...Research suggests obesity in America is an epidemic because of people’s diet, lifestyle, and genetic inheritance. Obesity is a chronic disease that can and will seriously affect one’s health. Health professionals agree that obesity has now reached epidemic status in our country. Over one third of American adults are obese. Obesity also affects children and is more prevalent now than in previous years. And the numbers are increasing. Diet and nutrition play a major role in the United States epidemic of obesity. Although it is very complex especially when Americans are sent mixed messages on what to eat and how much they should eat. On one hand, you have packaged processed food, bigger portions and fast food meals that are marketed as all American. The food is delicious and filling but fast and cheap. On the other hand, Americans spend almost twenty billion dollars every year on the newest weight loss fads, from weight loss drugs to books on the newest weight loss diet to weight loss surgeries like gastric bypass, lap-bands and Hollywood’s favorite, liposuction. Everyone is looking for everything fast. Fast-food, and fast weight loss options. We spend more time at work to pay for all the fast stuff in our lives instead of spending time at home and in our own kitchens cooking nutritious meals for our whole family like our parents did fifty years ago. (Overeaters Anonymous, 1980) This crazy relationship Americans have with food is easy to explain in terms of schemes in marketing...
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...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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...Does Fast Food Cause Obesity? Every time Americans tune into the local news broadcasts or scroll through their television channels, they are likely to be stunned at the number of cases of obesity that have been reported in Americans. Seeing human beings that weigh over six hundred pounds has become a popular trend in today’s society, and it’s not even questioned even though many harsh consequences come from being obese. It is sometimes difficult to imagine how these people have sustained this kind of weight and lifestyle. Inevitably, people begin to question whether or not fast food is the cause of obesity rising in America today. Before we can clarify that fast food companies are to blame for people over eating the food produced in these facilities, it must be tested and proven that fast food is actually the main problem causing obesity in America. It is known to many people how the number of fast food restaurants are increasing almost every day. This is very convenient for fast food restaurant chains. Fast-food increases obesity by lowering food prices, tempting customers who have absolutely no self-control, and by being a suitable go to at the end of a very busy day. What causes individuals to consume fast food to the point where they cannot stop themselves? People hold different opinions on this topic. In the past, people in the United States used to eat healthy, eat nutritious prepared food and meals, and exercise with their families. Today, many people in the United...
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...Obese or overweight? Choose your group. It's all about the choices we make. Hamburgers, french fries, milkshakes, candy, “Junk food” the global threat of the 21st century. Will most certainly land you in the obesity, having too much body fat (adipose tissue) category.1 Recently I’ve become very interested in obesity, curious why people are overweight. Is it because they just like eating large quantities of food, psychological reasons, the media, or is it genetics. The general questions: Why do people become obese? and why is the younger generation affected more? I needed to know these answers. Of course, the type of food and the amount of food we consume affects us in a great way: negatively and positively. One of the reasons leading toward...
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...Overweight and Obesity in America Mary Watts ENG 122 English Composition II Instructor: Professor James Lange July 7, 2014 According to the National Institute of Health, obesity is defined as having an excess of body fat. Obesity is more prevalent when a person has a body mass index of 30 or more. Being obese differs from being overweight, in that being overweight can be caused from extra fat, muscle, bone, or water. It is well known in the United States that obesity is a dangerous epidemic. From 2011 to 2012, over 34% of Americans were obese (Flegal, 2014). The overweight and obesity problem has become a major health problem in the U. S. In America a lot of our health problems stem from being overweight and obese. They represent nearly all ages and socio‑economic groups of peoples. . Obesity and overweightness depends on how much energy you take in (the calories in When the body has an excess of unused calories, the body will store the calories as fat. Consuming more calories than burned can be the result of unhealthy diet and eating habits. An unhealthy diet lacks fruits and vegetables and is high in fat. Lack of exercise or sedentary lifestyle can also contribute to excess calories. The American Heart Association recommends that people commit to increasing their heart rate through exercise or physical activity for thirty minutes per day, five times a week. Things such as walking, stair climbing, swimming, jogging, biking...
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...be present as well. Does Fast Food Restaurants Contribute to Obesity? Obesity has become an epidemic in America. Fast food restaurants are everywhere you look. We hear fast food restaurants advertisements on the radio, on billboards along the highways, in magazines and commercials on our televisions. Every child that is of age to talk can easily identify the arch and relate that to McDonald’s. Americans all over America have become consumed by these advertisements and have become over weight due to their food selection at such restaurants. Obesity is the second leading cause of preventable deaths in America. For that reason alone obesity has become a topic that has been recently researched and discussed more and more over the last few decades. Researchers have thrived to develop a cause to such an increase in Americans that struggle with the problem of obesity. Are there variations between Americans who most often have home cooked meals than those who eat at fast food restaurants more that are often affected with obesity? Are there other contributions to food selection that affects those who may choose to eat at fast food restaurants? Within the scope of this paper we will aim to conclude whether or not fast food restaurants contribute to obesity. Obesity Obesity is defined as according to WebMD, is an excess proportion of total body fat. A person is considered obese when his or her weight is 20% or more above normal weight. (www.WebMD.com). Those...
