Thesis statement- Although healthy eating is a lifestyle choice, the lack of convenient healthy food alternatives, the geographical location of those alternatives in proportion to overweight Americans, and the cultural norms of insalubrious eating are responsible for the rising rates of adult obesity in the Unites States.…
In Too Much a Good Thing Greg Critser argues that stigmatizing unhealthy behaviors associated with obesity will decrease this growing epidemic. He also states that the American families are to blame for not placing a dietary restraint with their children. Instead, he says that parents aren’t to blame for the increase of obesity in children. He states, “Closer to home, at least 25% of all Americans under the age nineteen are overweight or obese, a figure that has doubled over the last 30 years and a figure that moved the surgeon general to declare childhood obesity an epidemic” (1). He believes that stigmatizing overeating in children will be a feasible solution to end the increasing epidemic of childhood obesity.…
In today’s America we as citizens are faced with the ongoing crutch known as obesity. Obesity is defined as a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent of major health issues. I view obesity as a “crutch” because it is disease that will slow the American populous down. The topic on obesity has been debated over many years as to who would take the blame of America’s overweight problem and what that individual or group would do to prevent it. Many different state legislatures and school board committees have started to ban vending machines in school grounds. “Congress has considered a menu-labeling legislation that would force chain restaurants to list fat, sodium, and calories for each item” (Balko, 2004, p.522). Many individuals like me believe that this is definitely the most improper approach to preventing the obesity epidemic that has plagued the United States over the last twenty years. It is not the United State government’s place to tell American citizens what they can or cannot consume. Obesity has become more and more of a problem because American citizens are executing poor dietary techniques. The next influential factor to obesity is the influence of our biological need and genetics. These factors play a large part in the obesity epidemic but the key factor to obesity is the fact that Americans are drastically decreasing their urges for physical fitness and health. Data has…
The United States is facing a growing epidemic of obesity. Obesity affects individuals of any age, gender, or nationality. Diseases increased by obesity are increasing at alarming rates in children and adults. It is thought that children suffering from obesity will not live as long as their parents. Along with health risks in children they have to endure ridicule and teasing from other children at school resulting in psychological problems that can follow them into adulthood (Neighmond, 2010). Americans have a fascination with fast food and consuming too much food in one meal…
We the people of the United States have a problem in our midst, Obesity. While most recognize the importance to stop it, few can agree on a viable method to fight it. It is a problem, no doubt, but it is a problem that lies within every single american. That being said, only people themselves can do something about it, the government can’t simply pass a few laws and put an end to this epidemic. It is not the government’s job to keep people healthy, the U.S. is a democratic Republic and if it intends to stay that way, government will stay within its boundaries, and out of the personal lives of the citizens who consider themselves free.…
America: land of the free and the home of the brave, and recently, the home to a growing waistline. As for any other country, America is prone to an assortment of problems like immigration, debt, or foreign affairs, but one issue that is rather hard to overlook, quite literally, is the obesity epidemic. The extra pounds have become a common sight in America’s society, “men are now on average seventeen pounds heavier than they were in the late seventies, and for women that figure is even higher: nineteen pounds.” (Kolbert). Obesity does not just affect adults in this way either, the child population has been getting bigger as well, according to the numbers on the scale, “the proportion of overweight children, age six to eleven, has more than doubled, while the proportion of overweight adolescents, age twelve to nineteen, has more than tripled.” (Kolbert). This issue has been a major concern to doctors and scientists for decades and in recent years, has even has the American Medical Association recognizing obesity to be a disease (Pollack). That is a highly debatable claim because obesity itself is a preventable lifestyle, avoidable and curable to all (or at least most) of its sufferers. For some of the populaces, obesity is not a choice, rather genetics, but for the majority of the obese population, the extra weight is caused by an unhealthy diet and sluggish lifestyle, and for these certain individuals, through a lot of work and discipline, the return to a healthy lifestyle is not as impossible as it may appear. It is time for America to tip the scales back in the right direction.…
For many years, America has been considered an obese nation. Efforts to lower the obesity level have been made such as increasing pay on unhealthy foods and decreasing serving sizes nationwide. In a world where “obesity has increased by more than 50% among America’s children and teens since 1976,” rather than drastically change what is being eaten, children should be encouraged to…
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity in adults has increased by 50% within the past several decades and in children it has tripled. More than 72 million people and 17% of children are obese. Obesity is a contributing cause of many other health problems such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, some types of cancer, sleep apnea, breathing problems and make activity more difficult. America is home to the most obese people in the world and even though we are one of the most industrialized nations with great economic power and amazing technology, we are also living in a country with the smallest nutritional…
