Effects of Running Trails and Hills to Manage Obesity (Research Paper Sample)

Running Trails and Hills to Manage Obesity
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Running Trails and Hills to Manage Obesity
Obesity has become a global health problem in the modern era. Increased sedentary lifestyle, economic growth, a shift from healthy eating habits to processed foods, and mechanized transport are some of the causes of the increasing rates of obesity globally (Hruby & Hu, 2015). Other than behavioral activities, being overweight is also associated with the genetic of a person. The Hispanic community is among the groups that are disproportionately affected by obesity. According to Mier et al. (2017), the burden of obesity among the Hispanics in the United States is higher than the national average with a 46% rate as compared to the national average of 36% for women and 40% in comparison to 35% among men. Weight problems are associated with chroming diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, depression, and some cancers (Hruby & Hu, 2015). The burden of obesity affects the overall health status of a nation, productivity, and cost of care. As such, it is necessary for appropriate interventions that target specific communities to be designed to alleviate the challenges associated with overweight. For the Hispanic community living in Nevada, the most appropriate mechanism to reduce the rate of obesity is to engage in trail and hill running which will help the citizens lose weight and maintain physical fitness for a long time.
Community Description
Nevada, Clark County, is home to a significant number of Hispanics. According to Creber et al. (2017), Latinos constitute the fastest-growing ethnic group in the United States today. Hispanics have a very strong sense of family and they always accommodate one another especially those migrating to the United States. Their eating habits are also quite different from those of the whites with the majority of their cuisines including high levels of starch such as tortillas and tacos. Mier et al. (2017) argue that poor diet, lack of physical activity, and obesity are some of the common issues that one would commonly find among the Hispanic community. In a study conducted in Nevada by Creber et al. (2017) to determine the rate of obesity in the community, 44.4% of the women included in the research were found to be obese and considered their weight to be normal. The statistics and the attitude of the people towards weight issues indicate that obesity and the problems associated with being overweight are not taken seriously among the community members. As Creber et al. (2017) indicate, most of the people in the Hispanic community living in Nevada say that they do not get enough time to exercise or participate in any weight loss program. The uncontrolled Body Mass Indices (BMIs) among this population have made it a challenge for the government to effectively manage chronic diseases in the region since obesity is closely linked to many debilitating conditions.
Trail and Hill Running
Trail and hill running are among the fitness trends that are being practiced at individual and community levels presently. Many people have embraced the idea of running off-road to gain the benefits associated with physical activity and a connection with nature. According to Jhung (2015) running on a trail or hill works on the muscles differently and helps an individual burn 10 more calories as compared to road or treadmill running. Trail and hill running is a full-body workout engaging the legs, glutes, quads, calves, upper body, and core (Chris, 2020). The serenity of being surrounded by nature is also beneficial to people. Running in the woods helps a person to maintain focus and mindfulness which is effective in reducing stress and depression; conditions that are closely associated with obesity.
The prevalence of chronic diseases linked to lack of physical activity has inspired the idea of creating fun ways of exercising. Hiking has become a common trend and fitness instructors are no longer sticking to the four walls of a gym to encourage their members to stay fit. Many gym instructors organize hills and trail running events for their members which has also encouraged individual participants to become accustomed to running in the woods. Government leaderships in urban areas have also invested heavily in ensuring the availability of trails to help people remain active. A good example is Nevada, where the leadership used the support offered by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), under the Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) initiative to create and develop urban trails for the community (Clark et al. (2014). The trails in the region support physical activity and encourage individuals to live healthily by exercising frequently and in serene environments.
Trail running requires one to engage many muscles which help to burn more calories as compared to running on normal pavement. Trails and hills running areas have uneven grounds and one is required to leap over logs, climb steep hills, and sprint around switchbacks (Angle, 2016). The diverse movements required to navigate these uneven terrains keep the body fully engaged which enhances muscle fiber formations. A little surface height variability can increase the number of calories burned during an exercise by 5 % (Angle, 2016). Trail and hill running help both to reduce weight and build healthy muscles, which is an ideal way of managing obesity.
The Health Problem in the Community
Obesity is a serious health concern affecting both blacks and Hispanics. A research carried out by Creber et al. (2017) indicated that 44.4% of Hispanic women are obese in compassion to 32.8% of their white counterparts. The prevalence of the condition is high among the low-income populations since such individuals have less free time to engage in physical activity or eat healthily. Cultural differences, dietary habits, high rates of depression, and non-adherence to treatment are some of the factors that exacerbate the burden of obesity among the Hispanic community. Obesity is associated with many health conditions that impair the productivity of a person. Petersen et al. (2019) argue that weight problems are associated with increased workplace injury and high cost of production. Obesity also strains the health status of a person and increases the cost of care since excess weight is associated with chronic illnesses such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease which require constant monitoring. Addressing obesity disparity among the Hispanic community is a priority for the CDC and a major concern for the Nevada leadership.
The family setup and the caregiving behavior within a community considerably affect the eating habits and subsequently the weight of a person. People who have weight problems as babies often become obese in their adulthood (Hruby & Hu, 2015). Childhood obesity is associated with family history, metabolic risk aspects, environmental, cultural, and socioeconomic factors. Latino children have higher obesity rates as compared to their Caucasian counterparts which predispose them to weight problems in adulthood (Liu et al., 2015). The prevalence of weight problems among this population at a young age coupled with high levels of inactivity and poor eating habits makes the reduction of obesity among Hispanic communities an important healthcare concern.
The state of Nevada has implemented many programs to help its residents stay active and maintain a healthy living. Many Americans struggle to meet the physical activity guidelines as advised by the CDC due to the high economic demands that require people to spend a considerable amount of time at work. The increased inactivity has resulted in the creation of built environments such as trails to promote physical activities in various regions (Clark et al., 2014). A lot of developments to improve the state of community trails in Nevada and campaigns to encourage people to participate in weight loss programs have been carried out in Nevada (Clarke et al., 2014). The government in collaboration with the public health department could take advantage of the existing resources to tackle the problem of obesity among the Hispanics living in the Clark County of Nevada.
Benefits of the Intervention to the Community
Implementing the trail and hill running program in Nevada will help in reducing weight problems among the residents and alleviating the prevalence of chronic illnesses associated with obesity from the communi