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Obesity: The True Cost of an Overweight World

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In today’s world, it seems that everywhere we turn, on every news feed and every TV channel there are advertisements for junk food. From worldwide conglomerations to corner store candy shops, our ability to obtain sugar, fat and sodium is easier than it ever has been. Whether we go through a drive-through, find a technicolour store beckoning us in or opt for a home delivery to make us feel like kings, junk food has become the global addiction that none of us seem to be able to kick.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that global obesity levels have tripled since 1975, and the majority of people in the world live in a country where more people die from being overweight than they do from being underweight. Obesity has become a global pandemic that has travelled to every continent and infected every city in the world.

The Cost of an Overweight World

With global obesity levels constantly on the rise, the effects of an overweight world can be felt far and wide.
The health effects are an obvious one, obesity has been linked to cardiovascular disease, cancer and musculoskeletal disorders. It has also been found that obesity is a risk factor for those that contract the COVID-19 Virus. The human body was not designed to carry large amounts of excess fat and obesity is a contributing factor in millions of death around the world every year.

A rise in obesity levels can also put a strain on the economy. The more unhealthy a population, the more it costs a country. Rising levels of chronic conditions requiring complex healthcare services and creating a situation in which people can not work is not conducive to making money.

Fast food outlets, often linked to being contributing factors to a rise in obesity levels, also create a significant impact on the natural environment. Increasing factors such as waste from packaging into the environment. In some areas in Australia, fast food stores have been banned in an attempt to stem the environmental impact on these areas.

What Do We Do From Here?

The good news is that the obesity epidemic is not unsolvable. We know how to prevent and how to treat obesity. Things like government policies and incentives, such as sugar taxes, to encourage people to choose healthy eating options have been found to create a positive effect in some areas. Promoting physical activity, particularly in childhood is another method that is being used to try and stem obesity levels. As lower socio-economic areas are often the worst hit by obesity, healthy eating education programs and providing easy and cheap access to healthy foods in these areas is another way to try and lower obesity levels.

Obesity is a complex problem. It has ramifications on public health, the economy and the environment and can be seen all around the world. Obesity levels may still be on the rise, fortunately though there are solutions to this problem. With a growing awareness of the dangers of obesity, countries around the globe have started to take steps to create a healthier world for us all.

For more information on the effects of obesity check out https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight

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Vaccinations, Smallpox and COVID_19

With the outbreak of COVID_19 disease has been at the forefront of the world’s mind. Health officials warn that the spread of the disease may continue to increase and so far, there is no working vaccine to prevent the spread of the virus. What of the diseases that already exist though?

This is not the first disease that humanity has faced and the rise of vaccinations has meant that we can now prevent the spread of diseases that once brought populations to their knees.

Diseases such as polio, rubella, tetanus and diphtheria that once presented a global threat have become far less common. Perhaps most famously, the Smallpox virus that once killed millions and spread through populations all over the world was eradicated in 1980. So how what exactly are vaccines? How reliable are they? And why are there communities in the world that refuse to use them?

What is a Vaccine?

Vaccines are used to prevent diseases through injecting the body with something that looks like the disease. This allows the immune system to create antibodies without the person actually having the disease. Sort of like a practice run.  This means that if the body comes into contact with the disease it can quickly create the correct antibodies to stop the disease infecting the person.

So, Where do Vaccines Come From?

Vaccinations were first invented in the late 1700s when surgeon, Edward Jenner, observed that milkmaids who came into contact with the non-fatal cowpox were rarely effected in smallpox outbreaks. From this he discovered that being infected with the non- fatal cowpox strand prevented the maid from catching smallpox, thus creating the first vaccination. By the mid 20th century vaccination research was rapidly expanded and vaccinations for many common diseases began to be developed and distributed. Since that time vaccinations have become widespread ways to control and prevent infectious diseases.