It remains one of the biggest problems in American society and requires a careful, systematic but also immediate solution. Americans are some of the least healthy people in the entire country. The obesity epidemic affects millions of people in the United States. Sadly, enough obesity is a problem that affects everybody, not just adults. Obesity has increased in the past decade, predominantly with people who eat poorly; this is so sad. You may not notice it, but, weeks turn into months and months turn into years and the next thing you know your clothes don’t fit the way they used to and the entire time you never even noticed yourself gaining weight.…
Child Obesity Everywhere you look there is a fast food joint. In America it’s all about convenience, but convenience has become hazard to our health. When we as adults have unhealthy eating habit, we hurt ourselves and our children. As a parent it’s important to set good eating habits and be active. There are plenty of statistics available that prove child obesity in America is at epidemic levels. One third of the nation’s children carry to much weight. There are lots of reasons why child obesity in America is on the rise. Doctors say there are two causes in creating obese children. First the children and teens are not eating the right kind of foods. Second, America’s children are getting less and less exercise. These two things are creating…
Currently, one of the most talked about issues in health and nutrition is the obesity crisis in America, specifically the rapidly increasing rates of obesity. Is the obesity epidemic currently plaguing America being caused by Socioeconomic status (SES) and increasing poverty rates, or are parental/family influences to include lack of proper portioning/nutrition, sedentary lifestyle and family dynamic/conflict the root of the issue? From 1976 to 2004 obesity rates in children between the ages of 12 to 19 escalated from 5 percent up to 16.5 percent (Hooper et al. 309)! These statistics are of great concern in regards to the health implications alone, but when coupled with the financial strain obesity brings upon the government and taxpayers,…
This shouldn’t come to a surprise to most, that America holds the number one position for obesity. (Wintrup) Not only Americans as a whole but the children. More than one of five children between the ages of 6 and 17 are considered overweight. This is something that needs to change immediately. There are too many health risks at stake for these young children including: diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, anxiety, and poor academic performance. (Alan) In 2005 a study found that children today may have shorter lives by two to five years than their parents because of obesity. (Palmer) Childhood obesity alone is not the only issue facing children today, although being overly large may prevent the child from living life to the fullest. However, the co-morbidities relating to childhood obesity are the real killers. Hypertension, type 2 diabetes, respiratory ailments, sleep apnea, and depression are just some of the common problems linked directly to obesity in children (Henry). Others…
One in every three children in the United States is overweight or obese. (Solving Obesity 3) Childhood obesity has always been a problem in the United States, and continues to be a factor in the lives of many young children. This happens in many other countries around the world, but tends to be much more prominent inside the United States. The growing obesity in children is posing serious problems to their health, and will affect them for the rest of their lives. This leads to having one third of all children be predicted to develop diabetes in their lifetime. (Solving Obesity 3) This problem could no longer be ignored, it is ruining the lives of americas children and…
Obesity in America is an ever-growing problem each day. As of 2011, The United States of America has the highest obesity rate of any other country of the world. What is obesity? Obesity is defined as “a condition characterized by the excessive accumulation and storage of fat in the body” (Webster). Excess obesity usually begins to have negative affects on the body and often causes health complications. The obesity rate in America has been on the rise for many years and will continue to only get worse if Americans do not take action immediately. Jeff Levi, Ph.D., executive director of TFAH said “Today, the state with the lowest obesity rate would have had the highest rate in 1995.” This is a fact that is not easy to hear and even harder to disprove (Levi). Based on polls taken in 2008, more than 50% of 4,000 people that took part in a poll said that they would give up a year of their lives if it meant they would no longer be obese. The same poll also gathered researched that shows the increasing weight of passengers on planes. Airlines have had to spend almost three hundred million on extra fuel to compensate for the massive growth in weight and size of passengers (Heather).…
In recent decades, the shift of eating practices has changed considerably due to the overwhelming popularity of fast food. Mirriam Webster’s Dictionary defines fast food “relating to, or specializing in food that can be prepared and served quickly” and is also supported with “little consideration given to quality or significance.” The readiness of these meals allows consumers to go about other matters, thus becoming a desirable option when time is under question. While there are many benefits to fast foods, awareness of consumption of such foods is alerting health professionals as unhealthy practices are directly linked to obesity and diseases like diabetes. In recent years there are reports of people filing lawsuits against fast food corporations claiming…