Preview

Dieting Makes People Fat

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
958 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Dieting Makes People Fat
Changing Your Shape Means Changing Your Life

Obesity has become an epidemic in this country, along with most other countries throughout the civilized world. As such, an industry was born to cater to the population which it effects. Weight loss is estimated to be a $40 billion industry, whose executives would be most unhappy if people really did lose weight. If their diet plans worked, we would surely have a population of fit, healthy, and slim women; and the industry would be self-terminating. It would have served its purpose. Instead, we have two and six week diet plans which help women to lose a small amount of weight (usually less than 10 pounds) to soon regain it with even more. This is actually part of the business plan, for the money of this industry is made from people being unhealthy, and miserably staying that way. Diet products fail because that is part of their design, just as the medical industry has no cures for its cash cows, and will make certain that it never does. There is no money to be made from healthy people. Meanwhile, surgery-enhanced celebrities create a facade of how women should look.

The western world has adopted an unhealthy approach to eating, which would have been considered gluttonous in the not-so-distant past. We pay little attention to the amount that we eat, and often stare at entertainment throughout our meals; neglecting meaningful interaction with others. The great irony is that we are overweight as a nation because we are starving for nutrition. We are deficient of magnesium, the B vitamins, Vitamin D, and almost every trace mineral, due to our synthetic fertilizers having depleted the soils, and our chemically "refined" foods. Our foods are so deficient that the more we eat, the hungrier we tend to become, as our bodies struggle to make use of the empty calories. It is like the case of the early American settlers, who lived on a diet of corn. A huge portion of those settlers died of starvation and

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    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.…

    • 338 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    These days it’s hard to turn on the television or surf the internet, and not be bombarded with a celebrity sponsored commercials, or the many pop up advertisement advertising how one can lose 20 – 30 pounds in a matter of weeks. The manufactures of these products would love for us to believe it’s as simple as taking a pill, or participating in one of the many new fad diets. But if it were as simple as swallowing pill or just dieting then why has the obesity rate in the United States almost quadrupled in the past quarter century (Meich, et al)? It’s because the main problems like poor family support and influence, and the living of sedentary lifestyle can’t be corrected by ingesting a pill.…

    • 1196 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    The United States has been a country known for its marketing and now it is known as the most obese country in the world. People have been consuming tons of unhealthy food and have decreased the amount of usage of the gyms. The epidemic of obesity is increasing through America because of fast food that is ingested daily as well as the lack of exercise. Through the years portion sizes have increased and have gotten cheaper than fresh foods. Thin people used to be America’s overweight society but now weight has extremely increased and has led into having unhealthy lifestyles. In the 1970s Americans would only prepare home cooked meals furthermore they would walk each day which would complete their daily exercises. Through the years obesity has…

    • 1858 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Rough Draft

    • 908 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Why are people in America overweight? It could be hereditary or a bad way of living one thing is true obesity is a very big problem. Many people feel that being overweight is a dead end and they either don’t know the proper way to start a weight loss program or are not motivated enough to even want to try. Whichever category you fall in some people do not do anything until they eventually die. Being overweight is a very big concern. “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that more than one-third of U.S. adults (35.7%) are obese”. “Obesity now affects 17% of all children and adolescents in the United States - triple the rate from just one generation ago”. Being overweight also comes with a lot of health problems such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer.…

    • 908 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Best Essays

    Americas Obesity Epidemic

    • 1953 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Everyone wants to know a reason for the obesity epidemic, and now answers are appearing. Many reasons for this epidemic are due to present day generations, as well as American lifestyles. Fast food has not only come to dominate the American landscape, it has become the most visible American export around the globe (Down to Earth). Cheap and convenient food, busy work lives, and social lives, as well as a constant barrage from media sources have over-loaded Americans are all having a detrimental effect on people’s mental and physical health (Thompson). Due to busy lifestyles and laziness throughout America, people have found it easier to go through a drive-thru rather than take the time to go home and make a healthier meal for themselves. Weight gain and obesity are caused by consuming more calories than the body needs (“Obesity in America”). Genetic determinations, such as the way a body expends energy, hormones, which affect the way that calories are processed, and other organ systems in the body can all affect appetite (“Obesity in America”). Obesity is a disease that takes time to cure, but people will need to have determination to find a cure and also the understanding and knowing the cure will not come fast or easy. Thus, due to all these causes of obesity, America is in an epidemic that needs to be solved sooner than later.…

