Obesity: Compare & Contrast

By: Hector Velez

Obesity, a pressing health concern that plagues societies worldwide, has become a topic

of great interest and debate among scholars and researchers. As the prevalence of this condition

continues to rise, it has garnered the attention of various authors who offer unique perspectives

on its causes, consequences, and potential solutions. This essay aims to explore and compare two

different authors' viewpoints on obesity, shedding light on the complex nature of this epidemic

and the diverse approaches taken by experts to address it. By examining the works of these

authors, we can gain a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted aspects of obesity and

evaluate the effectiveness of different strategies in combating this growing problem.

After my analysis of the two perspectives these authors share, there are many things that

they share in common. One thing for certain begins with action for an immediate change as we

understand that obesity negatively impacts our society. According to The Obesity Society, “The

Obesity Society (TOS) is the leading organization of scientists and health professionals devoted

to understanding and reversing the epidemic of obesity and its adverse health, economic and

societal effects. Combining the perspective of researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and patients,

TOS promotes innovative research, education, and evidence-based clinical care to improve the

health and well-being of all people with obesity”. Change is something these authors strive for,

as they understand something is needed to be done in order to completely wipe out the unhealthy

habits of obesity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Obesity is a

common, serious, and costly chronic disease of adults and children. CDC’s Overweight and

Obesity efforts focus on policy and environmental strategies to make healthy eating and active
living accessible and affordable for everyone”. Both authors give their intake on what they

believe will not only help with obesity but can possibly eliminate the infliction of this disease.

As we submerge deeper into this issue, there are many things that distort these two

authors apart. The obesity society has created not only valid reasoning for obesity but as well

intensified it through conducting research and experiments, in order to truly grasp this

controversy. As stated in The Obesity Society “In nearly 340 adults with obesity, the study found

that retatrutide treatment resulted in substantial reductions in body weight. Participants were

randomly assigned to receive once-weekly subcutaneous retatrutide”. This plays a huge role in

our society, as we are finally getting introduced to medication to fight this factor. The Obesity

Society seemed to be very enthusiastic with their work as stated “I want to highlight how

exciting this field is right now. We’ve never before had medications that have been this effective.

The medication is once daily and does not require a restriction of food, water, or other

medications. This heralds the possibility of medications that are easily made, transported and

administered. This would have a significant impact on the equity of care in the field of obesity

medicine”. They conducted research to see the impact of medication to solidify the outbreak of

obesity. As everything seems more reliable when there is proof through experiments about that

specific topic.

To continue, as the first author specifies his expertise with medication, the other takes a

different approach to this topic. According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,

“Research shows that people unintentionally consume more calories when faced with larger

portions. This can mean significant excess calorie intake, especially when eating high-calorie
foods. Here are some tips to help you avoid some common portion-size pitfalls”. This starts with

taking in the right number of proportions as over the past few years, proportion sizes have gotten

bigger, challenging us to consume larger amounts. Not only did this author provide his intake

towards obesity, but they applied ways to prevent obesity from spreading through different

situations we go through on a daily basis. As stated by The Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention “People tend to consume more when they have easy access to food. Make your home

a “portion friendly zone”. Replace the candy dish with a fruit bowl. Store especially tempting

foods, like cookies, chips, or ice cream, out of immediate eyesight, like on a high shelf or at the

back of the freezer. Move the healthier food to the front at eye level”. That was one of the many

solutions provided by the (CDCP), which would affect us in positive ways if we engaged in

those steps.

In conclusion, while both authors share a common goal of changing and recognizing the

horrible effects of obesity on society, they differ in their proposed solutions. The Obesity Society

emphasizes the significance of medication and highlights the potential of medications to combat

obesity effectively. On the other hand, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention focuses

on prevention strategies, such as portion control and creating a healthy environment. Ultimately,

by integrating the knowledge and insights gained from these authors' perspectives, we can work

towards fighting against obesity and improving the health and well-being of individuals and

communities worldwide.
 Work Cited (MLA)

ObesitySociety. “TOS Members Present Options for Anti-Obesity Medications at Ada

Conference.” EurekAlert!, www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/994159. Accessed 15 July
2023.

“Overweight & Obesity.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 27 Sept. 2022,
www.cdc.gov/obesity/index.html.