America is experiencing an increasing problem with obesity that arose from numerous factors such as sugary processed foods, larger portion sizes, and lack of physical activity that lead to detrimental results like preventable diseases that lead to death. In order to stop this rising epidemic, it will take national effort to educate the public and to offer fetter food alternatives in schools and in grocery stores. Over the past few decades, cases of obesity have become more prevalent in the United States, causing the US to be the leading county in obesity percentages. Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer, some of the leading causes of preventable death (Defining Overweight). …show more content…
There is not one specific factor that causes obesity, but rather a combination of multiple factors such as genetics, environmental, social, and physical factors. As obesity became more prevalent in the United States, the view on obesity by healthcare professionals began to change as well. In the 1940’s, after the great depression and America began to prosper, obesity was considered an addition. This addiction, thought at the time to be derived from an overbearing mother during early childhood, would discourage physical activity and the development of self-reliance (Result Filters 1). This would cause a lifelong pattern of oral gratification as a substitute of other forms of satisfaction, as well as a reaction to stress. In the 1950’s, health professionals connected depression to the cause of obesity and when a person was faced with a challenge, they would eat. Obesity was said to be a gluttonous addiction and programs like “Fattys Anonymous”, “Overeaters Anonymous”, and “Calories Anonymous” were put into place to help people lose weight. While obesity percentages stood still in the 1970’s, there was a push to reduce the shame and guilt from the past programs before with the Fat Power movement. Since then, the view on obesity has not changed, causing people who are overweight to …show more content…
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third, 34.9% (78.6 million) of adults in the United States are obese (Adult Obesity Facts). In 2008, the annual medical cost of obesity was $147 billion dollars, and the people who were obese had medical costs that were $1,429 higher than those at normal weight. The National Census Bureau of the United States reveals that the overall percentage of all ages with a body mass index of over 30 (obese) has increased from 20% of the population in 1998 to 33% in 2008. The amount of adults who are physically inactive has increased in that same time period from 28.9% to 36.2% of the population. Non-Hispanic blacks have the highest age-adjusted rates of obesity of 47.8%, followed by Hispanics at 42.5%, non-Hispanic whites at 32.6%, and non-Hispanic Asians at 10.8%. The prevalence of childhood obesity in the United States in 2011-2012 was approximately 17% or 12.7 million of children aged 2-19 years old.12 There are significant racial disparities in children as well. Obesity prevalence was higher among Hispanics at 22.4% and non-Hispanic black youth at 20.2% than non-Hispanic white youth at 14.1%. The lowest prevalence of obesity was non-Hispanic Asian youth at
In the United States today, obesity has become an enormous problem. In the last 3 decades, the number of people overweight has increased dramatically. A study done by the Centers of Disease Control showed that since 1980, one third of our adult population has become overweight. America is the richest but also the fattest nation in the world and our obese backsides are the butt of jokes in every other country (Klein 28). The 1980s were a time when Americans suddenly started going crazy over dieting, jumping onto the treadmills, and buying prepackaged non-fat foods. However, while all of that was going on, the number of obese Americans began to increase. According to a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association, 58 million
Obesity is becoming one of the major problems for society. All Americans have become vulnerable victims of their own products of food, also considered as their prosperity. Many health doctors believe that the key to the United States obesity problems lay in the not healthy(toxic) environment in which people work, live and spend their quality time. America is an environment where supersized portions are normal, and huge grocery stores fully stocked with snacks like cookies, frozen foods, and many sugary cereals as cinnamon toast crunch. Temptations to eat a high-calorie meals are everywhere. American children are exposed to delicious, savoring junk food on commercials every time they turn the TV. Especially in poor neighborhoods, it has become
Being overweight, eating poorly, and not exercising are becoming an epidemic in America, especially among college students. Most of the research on it states the same things, however the first research article I found speaks more to the behavior and its current affects on college students’ health. A slew of doctors and Jesse S. Morrell wrote an article about “Risk Factors Among College Men and Women” in relationship to obesity. The opening of this article stated that “an estimated 300,000 deaths each year are attributable to obesity… and young adults have experienced dramatic increases in obesity rates,” (Morrell, 2012, pg. 82). This statistic is what really got the research going and helped the researchers focus specifically on college-aged individuals. Upon diving into their research, the authors found more alarming statistics and related diseases. This included a recognizable relationship between obesity in young people and chronic disease risk, especially diabetes and cardiovascular disease (Morrell, 2012, pg. 82). In fact, CVD was the second leading cause of death in the US in that college-age group showing that our generation is at a greater risk for health problems than ever before due to our lack of exercise and healthy diets. Researchers then took to college campuses to examine students and their habits and provide risk assessments to promote healthier lifestyles and hopefully decrease the probability of CVD and DM through the metabolic syndrome system,
One of the biggest health concern in the united states today is obesity. It has been proven that approximately 36 percent of adults and 17 percent of children and adolescents are obese. Obesity is defined as the condition of being grossly fat or overweight. Obesity can also be represented as “BMI” which simply means body mass index. Most people will pay little or no attention to obesity, but obesity is a dangerous health issue that can result in death. Some of the factors that contribute to obesity are overeating, diseases, drugs and lack of exercise. Behaviors can also be a contributing factor to obesity. Behaviour such as physical activity and dietary patterns.
