When you think of the general health of America, what first comes to mind? Most would likely answer this question along the lines of our population being overweight. Obesity is one of the leading causes of death in the US with at least 30,000 people dying from this disease each year (Obesity Epidemic). Obesity symptoms often arise at an early age and can lead to an array of issues well beyond excessive weight gain, but who is to blame? Many critics attribute the explosion of the disease to the widespread growth of the fast food industry, the expanding social media world, the reduction of physical activity in schools, unhealthy food in schools, or even genetics. However, individuals must take personal responsibility for their health. Obesity’s roots can be seen from the start of life, or even pre-birth, and it is up to adults to help teach children how to live a healthy lifestyle. Some may just blame it on genetics, but parents that allow and promote kids to consume unhealthy food are greatly responsible for allowing the disease to flourish. Also, not including any physical activity in their children’s daily life contributes to the obesity epidemic. So what is being done? Many schools districts across the country have introduced prevention methods like nutrient education, but are these really effective? The real question is, if people don’t take personal responsibility will American’s unhealthy habits ever really change? Beyond the very real medical conditions obese
The rate of childhood obesity has grown an enormous amount over the years with more than 40 million children being overweight! That number is astonishingly high and it is very obvious that something needs to be done about this. Studies had shown in 2008 that more than 40 million children were said to be overweight and the sad truth is that they are still increasing rapidly to this day; also every 1 in 4 teenagers is said to not reach the fitness guidelines (Tanner) according to an article by Lindsey Tanner. For this problem to be resolved not only do the parents of children need to make sure their kids are staying active but also, the schools they attend need to make sure they are getting a well-balanced meal and have some type of physical activity during their school day. Each state in America is given a percentage rate on the number of obese people in that particular state. The highest ranking state is Mississippi with a percentage of 34.9 and the state ranking the least is Connecticut with 24.5 percent. Different researches have shown that each day 850 lives are taken due to obesity and each year there are more than 300,000 people that die from obesity related illnesses. These are deaths that most likely could have been avoided if these individuals would have had the proper exercise and diet in their lives.
America is facing a rigorous obesity plague that is endangering the health of millions. Moreover, we are passing our bad practices down to our children. Obesity is a stipulation in which anomalous or excessive fat buildup in adipose tissue that damages health. Obesity is defined in adults as a body mass index (BMI) exceeding 30 (kg/m). Obesity is one of the most discernible, but until recently, most deserted public health problems. The present high pervasiveness of obesity and the brisk increase in pervasiveness in the last twenty years has been referred to as an endemic (Johnson SJ, Birch LL. 1994). Children all through the U.S. are getting fatter and less fit, through potentially treacherous enduring consequences. The figure of
In America today one in three adults are considered to be obese. Over the years the rate of obesity keeps climbing up and up. Some people blame fast-food or the environment Americans live in. After all,someone can purchase a chocolate bar at a bookstore nowadays. But, most people are looking at the incorrect factor to blame. Although the food industry is a huge contribution to obesity in America, people are ultimately responsible for their own health.
Obesity has become an increasing issue in the United States and all around the world. The study that I read about analyzed data from 68.5 million persons to assess the trends in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adults between 1980 and 2015 (The GBD 2015 Obesity Collaborators. 2017.). Children learn lifestyle choices from the adults that are around them. We, as adults, influence children on a variety of things, such as; eating or sleep patterns, exercise, or how we act towards situations or people. It is important to set a good example for the younger generations so that we can thrive in the future.
