Obesity is one of the most discernible problems in this evolving modern world. in both developing and developed countries, obesity has been growing far and wide, affecting both the young and old equally. It is actually a disease that can be in fact preventable if certain measures are taken to curb it. Research that has looked at worldwide obesity rate trends over the past four decades shows that obesity in children and teenagers is 10 times higher now than it was in 1975 and that 5 years from now more will be obese than underweight. So why is obesity a far greater problem now than it was in the olden times, despite the advancement in the medical industry time has provided? Technology is to be greatly blamed. Although technology has its perks and has made a remarkable contribution to our society, it is often overlooked that it is negatively affecting our health. Of course, not all people are obese because of technology, but technology has significantly contributed to this problem of obesity. The use of technology relates directly to obesity as it has been proven that technology has made people, especially children, live more sedentary lifestyles.
My late grandfather was in fact a victim of this. Someone who was unsure of modern-day technology, he became fascinated by it quickly when introduced. He started watching television all day long for entertainment purposes due to his retired and eat-sleep-repeat lifestyle. He was snacking all the time while watching the television. He was getting more and more obese by the day, and before anyone could realize it, he suffered a major stroke from fats clogging his veins. He was a real-life example of how too much technology directly leads to living an unhealthy lifestyle. Imagine what sitting all day long in front of the television and constantly eating junk food can do to your body.
Most people tend to think that obesity is due to the advent of fast food, but new research places the blame squarely on the advancements in technology that children and adults alike spend numerous hours sitting down to watch television or play games on the computer. Studies show that obesity is most of the time directly related to being inactive due to the use of modern-day technology such as video games, increased television usage, and inactivity due to computer usage. Children no longer find the need to go out to talk to their friends and build up their social circle when they can just keep up with them through social networks and chatting online. The reasons for them to go out and get some exercise while playing games become even weaker with the presence of video games right at their fingertips. With this, many might think that people would go out to get their food at the very least. However, technology comes into the picture again with the invention of food delivery applications where meals are very conveniently delivered to us and allow us to continue with our sedentary activities uninterrupted. Television commercials also influence children to increase their food intake to an unhealthy level, as well as advertise foods that are rich in sugars and fats. Technology may be more convenient, but it must be balanced with physical activity to keep obesity at bay.
Summing up, obesity is a serious problem in modern society, especially in the young generation, and its reason is the rapid development of technology. Technology has contributed to people leading a more sedentary lifestyle, and as a result, has contributed to the increasing prevalence of obesity among them. Technology has replaced daily children's games with computer games and television programs, which definitely require less physical effort and energy. Many youngsters nowadays tend to be physically less active. Many would after school indulge in a steady diet of Coke, pizzas, and burgers that can be conveniently ordered from food delivery platforms. Glued to an endless stream of Netflix programs and YouTube videos, they have no incentive to leave the sofa. The problem of obesity should be tackled at its roots as it can become almost impossible at a more mature age.