So how reliable are they? In short, very. Nothing is ever completely foolproof but on average childhood vaccines are 85-95% effective. If the majority of a population is vaccinated there is also the aspect of herd immunity. Herd immunity makes it much harder for diseases to spread and lowers the risk of infection for those that aren’t or can’t be vaccinated. In simple terms, a vaccinated population will survive.

So, why would anyone refuse this medical miracle? Largely, this is due to misinformation.

The Anti-Vax Movement

A large aspect of the anti-vax movement is based on a report published in 1998 by Andrew Wakefield that claimed there was a link between vaccinations and autism. This report has since been debunked but the fears it created have remained and grown. This is in part because of the success of vaccines, many parents believe that the diseases vaccines protect against are not a threat because they have not seen them in their full force, while conditions such as autism are prevalent in the community. The current scientific consensus is that there is no link between vaccines and conditions such as autism and that a drop in vaccination rates is highly dangerous. It provides a situation in which diseases can rapidly spread, re-emerge and in some cases mutate to create far more dangerous strains. Recent outbreaks of the Measles in the US and Samoa have been reported to be exacerbated by anti-vax movements. The loss of herd immunity also poses a severe risk to those that can’t be vaccinated such as very young children and those undergoing some cancer treatments.

Vaccinations are possibly one of the most important medical breakthroughs. They have allowed us to eradicate and control diseases that humanity has battled throughout our history and saved countless people from suffering and death. As can be seen with COVID_19 and with recent outbreaks of Ebola, MERS and SARS one of the greatest threats to our species comes from the world of disease and vaccinations are perhaps one of the greatest weapons we have in the battle for survival on this planet.

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Old Age… Gradually then Suddenly

Old age. It sneaks up on us all the way that Hemingway says bankruptcy does, gradually and then suddenly. Old age though is now sneaking up on an ever-increasing population, in the US alone it is estimated that the number of people over 65 will rise from 47 million in 2015 to 88 million in 2050.
Meanwhile, on a global scale the over 65 population is expected to rise from 352 million in 2010 to 1.5 billion in 2050, for the first time in human history the over 65 population will exceed the under 5 population. This massive demographical shift is largely due to increases in medical capabilities and increased life expectancy partnered with falling fertility rates.

The Cost of Longevity

An increase in life expectancy is largely thought of as a great thing, the issue comes, as it does with many great things, with how do we afford it? Maybe Hemingway was onto something with the bankruptcy as well.
The economy is not keeping up with this increase in longevity. Estimates state that in the US alone 10 million people over the age of 65 are still in the workforce, a number that has doubled since 1985 and most households are not saving a sufficient amount for retirement. If nothing changes, these numbers are only going to grow.

Increases in the likelihood and severity of chronic conditions in older populations such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s and diabetes coupled with an inability to work creates a large burden on both national and global economies. The health sector in particular will take the hit of an ageing population with an increase in costs and staffing levels to keep up with this change in demographics. As well as health care, an increase in pensions will create another financial challenge for economies to deal with.

Changing with the Times

There are however innovative solutions to keep up with this changing demographic, in the words of another great wordsmith, the times they are a changing.  The trick is to change with them.


Finland, a country with one of the oldest populations in Europe, has launched an initiative to provide access to fitness and cultural centres such as public pools, gyms, libraries and museums at discounted prices to older groups, with the aim of creating a healthier population. In one town gym access is free to over 65s in the hopes of creating decreases in health expenditure over the long term.
Finland also encourages older populations to volunteer in the community, providing an avenue for connection and stimulation across generational divides and providing a way for older people to still positively contribute to the community.


The World Health Organisation has also advised that investing more time and resources into improving childhood health could limit the healthcare burden of an increased older population. Many health issues in old age stem from childhood circumstances such as poor nutrition or exercise levels. As such older generations would be healthier, could work longer and have increased quality of life if a healthy lifestyle is promoted from childhood.

Old age is coming for us all and with advancements in technology and changes in cultural norms the ageing population is and will continue to increase. Despite the challenges this may bring there are ways these challenges can be combated. To paraphrase Lucas Graham, soon we’ll be sixty years old, so we better be prepared.

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