...America and Obesity Advanced Composition Devry University Justina Brown America and Obesity In the back of your mind, you might be thinking…how did your body change so quickly? It was like almost overnight. It starts with just being a little overweight to having to buy some more jeans. Facts announced by Dr. Neil Hutcher (2011) “Obesity is a disease that affects 34 percent of adults age 20 and over in the United States, which amounts to more than 72 million people. About 32.2 percent of American men and about 35.5 percent of American women are obese.” Gaining weight drastically is a good sign of obesity. For a person to be considered obese his or her body mass index has to be over 30 or weight is 20 percent or more above normal weight. Researched by the Control Disease Center (2010) mentioned that one-third of U.S adults are obese as of 2010 and rates remain high; “Obesity is common, serious, and costly. In 2009, about 2.4 million more adults were obese than in 2007. This epidemic has affected every part of the United States. In every state, more than 15% of adults are obese, and in nine states, over 30% of adults are obese.” There are many dangers to being obese because it may influence your risk of developing high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, gallbladder disease, age-related macular degeneration and breast cancer, and other types of cancer such as; prostate and colon cancer. Obesity is very common amongst Americans and has been for some...
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...In America, 38% of all adults are considered obese. This is a significant amount of the total population. Among the many health problems Americans deal with, obesity is one of the most prominent. Therefore, there needs to be an increase in efforts to prevent this growing problem of obesity. Some of the main areas where improvement is needed include low-income families, health care plans, portion sizes, and overall eating habits of Americans. Food stamps are very commonly used in the United States. In fact, one out of every eight people in America use food stamps. This wide-spread use of food stamps is a main factor in the increase in obesity in the US. When families using food stamps go to the grocery store, they buy food that they can store for later because one shopping trip needs to last them the whole month. The families cannot buy fresh food such as fruits and vegetables because of this. They end up buying junk food and other unhealthy options. Also, if the family’s food supply gets low, parents end up starving themselves to provide a sufficient amount of food for their children. They then end up going shopping for groceries on an empty stomach. This prevents them from thinking rationally, and the parents end up buying food that will not be beneficial to the family (Vanderkam). There are many...
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...Obesity in America Obesity continues to rank No. 1 on the list of nutrition-related problems in American society. In 2009, just one state -- Colorado -- had a population of obese people below 20 percent of its total population, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Childhood obesity continues to be a major concern because children represent the future of America, and obesity numbers among them continue to rise. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that in the 30 years leading up to 2007, obesity among children between ages 6 to 19 more than tripled. Obesity not only impacts lifestyle but can also lead to lower self-esteem, cause depression and discomfort in social situations, and significantly diminish quality of life. Health Effects of Obesity Obesity also increases a person’s risk for developing serious disease, such as: * High blood pressure (Additional fat tissue in the body needs oxygen and nutrients in order to live, which requires the blood vessels to circulate more blood to the fat tissue.) * Diabetes (Obesity is the major cause of type 2 diabetes) * Heart disease (Atherosclerosis, Coronary artery disease, heart attack) * Sleep apnea (which causes people to stop breathing for brief period, interrupts sleep throughout the night and causes sleepiness during the day) * Cancer * Psycho social effect (In a culture where often the...
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...Linn November 10, 2010 Childhood Obesity Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that has reached epidemic proportions in many developed countries throughout the world, with America having one of the highest rates of overweight children. The consequences this issue has for the children involved can be serious in a number of aspects of their lives. Not only does this issue affect a child physically, it can also have detrimental effects on a child’s psychological and emotional wellbeing. Childhood obesity also has adverse outcomes for society economically in a number of ways. The causes of obesity are multi-factorial, however some aspects create greater worries for health professionals. Obesity is largely the result of caloric imbalance, too few calories expended for the amount of calories consumed. Perhaps the most important contributing factors are lack of exercise and unhealthy diet and eating habits causing this caloric imbalance. It is also mediated by genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors. According to the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years. The prevalence of obesity among children in America aged 6 to 11 years increased from 6.5% in 1980 to 19.6% in 2008. The prevalence of obesity among adolescents aged 12 to 19 years increased from 5.0% to 18.1% (Centres for Disease Control and Prevention). The physical effects that obesity has on children can lead to serious...
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...Do You Want Fries With That?: An American Epidemic Ashlee Martinez WGU University Nearly everyone in America has experienced the sensational film “Super Size Me”, in which a young, healthy vegan man by the name of Morgan Spurlock experiments with his own body in order to see the disastrous effects of fast food on the human form. After a month of eating nothing but McDonald's, Morgan suffered from a 13% gain in body mass, cholesterol levels of 230, rapid mood changes and embarrassing sexual inadequacy. He was unable to complete the program after being told by a medical professional that “he was going to die” if he continued on the current diet. Thankfully, Morgan was able to quit and return his body slowly back to the healthy shape it once was in, but this happy ending isn't always the case for millions of Americans. Left untreated, obesity will surpass smoking as the main cause of preventable death. Between the ruthless marketing, placement of restaurants in low income neighborhoods and near schools, massive portion sizes riddled with fat and carbohydrates and more than 46 million people eating out at only McDonald's daily, fast food has easily gone from a “once in a while treat” to one of the most menacing killers in the country. Portion size and ingredients play a grand factor in the fattening affects of fast food. According to research gathered by Washington State University, Fast...
