by Melinda Grossman

There's plenty of research on obesity being performed worldwide. The questions seem endless. Doctors and scientists want to know what this dangerous epidemic is all about and what can be done to stop it. Just a few examples of obesity research reveal the scope of the problem. A research on obesity study was done using rats to find out if needs outweigh availability of food. The rats were given one cup each of protein, carbohydrate, and fat. On this combination, they thrived. When they were given the same plus three extra cups of carbohydrate or fat, they didn't fare as well.

What's more, how the rats responded to sugar was also studied. If they were given 1 bottle of sucrose and 5 bottles of water, they maintained a healthy weight. However, if they were given 5 bottles of sucrose and 1 bottle of water, they became fat. This showed that the rats took what was available - what they wanted - and not just what they needed.

And of course, not all the choices were healthy ones. Humans behave much the same.

Another research on obesity report showed there has been a drastic increase in obesity within one segment of the population. These people are claiming disability in their thirties and forties due to obesity-related reasons. The disability reasons were back injuries and mental illness-both associated with obesity.

Older obese people have also been studied. They were tested at a health fair setting, along with younger obese people and older normal weight people. Of all the groups, the older obese people had the worst health in terms of blood pressure, cholesterol, and percentage of body fat. In other words, you've got a lot of control over your health and quality of life today, and throughout your life.

Another study of older obese people showed that resistance training is beneficial. Benefits included a healthier immune response, better muscle strength, and more normal lipid statistics. These three areas were measured before and after 11 months of resistance training. This obesity research shows the incredible value of strength exercise.

There's also research that outlines how certain characteristics of a neighborhood promote obesity. One example is a low income neighborhood with few grocery stores but several convenience stores with alcohol readily available. There would also be numerous fast food restaurants, and transportation out of the area would be limited.

Another study suggests that community features may also influence obesity in rural neighborhoods. Factors that influenced obesity include being far from a recreational facility, walking path, or biking trail. Also more likely to be obese are people who aren't within walking distance of local destinations like a library, grocery store or post office. Feeling unsafe from traffic and crime were also associated with obesity. Finally, people who perceived their community as unpleasant were more likely to be obese as well.

It's also increasing in developing countries. A research on obesity study of Brazilian women in 1975 showed fewer obese and more underweight women; a 2-to-1 ratio. In the late nineties, the research shows that the numbers have flip-flopped and there are fewer underweight women and more obese women.

One last report to share on obesity is on low income women. They were studied to find out what methods they used to control their weight. All too often they used unhealthy methods to lose weight. They were likely to take harmful diet pills or engage in behaviors like purging. Research on obesity is being encouraged and funded from a variety of sources. Many of the studies involve highly technical genetic information and other biological data. There seems to be no end to the inquiry scientists can make into the subject.