**Please note this article is for educational purposes only. **
In today’s article, we will be delving deep into a very Advanced English Conversation about the growing trend in obesity around the world.
Obesity is an issue that affects people all over the world is obesity. In this two-part series, we will examine the global obesity epidemic, its causes, and its consequences.
Part 1: Understanding the Global Obesity Epidemic.
Obesity is a serious health issue that affects millions of people worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), obesity is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. A BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight, while a BMI below 25 is considered normal.
The global obesity epidemic is a complex issue that is influenced by a range of factors, including genetics, environment, and lifestyle.
One of the main causes of obesity is the overconsumption of energy-dense foods that are high in fat, sugar, and salt. These foods are often cheaper and more readily available than healthier options, making it difficult for people to make healthier choices.
In addition to poor nutrition, a sedentary lifestyle is also a major contributor to obesity. Many people today spend hours each day sitting at a desk, in front of a computer, or watching television. This lack of physical activity leads to a decrease in energy expenditure and can contribute to weight gain.
The consequences of obesity can be severe and wide-ranging. Obesity increases the risk of developing a range of health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain types of cancer. It can also lead to a reduced quality of life, as people with obesity may experience mobility issues and other health problems.
Watch the Full Converstion here on YouTube below. Enjoy.
Below is the full conversation transcript.
April: Good evening. Thank you for tuning into the April Jones show. I’m April Jones. On tonight’s show, we discuss the epidemic rise in obesity that is currently sweeping the entire world. From western countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, to Middle Eastern nations like Egypt, Bahrain, and Pakistan, and even to remote island countries like Nauru, the Cook Islands, and Tonga, worldwide obesity rates have skyrocketed out of control. According to statistics compiled by the World Health Organization, worldwide obesity rates have more than doubled since 1980. In 2014, more than 1.9 billion adults, 18 years and older were considered overweight. Of these, over 600 million were categorized as obese. Shockingly, that meant 13% of the world’s adult population was considered obese in 2014. The more alarming fact is that these trends seem to be continuing on an upward trajectory with no end in sight. Many health experts around the world are saying this is a ticking time bomb waiting to go off. We are joined today by world-renowned heart surgeon Dr. William Pang who currently serves as a chief heart surgeon at the world-famous Unity Medical Center located in San Francisco. Dr. Pang is considered one of the few vocal activists in the medical community that openly criticizes big food corporations and the lack of government policy to curb the obesity epidemic. He is also the author of the best-selling book “Obesity: the Silent Killer.” Thank you for coming in today, Dr. Pang.
Dr. Pang: Thank you for having me, April.
April: First of all, I’d like to ask you what does obesity mean? How do you classify someone as obese or not obese?
Dr. Pang: There’s a relatively simple way to determine obesity. The W.H.O., or World Health Organization, has a simple guideline for this. To be obese means someone who has a body mass index or BMI greater than or equal to 30 while being overweight is someone who has a BMI greater than or equal to 25. BMI is simply a person’s weight divided by the square of his height in meters. Now don’t get me wrong, BMI isn’t perfect, but it’s a pretty useful guide to measure the general population’s fatness level.
April: What do you think is the likely cause of this obesity epidemic?
Dr. Pang: Many would say it’s because most people are now overeating and under-exercising, which is correct. But the better question to ask is why we are overeating and under-exercising?
April: And why is that, Dr. Pang?
Dr. Pang: We are finding that people are overeating and over-consuming chemically addictive, unnatural, processed foods, such as sodas, fast foods, chocolates, chips, and so on. Because these types of food have so little nutritional value in them, or as we call it: empty calorie foods, no matter how much you consume of them, you can never get enough of them. You become hungrier faster, and then you want to consume even more of it. So there’s this vicious cycle that keeps operating. What makes it worse is that these empty foods a very cheap to purchase, so the poorest people are the most obese compared to the general population.
April: So what you’re saying is the food industry is the main culprit?
Dr. Pang: What I’m saying is that the fast food and confectionary food industry, especially the big multinational corporations, are to blame, but also the government.
April: Please, go on.