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...Is the Food Stamp Program a Substantial Contribution to Childhood Obesity? Is the Food Stamp Program a Substantial Contribution to Childhood Obesity? Introduction Is the rising rate of childhood obesity within the United States affected by the food stamp program? This is the question that formulated the basis of my research. Looking at the rising statistics of obesity rates within America’s youth and researching why the weight of the United States community is significantly passing those of its surrounding countries. In researching this topic I hope to determine if the food stamp program is in any way responsible for this increasing health issue. As the years progress the health of today’s youth is rapidly decreasing. Although the lacks of exercise and poor food influences serve as a high influence on this issue, researching this topic has shown that the food stamp program has helped contribute to the issue at hand. Presenting Argument and Supportive Research To be classified as an overweight child, the body mass index is in the 85th percentile and the ratio of weight to height is unhealthy (Baun, 2011 p. 623). This number has increased drastically among America’s youth over the past decade. As obesity increases among youth, there is a decrease in physical activity as well as healthy eating habits. Healthy eating choices are the focus of my research, as I concentrate on the eating habits of children participating in America’s Food stamp Program. The heaviest children...
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...Obesity has become an epidemic in American Society. Since the nineteen eighties childhood obesity rates have tripled and have started in earlier in age. In high school students obesity rates have risen by fifteen percent. In four states obesity rates for adults have exceeded thirty five percent. Obesity is being portrayed as being beautiful, which people should be comfortable in their own skin, but the health effects that obesity causes is far from beautiful. Nearly seventy eight million adults and almost thirteen million children are obese in the United States. In the 1950's the percentage of obese adults was only ten percent, and has now risen to thirty five percent. An adult is averaged to weigh twenty six more pounds more than...
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...Obesity in America June 6, 2014 ENG/215 Paul Korzeniowski Obesity of the main causes of malnutrition in children and adults in America is mainly because caused of cheap foods that are low nutrition unhealthy and that are usually full of calories and fat. Obesity is eventually what will be the outcome. Poverty is the main factor of obesity. Factually speaking, Obesity and poverty without a doubt are interconnected. If Americans can actively become involved in their health and diet obesity could be eliminated. According to a recent poll, it has been stated American adults and American children are either obese or overweight adults raking in two-thirds while children are more than one-tenth on this spectrum. Hunger and obesity are about what one-tenth of American families suffer from, this happens when there is no access to safe foods that are nutritionally satisfactory. Statistics states children from low income families are half way as their affluent counterparts to become obese. When it comes to obesity low income families are in very unfavorable conditions when it comes to obesity. Unfortunately, the average American family does not have the financial capabilities to prepare healthy meals, find suitable housing, or access to appropriate medical care, and other everyday necessities. Low income family tend to buy less expense food which is not the healthiest choice vs. spending money on more healthy food because they just can't afford it. In doing so, families choose...
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...Obesity Rising in America Florida State College of Jacksonville People are becoming more obese in America. According to Ferraro and Kelley-Moore (2003), "The number of people in America considered obese has been steadily rising since the 1960s, up 12 % since then. Obesity is not to be confused with being overweight. Obesity is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute guidelines (NHLBI)" (p.708). Ferraro and Kelley-Moore (2003) go on to claim that, “Obesity is an important mediating variable between socioeconomic status and health. Persons of lower socioeconomic status are more likely to be obese, and the effect of obesity reduces the independent association between socioeconomic status and health measures” (p.724). There are many arguments about what is causing obesity, poor diet, genetics and low socioeconomic status are just a few factors blamed for obesity. Adler and Stewart (2009) reinforce Ferraro and Kelley-Moore’s findings of the correlations between socioeconomic status and obesity, “Environment also plays a role in obesity. Poor communities lack health promoting resources; for example, poorer communities have fewer supermarkets, more fast-food restaurants, and fewer accessible and safe recreational opportunities” (p.49-50). In the next ten years obesity will be at its highest rates if it continues on this path. With...