    • 1953 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    The main issue with people who are looking to lose weight is that everyone wants that quick fix. They don’t want to do the hard work of completely altering their lifestyle in order to get fit and obtain a healthy weight but rather want something to do that for them without having to exercise or change the way they eat. The problem with that is that there is no quick fix that is permanent. Sure there are plenty of “diets” or meal plans out there such as South Beach, Weight Watchers, Advocare, Herbalife, and the list goes on and on, but they don’t always keep the weight off and often focus on losing weight but not how to then maintain the weight lost. They’re low in calories often and typically eliminate one specific thing rather than using smaller portions which is what is most effective. What’s difficult about restrictive diets is that it can hurt more than help. It can slow down your metabolism and many people are often misinformed on this and become confused when even though they’re eating less they’re still gaining or not losing any weight. Another issue with a quick fix is that of a more dramatic choice such as bariatric surgery. Although I do believe it can be life-saving as it brings down high blood pressure and can significantly help with diabetes, it is surgery and has its risks. There is a risk of 1 in 300 for death not to mention the many side effects that someone could go through during recovery. Also, there are people who get this procedure done and don’t make the lifestyle changes needed such as exercising and a healthier diet which causes them to gain the weight back. Exercise is a tool that should be used by people of all ages, weight, and goals to stay healthy. At least 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic activity should happen a week and at least twice a week some form of muscle strengthening exercise should be done. An interesting point mentioned was that of weight gained at work. Some occupations often lead…

    • 710 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Within the last few years, obesity has become the number one health risk in America. “For the first time ever, overweight people outnumber average people in America. Doesn't that make overweight the average then? Last month you were fat, now you're average - hey, let's get a pizza!” jokes comedian Jay Leno (Jay Leno Quotes). Although he isn’t quite right with his statement, a large percentage of Americans are at least 30 percent over the ideal weight for a certain height. People are getting fatter and fatter because we don’t exercise as much as we used to. Technology has made it easier to do things so we move less. And with a fast food joint everywhere you look it is hard to pass one buy without grabbing a quick, cheap meal. Fast food restaurants also make you think you are getting more bang for your buck by upgrading to a super size for only $.50 more. Obesity is a problem because it causes many health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and even strokes. These are all reasons why America is one of the fattest countries in the world.…

    • 1110 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Obesity Epidemic Analysis

    • 1572 Words
    • 7 Pages

    As technology grows, so does the percent of obese population. For hundreds of years, lack of food had been the demise of millions, now obesity is considered a public health crisis, and only for the past couple of decades. Only after technological advances in the 18th century did people start to have a more readily available source of sustenance. At the time, these advances helped people to live longer, and to have better nutrition. Unfortunately, over time this was not found to be the case. Big advances to agricultural technology like the Reaper, pesticides, and even larger corporations like Monsanto have been proven to produce more food than needed, and on top of this, most of the food produced by these corporations get processed into something unhealthy via large industrial machines. "The initial effect of these advances in improved public health and amount, quality, and variety of food was increased longevity and body size. These early favorable outcomes of technological advances notwithstanding, their incremental effect since the Second World War has been an overabundance of easily accessible food, coupled with reduced physical activity, that accounts for the recent increased prevalence of obesity,"(Eknoyan n.Pg.) says Garabed Eknoyan of Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. He is an editor for the Advances in Chronic Kidney Disease, and published an article on the…