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...year. According to a study from Trust for America's Health: “Adult obesity has been rising in 31 states of America and haven't signaled to drop. No state has reached the Health and Human Services department goal of reducing the prevalence of adult obesity to 15% by 2010.” This was a huge number and it continues to increase which threatening human health. To answer the question what is the real reason for it. Today I will write the article about the reasons that US citizens rapidly becoming more obese: first is inactivity and lazy in exercises, stressful from working and studying, high sugar consuming and how obesity affected by income....
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...obesity, thoughts that may come to mind are overweight, big, or even unhealthy. “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. Body mass index (BMI), a measurement which compares weight and height, defines people as overweight when their BMI is between 25 kg/m2 and 30 kg/m2, and obese when it is greater than 30 kg/m2.”(Wikipedia.com) BMI is calculated by dividing a person’s weight in kilograms by height in meters squared. The mathematical formula is weight (kg)/height (m²). Living with excess weight can negatively impact your physical, emotional, relational, and financial well being. The effects of obesity are widespread and far-reaching. Some effects are obvious. You may tire easily, or you may have trouble finding clothing that fits, keeping up with your kids at the playground, or fitting into a movie theater seat. Perhaps you even avoid particular social situations or limit your activities because of your weight. Obesity increases the likelihood of various diseases, particularly heart disease, type 2 diabetes, breathing difficulties during sleep, certain types of cancer, and osteoarthritis. Obesity is a leading preventable cause of death worldwide, with increasing prevalence in adults and children, and authorities view it as one of the most serious public health problems of the 21st century. Large-scale American and European...
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...Why have Americans become so obese? Obesity is a struggle among every country in the world. Obesity is when a person is 20 percent above what is supposed to be their normal weight. Obesity is so difficult to get rid of in countries that it is classified as a disease. The country that is greatest known for their obesity rates is the United States of America. Even though America is not the most obese country in the world, America is known for their fast food restaurants severely overweight people. Despite America being one of the most obese countries, no one ever asks the real question. Why have Americans become so obese? The most obviously popular reason why Americans are obese is because of food. The first type of food to relate to obesity is fast food. McDonald’s, Burger King, Taco Bell and many other fast food restaurants load their food with sugar, cholesterol and other unhealthy substances that make people crave it. McDonald’s burgers are severely unhealthier than a homemade burger. A McDonald’s burger has 440 calories, 23 grams of fat, 80 milligrams of cholesterol, 1150 milligrams of sodium and 34 carbohydrates. (McDonald's). A homemade burger has about 270 calories, 9 grams of fat, 142 milligrams of cholesterol, 123 milligrams of sodium and about 9 carbohydrates (Health). McDonald's makes their foods unnecessarily unhealthy. Another problem with Americans food problems is that their portions are completely outrageous. The default portion sizes are Small, Medium and large...
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...Whether it’s obvious or not, Americans like to eat unhealthy. Although not everyone is guilty of these cheats, it’s important to maintain a healthy diet on regular basis. The fact that many Americans are somewhat incapable of making quality health choices on their own adds a need of government involvement. Therefore, government regulation on what is consumed by America is fair because they’re looking out for the common good of society. The government's involvement in Americans’ food and drink choices is based on keeping them healthy. Improper diets in Americans leads to obesity and diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. A ban approved in New York, NY limits sugary drinks like sodas to be sold in only 16-ounce bottles...
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...allowing their children to consume whatever they want, and how much they want: We are seeing hypertension, heart disease, some cancers, breathing difficulties, and type II diabetes in more children today than ever before. Opposing arguments claim that it is not the fault of the parents; however, infants don’t have control over how much they are fed, and toddlers lack the cognitive development to make an informed decision about their food choices. Young children themselves are not to blame, so focus on parents seems reasonable. America is challenged with a growing rate of childhood obesity, and public knowledge regarding solutions remains inadequate. We can do a better job of promoting the issue by helping parents understand the seriousness of childhood obesity; the best way to approach this is likely through marketing. The Fight against Childhood Obesity The percentage of children and adolescents who are overweight and obese is now higher than ever before: Over the last 25 years, childhood obesity has more than quadrupled (Get America Fit Foundation, 2012). Childhood obesity is defined as a Body Mass Index (a measurement calculated using a child's weight and height) that is at or above the 95th percentile for children of the same age and sex. Obesity is caused by long-term positive energy imbalance: When the total calories consumed exceed the energy expended through physical activity (Hindle & Mills, 2012). Poor dietary habits and inactivity contribute to the increase...