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...Essay Assignment Obesity in American Adults November 6, 2014 According to the American Diabetes Association, almost two-thirds of American adults are obese or over weight. (Marks, 2004) With the most obvious cause being poor eating habits and lack of physical activity, inactive adults in the US eat on average 500-800 calories more than needed. Given this, these Americans will gain a pound to a pound and a half a week. (Marks, 2004) Obesity is becoming a severe matter in America and it needs to be addressed within reason. Should the government be doing more to challenge the problem or is it up to the individual? First, what is obesity? Obesity is defined on Harvard’s School of Public Health by stating that obesity is being overweight and having too much body fat, most commonly measured by the body mass index (BMI). Being overweight is defined as a body mass index of 25 or higher. Obesity is defined as a BMI of 30 or higher. BMI uses one person’s height and weight to estimate one person’s “fatness”. (Obesity Prevention Source, 2014). What are the effects of obesity? There are many life altering effects that come along with obesity including coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, many types of cancer, as well as strokes. Social and emotional effects of obesity, including discrimination, lower wages, lower quality of life and a likely susceptibility to depression are no less effecting as well. (Obesity Prevention Source, 2014) Next, I would like to put obesity in perspective to...
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...America, the land of plenty, has always experienced an abundance of resources, but has this tradition of excess become our downfall? It’s easy to see that people in the United States are getting larger. “Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and tripled in adolescents in the past 30 years” (CDC, 2013, Childhood Obesity Facts). According to the CDC (2013), as many as 18% of young people can be considered obese which puts them at risk for any number of health problems. Diabetes, joint and bone problems, and heart disease or stroke are just some of the health problems affecting the nation’s young people. “70% of obese youth had at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease” (CDC, 2013, Health Effects of Childhood Obesity)....
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...Childhood Obesity in the United States of America Tolulope Adedokun Introduction to psychology Dr. Michael Gawrysiak November 28, 2014 Table of contents Abstract …………………………………………………………………………………………… 3 Introduction ………………………………………………………………………………………. 4 Causes of Obesity ………………………………………………………………………………… 4 Heredity …………………………………………………………………………………. 4 Social Environment ……………………………………………………………………… 5 Social Status …………………………………………………………………………….. 5 Birth Weight …………………………………………………………………………….. 6 Effects of Obesity ………………………………………………………………………………… 7 Health Effects ……………………………………………………………………………. 7 Mental Effects …………………………………………………………………………… 7 Conclusion ………………………………………………………………………………………. 7 Solutions to Childhood Obesity in The United States of America ………………………………. 8 References ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 9 Abstract Childhood obesity has reached epidemic levels in developing countries especially in the United States of America. Twenty five percent of children in the US are overweight and 11% are obese. Overweight and obesity in childhood are known to have significant impact on both physical and psychological health. This paper describes the causes, effects, and solutions to childhood obesity in the...
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...Obesity In America Damone Jackson Devry University English 135 Dr. Dominguez 8/28/2012 Obesity in America Obesity has become a major factor in today’s society, mostly too poor dieting. There are quite a few reasons that we have this problem today, one of them is that our economy is not the best right now and healthy food is fairly expensive. Our cultural progress and our need to have things right now have led to the fast food industry being almost like a necessity to us. To overcome this we need to educate ourselves on good dieting and figuring out how to get the most healthy food for your dollar. Among that finding a way to fit exercise into our busy lives. More public services should be created to aid this epidemic such as better parks, public transportation and health learning centers. In America our obesity rate has gone through the roof, according to Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of the adults about 35.7% and 12.5 million kids which is about 17% (ages 2-19) suffer from obesity (US Department of health and human services, 2012). Your first though might be how can kids at a young age like become obese? I know when I was growing up I did most of my playing outside, running around, ...
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...throughout the day. One would have to sit down at their house all day without going on the internet or T.V. to not be introduce to any type of processed foods via advertisements or products itself. Stephanie Soechtig wrote and produced the documentary film Fed Up in 2014 detail the affects of how the high-processed foods that people consumed contribute more to obesity than the lack of exercise. One of the most prominent ideas in the documentary is that the powerful food industry puts personal interest and greed over the well-being of the Americans (especially the youth) by giving half-truths, lies, and denying the detrimental affects of processed foods....
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...CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Definition Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems. People are considered obese when their body mass index (BMI), a measurement obtained by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by the square of the person's height in metres, exceeds 30 kg/m2. Obesity increases the likelihood of various diseases, particularly heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, certain types of cancer, and osteoarthritis. Obesity is most commonly caused by a combination of excessive food energy intake, lack of physical activity, and genetic susceptibility, although a few cases are caused primarily by genes, endocrine disorders, medications or psychiatric illness. Evidence to support the view that some obese people eat little yet gain weight due to a slow metabolism is limited; on average obese people have a greater energy expenditure than their thin counterparts due to the energy required to maintain an increased body mass. Dieting and physical exercise are the mainstays of treatment for obesity. Diet quality can be improved by reducing the consumption of energy-dense foods such as those high in fat and sugars, and by increasing the intake of dietary fiber. Anti-obesity drugs may be taken to reduce appetite or inhibit fat absorption together with a suitable diet. If diet, exercise and medication are...
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