Throughout years the obesity rates have increased. Over the past 35 years, obesity rates have more than doubled. More than a one-third of adults (34.9%) were obese as of 2011 to 2012. More than two-thirds of adults (68.6%) are overweight or obese now. If the rates have more than doubled now, then they will continue to raise until people make better decisions to not eat high calorie foods and exercise. Obesity rates are highest among Black adults (47.8%), followed by Latino (42.5%) and White adults (32.6%), and lowest among Asian American adults (10.8%)..
Good news! We’re Number 2! As declared by a 2013 report from the U.N., America has only the second highest obesity rate in the world at 31.8%, second to Mexico with an obesity rate of 32.8%. America has held on to the title of most obese country for over 60 years. From 13% obesity in 1962, estimates have steadily increased right up to 2013’s 32.8%.
Obesity in the United States is on the rise and there is no end in sight. Obesity is a health problem that does not discriminate, it effects all ages, genders, and races. There are many factors that can cause an individual to become obese. These factors can include calorie intake, amount of physical activity, genetics, and environment. The rise of obesity in the United States has posed health and financial problems for this country that need to be dealt with.
The relationship between obesity and health has been a major factor in drawing national attention to the growing prevalence of obesity. As the second leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States, obesity
Obesity problems, which one-third of Americans struggle with, is a “HUGE” problem in our society, no pun intended. The problems they encounter are numerous, including being bullied, low self-esteem, and often are the subject of jokes, such as the one often used by children, “fatty, fatty two by four, can’t get in the kitchen door!”. Being obese not only comes with mental and social issues, but there are also health and financial problems - whether you are not able to get a job because of the way you look or develop health issues such as heart disease or diabetes. Having to purchase two plane tickets because the seats are too small for an obese person is an unfair practice.
Obesity is a growing concern throughout the world not just in the United States over the last five decades, it has become the number one reason American's have an alarming rate of diabetes and heart diseases. Obesity is generally caused by eating too much and moving too little. Decades ago American's spent more
Obesity is growing rapidly in America and all over the world. Even scientists are not sure what 's driving this epidemic. Obesity is a very complex term to describe because many researchers define it as a disease and some count it as a lifestyle habit. What is obesity? Obesity is a condition of being exceptionally fat or overweight. Genetics, combination of hormonal changes and behavioral factors of a particular person can cause obesity. Obesity can cause dangerous diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. In some cases, it can also lead to cancer, arthritis, erectile dysfunction, and fatty liver disease. Obesity is a leading cause of every ten American deaths. Obesity has increased because of a decrease in working efforts
Obesity has become a major problem in America, therefore causing major health issues that are associated with overweight. Problems with overweight sometimes began during adolescence, and increase with age. Obesity, and overweight can possibly cause emotional, and social stigmatization additional to depression in adolescence, and adults. Obesity, and overweight is a rapidly growing problem in today's society, especially since so many fast food places are beginning to rapidly increase in numbers across the world. Although some may not take overweight as a serious matter, it leads to obesity and major health problems that are closely linked to many heart diseases. Health problems associated with Overweight, and obesity has been a major issue
(“Americans’ New Way”) The leading causes of high rates of obesity in the United States is improper nutrition, excessive stress and increase of sedentary lifestyles.
Obesity, a condition where excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, is occurring more commonly in the United States day by day. Risks of this condition are; heart diseases, strokes, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, gallbladder diseases and gallstones,
According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, obesity triggers health issues such as coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, and cancer. Many more illnesses are caused by obesity but these tend to be the most systemic. Furthermore, mental health can deteriorate as a consequence of heavy weight gain. Both children and adults suffer from obesity related psychological