Essay On Obesity In America

The Truth of Obesity Fast food has been around for decades and it is an industry which will continue to grow, it is because of this main reason why so many Americans are now obese. Along with the lack of education and knowledge that many Americans are decrease their life span. However, obesity has never been such a vast problem as it stands today with its large population of uneducated and fast food hungry Americans. With this massive epidemic that is taking over America, comes many health issues and its targets begin with the children who become addicted to unhealthy but satisfying meals suffering from overweight, high cholesterol, and blood pressure to name a few.

Today about one in three children in the United States are obese, and is the number one cause of death in America. Childhood obesity is now more concerning to people than drug abuse and smoking. Obesity not only has disgusting physical effects, it also will have negative changes to a person’s personality. Even though many people are aware of the problems obesity brings, there still has been at least a 50% increase in obese people since 1980. Obesity will cause extreme health problems and possibly death if people don’t change their diets, activity levels, or emotional needs towards food.

One of the main causes is the abundance of unhealthy food options. Fast food restaurants and convenience stores that sell highly processed and calorie-dense foods are ubiquitous, making it easy for people to consume more calories than they need. Moreover, these foods are often cheaper than healthier options, which can be a significant barrier for individuals on a tight budget. Another factor that contributes to the obesity epidemic in America is the sedentary lifestyle that many people lead.

The obesity epidemic is only becoming more world wide spread as years continue to pass. Obesity has dramatically caused many negative effects on America and the way we live today. Obesity is simply defined as having excessive body fat usually resulting in serious medical problems. More specifically, though, obesity occurs when a person's Body Mass Index (BMI) — or, their weight in kilometers divided by the square of height in meters — exceeds 30 or greater. Studies have shown that about 13 million children and adolescents ages 2-19 are obese according to the article “Childhood Obesity: Can it Really Be Child Neglect?” by Abbie Goldbas.

Every child in America can rattle off ten or fifteen different sugary snacks that they like with no problem, but not nearly as many can name the same number of fruits or vegetables that they enjoy. Junk food marketed towards children is a real threat to their overall health as they are too young to recognize that it isn’t healthy or good for them, they only see a brightly colored package and something that they think tastes good. Children in America are more obese than ever before due to the accessibility of junk foods, by letting children eat these foods adults are doing them a great disservice. Junk foods contain unhealthy or even cancer-causing chemicals that get added into the body, it can destroy mental health, and is the leading cause of obesity in America. Most junk foods like snack cakes, cookies, chips, and anything canned or frozen contain preservatives.

The health issue of obesity encapsulates a topic of controversy for many years now. As rates of obesity increase in children, teens, and adults, the problem of action arises. A specific question poses: should the U.S. government place regulations on Americans in order to combat obesity? The polarizing viewpoints form from the idea that controlling the food and exercise of people’s lives invades their privacy despite making them healthier and helping them to live longer. In my honest opinion, the answer to the aforementioned question is yes.

“Make sure to shop in the fresh sections of the grocery store for nutritious foods,” the doctor told the obese patient as they trudged out the door. How can I afford to buy these foods, the patient thought to themselves, when I only make $130 a week and am trying to feed a family of four? This situation is the harsh reality for forty-five million Americans. (emotional appeal) Of the many Americans who have been labeled obese, very few have the actual monetary means to fix their ailment. The war on obesity has consumed lower class America for several years and the end is nowhere in sight.

With this Americans are opting for convenient means of nutrition to fit into their already hectic schedules. Examples of convenient nutrition would be fast food, or an item picked up from a gas station in the morning. In addition, children are being advertised sugary foods and beverages that do not have much nutritional value. The two mentioned examples play a small part in the growing concern about obesity in the United States of America. Obesity has been a buzzword within the news for the past decade and is still as reelevate as before.

The lifestyle in the United States has drastically changed with the raising of health care prices and other factors. Many economists believe that the American middle class is in trouble because average income has drastically decreased while the cost of living has increased. The cost of basic needs such as health care and child care have dramatically risen, causing many families to have to budget every aspect of their lives. The Center for American Progress said that “for a married couple with two children, the costs of key elements of middle-class security… rose by more than $10,000 in the 12 years from 2000-2012,” (Erickson, American Progress), while at the same time, family incomes have remained practically the same. Some researchers attest that the increase of health care prices is the result of

Millions of Americans are diagnosed with severe mental illnesses. With that being said that is a large amount of our population that will have to go on medication. Being medicated always comes with its own risks, but with severe mental illness patients a risk can be weight gain. Already our country suffers greatly with obesity and it is not helping to have citizens that can’t help weight gain while taking certain medications. As a result it would be useful to have a medication that can eliminate this factor.

Today, over two-thirds of the United States population is overweight and one-third of that obese. Roughly thirty-two percent of the overweight or obese individuals are children. This is more than double the rate of obesity in the 1970s. As a result, a larger portion of tax money goes into treating obesity related diseases. “A recent study by Cornell University, for example, indicated that the annual cost of treating obesity is now $168 billion.

It has come to my attention that obesity has become a very large problem in America. It is a sad sight for sore eyes to walk down the street and see the mass population of the United States spilling out of their clothes. These people have done this to themselves and it’s time for the United States to take matters into its own hands and stop giving into those that just cannot stop eating. As I have been turning this over for some time, I have found a way to solve not only obesity, but also much of the hunger in America, all the while creating jobs. The solution is simple, and I guarantee you will not find many that would disagree with this proposal.

Americans today are fighting an obesity epidemic. According to a study published by Genomics & Genetics Weekly, the number of severely obese Americans has increased by 70 percent in a 10-year span (2012). The study also claimed that over 15 million Americans have a body mass index of greater than 40 percent (Genomics & Genetics Weekly, 2012). To put that number into perspective, people with a BMI (body mass index) of 25 to 29 are considered to be overweight while people with a BMI of 30-35 are considered to be obese. Some may ask what has led to this significant increase in obesity?

A good way to maintain a healthy weight includes; not smoking, drinking in moderation; a healthy diet and proper exercise. Taking these actions will result in a more relaxed, happy and healthy self. Obesity in America has reached epidemic proportions, although diet and exercise is important in weight management it is not the only cause to obesity. Obesity

To eat a healthy diet, you may need to make some changes. Remember that you can change your eating habits a little bit at a time. Small changes are easier to make and can lead to better health.