In 2012 CDC statistics show that “over 35 percent of adults and 32 percent of children in the United States of America are recorded as obese (30kg/m2), the obesity rate has doubled since 1971.1” Not only is epidemic growing in numbers of victims but also in expenses. The United States spent 147 billion dollars in 2008 on medical expenses costs and that does not include the programs that fight against the problem. “In 2003 over 300,000 died due to obesity related health problems, diseases and cancers.6” One of the most important battles we wage on American soil is the war for citizens to be fit, and it nearly always starts in the childhood. Since 1971 the problem of childhood and adult obesity started to grow annually due to many reasons related to our ways of living. Now the food industry, including fast food has been getting more and more unhealthy due to unnatural modifications. What Americans eat is not organic anymore and is taking its toll on American lifestyle. The fast food industry has been making advertisements and foods focused upon youth. Since the original commercials directed towards children, it has nearly tripled since the rise of technology. Technology has been growing rapidly as obesity is, statistics show that with the advancement of technology, the population starts to slow down, stop exercising and eating healthier foods. As long as there is childhood obesity, there will be adult obesity, with effects on children causing obesity, there will be a
Childhood obesity has placed the health of an entire generation at risk. Obesity in America is a big problem that has been growing over the years. “An estimated 12.5 million children between the ages of 2 and 19 are obese, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention” (Loop 2015). As the number of children being affected keeps growing, parents or guardians do not change the habits that lead their children to become obese. “Among children today, obesity is causing a broad range of health problems that previously weren’t seen until adulthood” (American Heart Association, 2014). Not only is obesity causing health problems more than before, but it also causing a big problem in America. More and more children every year become obese and it keeps growing. Even though some people believe the lifestyle of a person is not to blame for the childhood obesity problem in America, the technology, the parenting style , and the media of the outside world are huge factors that contribute to childhood obesity.
Individuals and groups in support of the government intervening in order to combat the epidemic of childhood obesity claim that, “parents who strive to keep their kids healthy may not have all the tools they need to do so” (“Childhood Obesity.” Issues & Controversies). Therefore supporters agree that the government “should step in and enable parents to do the best job they can” (“Childhood Obesity.” Issues & Controversies). Joe Thompson, “director of the Rober Wood Foundation Center to prevent Childhood Obesity” claims that not all parents are able to have full control on what their children eat as well as how much they exercise (“Childhood Obesity.” Issues & Controversies). He claims that some families do not live in neighborhoods where “fresh produce” are inexpensive and readily available (“Childhood Obesity.” Issues & Controversies). In addition, Thompson states that, along with the foods children eat, parents are also not in full control of how much physical activity their children are involved in (“Childhood Obesity.” Issues & Controversies). He asserts that, “you can’t say to a parent, ‘your child should exercise more’ if there’s no PE in school” (“Childhood Obesity.” Issues & Controversies). It is apparent that not all parents have the money as well as a strong influence in order to guide their children into forming a healthy lifestyle that involves clean eating and engaging in physical exercise. Because of a parent’s lack of time, money, and other resources to keep
Companies, people eat more fatty foods than ever before. Companies spend an estimated $10 billion dollars marketing food,
In order to impede the epidemic of childhood obesity, the actual causes of the problem need to be evaluated and dissected. Obesity in children is becoming a huge problem in American society. In the past three decades, the rate of overweight children has increased by 300%. This is an alarming rate that is only climbing higher. Every member in society should take steps to becoming healthier. This would help the present generations as well as future generations to come. The lifestyle of Americans keeps us too busy to be a healthy society.
Obesity basically means having too much body fat. Not being overweight for your height, having too much muscle, or water in your body. What exactly is obesity? “Obesity is a condition that is associated with having an excess of body fat, defined by genetic and environmental factors that are difficult to control when dieting. Obesity is classified as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or greater. BMI is a tool used to measure obesity. Obesity increases your risk of developing related conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and sleep apnea, to name a few. Many individuals are affected by obesity and are not aware of it” (O.A.C, 2016). Causes of obesity vary from person to person, but most are from the same reasons. Taking in more calories than your body can burn leads to obesity because your body stores the unused calories as fat. Typical causes are eating too much food than your body can use, drinking too much alcohol, and not getting enough exercise. Many obese people who lose large amounts of weight and gain it back think it is their fault. They blame themselves for not having the willpower to keep the weight off. Many people regain more weight than they lost. Today, we know that biology is a big reason why some people cannot keep the weight off. Some people who live in the same place and eat the same foods become obese, while others do not. Our bodies have a complex system to help keep our
The obesity epidemic can change if Americans can change they way they choose to live. First, parents must become educated with the facts about proper food consumption for themselves and their children. Second, children need to partake in afterschool activities and events living an active life. Third and most important, parents should be role models by eating proper nutritional meals and getting plenty of exercise.