Dr. Pang: If you think about it, only the government has the real power to allow such foods to be sold or not sold in the free market. So in essence, if the government is allowing such harmful foods to be freely purchased and consumed knowing full well it’s causing obesity in the general population, then they are just as much to blame and as responsible as these multinational food companies.
April: But isn’t it the responsibility of the individual and parents to choose wisely?
Dr. Pang: Yes, it is, but if your environment is saturated with these types of food, even the most strong-willed person will eventually give in. What I’m finding is a lot of medical staff around the nation are also becoming overweight. These are the same people that are meant to save people’s lives and now aren’t even able to save themselves due to the type of foods that are easily accessible at hospitals. The government has to start understanding that their relationship with these multinational food companies is harming the long-term health of this country.
April: Why do you say that?
Dr. Pang: For instance. Let’s just take the United States as an example, which happens to be the number one obese and developed nation in the world.
April: Okay.
Dr. Pang: By 2020, three-quarters of Americans will be overweight. By 2050, one-third of all Americans will have diabetes. Not to mention the massive increase in heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, breathing problems, hypertension, kidney failure, and other diseases that I’m seeing and hearing from hospitals around the world. In addition, healthcare costs due to obesity are at a staggering $200 billion annually just in the United States alone. If obesity rates were to remain the same, then the cost of health care will balloon to over $550 billion in the next twenty years. How will a sick population benefit America? The answer is it won’t. It will only put a massive burden on the government in future years, and the economy will be infinitely worse off.
April: So do you have any practical and effective solutions that will help solve this obesity epidemic?
Dr. Pang: I do. Some are very easy to implement and highly effective, but some of my other solutions could be considered a little controversial.
April: Controversial? We would definitely like to hear more of that, but before we do, let’s take a quick commercial break. When we come back, we’ll hear Dr. Pang explain some of his controversial solutions that could possibly help end this worldwide obesity epidemic.
Vocabulary:
Compiled: to gather information from various sources and put them together in a structured way.
World-renowned: someone or something that is famous and well-known around the world.
Alarming fact: a piece of information that is concerning or worrying.
Criticizes: to express disapproval or to point out faults or problems with someone or something.
To curb: to control or limit something, usually something negative or harmful.
Main culprit: the person or thing responsible for causing a problem or negative situation.
Harmful: something that can cause damage or harm to someone or something.
Accessible: something that is easy to approach or reach, or something that is easy to use or understand.
Hypertension: high blood pressure, which can be a health condition that may lead to other bad health issues.
Massive burden: a heavy load or responsibility that is difficult to handle, or something that causes a lot of stress or difficulties.
Controversial: something that is likely to cause disagreement or debate among people.
Commercial break: also known as an Advertisement break.
Phrases:
Sweeping the entire world: something that is happening globally or affecting everyone around the world.
Example sentence — The COVID pandemic is sweeping the entire world.
Skyrocketed out of control: something has increased rapidly and gone beyond limits or expectations.
Example sentence — The price of bitcoin skyrocketed out of control last year.
Categorized as obese: someone has a medical condition in which they are excessively overweight.
Example sentence — The doctor categorized him as obese due to his high body mass index.
Continuing on an upward trajectory with no end in sight: something is increasing or getting higher continuously, with no signs of stopping or slowing down.
Example sentence — The pollution levels in the city are continuing on an upward trajectory with no end in sight.
Ticking time bomb waiting to go off: something is about to become a big problem or disaster, and it could happen at any moment.
Example sentence — The political situation in the country is like a ticking time bomb waiting to go off.
Little nutritional value: something doesn’t have many nutrients that are beneficial for the body.
Example sentence — Junk food has little nutritional value and is not good for our health.
Vicious cycle that keeps operating: something is continuously happening in a pattern that is difficult to break or escape from.
Example sentence — Poverty and unemployment can create a vicious cycle that keeps operating.
The economy will be infinitely worse off: the economy will be in a very bad situation or state that will have long-lasting negative effects.
Example sentence — If the trade war continues, the economy will be infinitely worse off.
Easy to implement: something is simple or straightforward to put into action.
Example sentence — The new software update is easy to implement and doesn’t require any technical expertise.