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...Regina Cruz Paradigms of Health August 20, 2013 Dr. Roland Villareal Fitness and nutrition go hand in hand. I believe this because no matter the amount of exercise anyone does, the positive effects are mainly from the food choices we make. Example, if I continuously ate fast food and ran on a daily basis there would be no results. At some point, either my eating habits are going to have to change or the exercising would stop. It becomes a mental strain when results are not met and the exercise has become more difficult. Healthy eating habits and the right fitness regime lead to a healthier lifestyle. Obesity is problematic here in the United States. According to the CDC over one third of adults in America are obese and 17% of children between the ages of 2-19 are obese (Overweight and Obesity, 2013). Studies have shown that America is not healthy. It said to cost Americans 150 billion dollars and 10% of medical costs (Overweight and Obesity, 2013). Contributing factors have been said to be the foods we intake, the convenience of the type of foods that are available, and the food portions have been increased. Obesity can lead to heart disease, diabetes, and some types of cancer (Overweight and Obesity, 2013). With obesity being an epidemic in America our physical activity has lessen too. When I was growing up I remember always being outside. Now a days, it is rare you see kids playing in the neighborhood. The sedentary lifestyle is among us. We are finding kids inside the...
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...Why have Americans become so obese? Obesity is a struggle among every country in the world. Obesity is when a person is 20 percent above what is supposed to be their normal weight. Obesity is so difficult to get rid of in countries that it is classified as a disease. The country that is greatest known for their obesity rates is the United States of America. Even though America is not the most obese country in the world, America is known for their fast food restaurants severely overweight people. Despite America being one of the most obese countries, no one ever asks the real question. Why have Americans become so obese? The most obviously popular reason why Americans are obese is because of food. The first type of food to relate to obesity is fast food. McDonald’s, Burger King, Taco Bell and many other fast food restaurants load their food with sugar, cholesterol and other unhealthy substances that make people crave it. McDonald’s burgers are severely unhealthier than a homemade burger. A McDonald’s burger has 440 calories, 23 grams of fat, 80 milligrams of cholesterol, 1150 milligrams of sodium and 34 carbohydrates. (McDonald's). A homemade burger has about 270 calories, 9 grams of fat, 142 milligrams of cholesterol, 123 milligrams of sodium and about 9 carbohydrates (Health). McDonald's makes their foods unnecessarily unhealthy. Another problem with Americans food problems is that their portions are completely outrageous. The default portion sizes are Small, Medium and large...
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...problems that people are having? Many people today are obese and don’t take full responsibility for it, they blame corporations like McDonalds because of their unhealthy and fattening foods. Forty six percent of Americans ranked obesity as the number one health issue faced by Americans. Yet whom that should be to blame for these issues is still up in the air. If you’re walking/driving down a street and you pass a McDonalds, do you see employees forcing people into their restaurant? I sure don’t. In today’s society people are upset with their weight gain but still decide to go to eat at fast food restaurants and blame it on many other things but themselves. It’s not only that they eat fast food it’s how they choice what they eat on the menu. “McDonald’s food can fit into a healthy, well-balanced diet based upon the choice and variety available on our menu.” –Lisa Howard, McDonald’s spokeswoman. People take their own decisions into consideration when they step up to order their food. They could order something that could fit in their daily healthy diet like Lisa said, but eating this so much to the point where it’s a risk to your health and weight then that’s your own responsibility. “The analysts stress the importance of personal responsibility in preventing obesity, maintaining that there is no justification for criticizing McDonalds because ultimately a person can blame no one but him or herself for becoming obese.” It could be as simple as self control. Children’s...
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...Daniela Magana Professor deCastro English 101 December 16, 2013 The Solutions to Childhood Obesity “Over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled, and today, nearly one in three children in America are overweight or obese. Children with childhood obesity face many health problems like type two diabetes, high blood, pressure and are at risk for many types of cancers. The lack of children’s physical activity today is one of the major factors that lead to obesity as well as eating unhealthy diets, the increased food portions and the lack of information about healthy choices. Dr. Anand, the Executive Director for the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, describes the prevalence of obesity as being “at epidemic proportions” (Center for Nutrition Policy & Promotion, 2008, pg. 2). This statement was made in 1998. Since then, the rates of obesity have continued to rise dramatically and if we don’t do anything to stop it these numbers will keep rising. Many people think that dealing with obesity is only the parent’s responsibility, but what we need to realize is that it is not only the parents responsibility, fighting this epidemic has also become the responsibility of our schools and communities. Obesity education needs to be in our homes, schools and our communities to raise awareness of the causes, as well as the risks. We need to take action in helping reduce this health problem which is affecting more and more children each day. Parents...
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