Childhood obesity can only stop if parents change their own habits to promote a healthier lifestyle for their family. Parents don 't realize it, but they influence children majorly. If a parent is accustom to eating fastfood and snacking multiple times between meals, drinking soda all the time it becomes regular routine for them. Their child will began to learn that same exact routine. Those “couch potato” parents will usually watch television all day and lack exercise. Children see those things and tend to follow those steps. It is all they know because it was what they were shown and learned from whom their trust first sprouted, parents. Parents know what is bad for the body, but ignore it. Imagine if grease and sugar can damage an adult body, what it could do to a child’s body. Some excuses from parents are that they are busy and don 't have time to plan out an equally balance meal or it is “too pricey” to shop healthy. There are plenty go online recipes that ingredients are cheap and can even be made in large quantities to put up for another day. With that one recipe it can save money and time for the next day. What’s the excuse now? Parents do work to support their family,but there is always tie to squeeze in a 30 minute work-out. That’s all it takes. Parents should encourage that behavior on their children instead they don’t. There are activities at school like sports teams children can participate in and also playing more outside with their friends in the
Obesity is a condition in which the over accumulation of adipose fat tissue causes the weight of a person to increase abnormally. Their weight exceeds by 20%, as a factor of their ideal body weight. According to recent analysis, statistics show that more than one third of the world’s population is targeted by obesity. Research shows that overweight and obesity kills more people than underweight. Obesity occurs greatly amongst adults who are 18 years or older. An estimated 600 million adults were obese out of the 1.9 billion that were overweight, around the world in 2014. One in three adults in Mexico, New Zealand and United States are obese, and one in four adults in Australia, Canada, Chile and Hungary are obese. In contrast, rates of obesity are much lower in Asian countries, where approximately 2-4% of adults have obesity. In countries such as Mexico and the United States, Latino and Africans have the highest rates of obesity amongst all the individuals. However, along with adults, statistics show that the rates for obesity are also high among children within and below the age of 5. As calculated in 2013, the number of children across the world that were either overweight or obese was 42 million. Since then, the rates have increased by 30% more in in low- and middle-income countries than in developed countries. Due to the fact that this condition continues at higher rates across the world, several organizations, such as the World Health Organization, are working with and
How is it that people can become obese knowing that the condition poses severe health risks? The truth is, there are several different factors that contribute to obesity. Firstly, it is generally easier for people to gain weight than it is for them to lose weight. Losing weight requires a substantial amount of effort and determination, something that not a lot of people have (or at least not enough). Some people believe that being overweight comes with birth and is determined by their genes, while others believe that anyone can adjust his or her weight by following certain regimens. Although a person’s genes do affect his or her metabolic rate—the rate at which the body burns calories—, having a healthy lifestyle and restricting one’s caloric intake can undermine the drawbacks of having a naturally low metabolic rate. A person’s weight loss depends on how much he or she prioritizes his or her health and physical appearance.
Obesity is the buildup of excess body fat, caused by the ingestion of more food than the body can use in which the extra calories are stored as fat. Obesity is measured by taking BMI, or body mass index of the person which is their height and weight and putting it into a formula. As stated by The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica, “A BMI between 25.0 and 29.9 equates with overweight and 30.0 and above with obesity. Morbid obesity (also known as extreme, or severe, obesity) is defined as a BMI of 40.0 or higher” (“Obesity” Britannica). In the United States, obesity is one of the easiest medical conditions to recognize but one of the most complicated diseases to cure. Obesity is often cured by taking pills and having surgeries done to the