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Fat Acceptance Movement

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Fat Acceptance Movement
We are living in an age unlike any other in human history. It is no longer a strange occurrence to see an abundance of obese people on a daily basis. As this is becoming a common scenario, people seem to be ignorant to the fact that this is a very new phenomenon. The solution, put simply is this: eat less, move more. Eat less, move more, and you will lose weight. The law of thermodynamic assures it. Although societal pressures may make these two little things hard to accomplish, the mantra holds true. And because people have different genetics and metabolisms, it might not be as easy for some as it is for others, but the laws of physics demand that if you input less energy then you output, your body will have to make up for it with stored energy (ie: fat). This problem that is plaguing America is not an easy problem to solve and putting the fork down can be very hard for some people. Despite the abundance of scientific evidence, there are the people who refuse to accept the facts that their obesity is detrimental to themselves, their community, and society as a whole. I am aiming to illustrate that obesity is a real problem, to establish the causes of obesity, to determine the personal and societal effects of obesity, and to debunk the myths circulated by the obesity promoting movement known as the Fat Acceptance Movement, which so strongly aims to change common views and stigmas associated with obesity. First off, let us delve into the technical details of personal health. Although 20 years may seem like a significant amount of time, on the evolutionary scale, it is extremely minute. That is why the statistics regarding the increasing rate of obesity are such a cause for alarm. Between 1980 and 2000, obesity rates doubled among adults. About 60 million adults, or 30% of the American population, are now obese (CDC). We are living in an age of technology which makes it possible for people to go for days without having any physical activity. Recreational


Cited: Bielinsky, R., Y. Schutz, and E. Jequier. "Energy metabolism during the postexercise recovery in man." The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 42.69 (1985): n. pag. Abstract. Web. 7 Apr. 2012. . "Facts About Obesity in The United States." PDF. CDC.gov. The Center for Disease Control, 2005. Web. 25 Mar. 2012. . Griffin, Morgan R. "Obesity Epidemic "Astronomical"" WebMD. WebMD, 2002. Web. 11 Apr. 2012. . Lustig, Robert H. "Sugar: The Bitter Truth." Lecture. Youtube.com. UCSF, 30 July 2009. Web. 8 Apr. 2012. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1471490603003363

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