    • 1572 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Obesity in America is now the second leading cause of preventable death (Courtemanche, 2009). The numbers are quite real and frankly very concerning. Some 50 million are obese and 300,000 die from health related issues, linked to obesity, every year (Rubinstein, 2003). “The past twenty years, the United States has experienced an unprecedented rise in its residents body weight, 1980 fewer than 47% were overweight now more than 60% are and 27% are obese” (Oliver & Lee, 2005). Type 2 diabetes, once never present in children, is now on an incline. What has happened in society that has brought about this change and is it merely the result of one factor or many? Obesity is now a very real concern for American families because of processed foods, technology, and face-paced lives.…

    • 1702 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Obesity in America

    • 990 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Throughout everyone’s existence regardless of the number of times, society has always faced some type of issue. Whether it’s big or small, personal or global, everyone constantly comes across obstacles throughout time. In today’s world we are continuously facing many issues, some with easy solutions others hard to solve. Global warming, governmental spending, health problems, etc are just some of the few types of issues we are facing in today’s society. In my opinion I believe that one of the many difficult problems that we are now encountering is the rapid increase rate of obesity. Now a day the intake of fatty foods and high calories by American citizens is spinning out of control. People are not being cautious of what they eat therefore the rate of their health is on a rise for the worst. Obesity is not a stranger in the USA; however by the rate the consumption is being done, it’s not only becoming a major problem but more like a problem without a steady solution.…

    • 990 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Technological advancements made it possible to find ways to produce food in mass quantities. The world has developed a lot, and people are always working. Food is made to please people and what they feel like eating and because of it many people are obese. As the article “Obesity in America” states that people are, “Living a life on the go, eating…

    • 901 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Obesity claims the lives of one-third of adults and seventeen percent of children in the United States of America. (Solutions for Obesity). Those numbers are too high; but why are they higher than 185 other countries in the world? The United States is known around the world for being an obese country when people travel to the United States from other countries they are mind boggled by the portion sizes of American food. What foreigners also find crazy is how unhealthy America’s foods are; so why do it’s citizens not find it crazy? Are Americans aware of how large and unhealthy their food is? While Obesity is not technically the number one cause of death in the United States, heart disease is, which is closely tied to obesity and often times…

    • 790 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    I’ve done some research on this topic and I came across an article titled “Why We're So Fat: What's Behind the Latest Obesity Rates” and I read that in 1990 not one state in the U.S had an obesity rate greater than 14 percent! The article also says that ten years later more than 20 states where reporting obesity rates between 20 to 24 percent. And in 2010 more than 10 states reported an obesity rate greater than 30 percent. Walter Willett, who chairs the department of nutrition in Harvard School of public health, was quoted in the article and he said "There is no single, simple answer to explain the obesity patterns. Part of this is due to lower incomes and education, which result in purchases of cheap foods that are high in refined starch and sugar. More deeply, this also reflects lower public investment in education, public transportation, and recreational facilities," Cheap, unhealthy foods mixed with a lazy lifestyle has made obesity the new normal in America, and it makes it difficult to change it.…

    • 385 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    America is one of the richest, most technologically advanced and powerful country in the world, but it is known as home to the most obese population in the world. WHY? Is it because of the lack of personal responsibility, the fast food industry, or the government involvement? All fours authors, Radley Balko, Yves Engler, Eric Schlosser, and Dr. Richard H. Carmona express their own point of view about their ideas on the causes of obesity? They all believe that the cause is due to the lack of responsibility people put in for themselves and their families, especially their children.…

    • 1673 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    American Diet

    • 845 Words
    • 4 Pages

    In order to understand why obesity is so prevalent in America today, the average diet of American citizens must be taken into account. According to data provided by The United States Department of Agriculture, Americans today consume too much red meat and sugar and too little vegetables and carbohydrates (grains). Because we consume so much red meat, which is high in saturated fat, calories and cholesterol, our diets are inherently riddled with fat and calories. Our sugar consumption also is a glaring issue. By consuming far more simple carbohydrates than we need from sugar, Americans are providing themselves with empty calories that spike blood glucose. This is compounded with the fact that the average American diet lacks proper consumption of complex carbohydrates, which come from whole grains and wheat…

    • 845 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics