Healthful Eating

Did you know that Blacks had a 51 % higher prevalence of obesity, and Hispanics had a 21 % higher prevalence to obesity than whites do? Overweight and obesity exists in America today, and has become a significant health problem because of the increased lack of knowledge surrounding proper diet, economics, and physical activity. These factors make obesity a complex health issues to address in which behavior, environment, genetic factors, and social and health economics may have an effect in causing people to be overweight and obese.
American society has become ‘obesogenic,’ characterized by environments that promote increased food intake, nonhealthful foods [sic], and physical inactivity. Policy and environmental change initiatives that make healthy choices in nutrition and physical activity available, affordable, and easy will likely prove most effective in combating obesity (Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] (2009), Overweight and Obesity, Para 1).
    Overweight is a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or higher; and obesity is a BMI of 30 or higher. Overweight and obesity is an energy imbalance that occurs from eating to many calories without acquiring enough physical activity. Body weight is the results of one’s genetic genes, metabolism, behavior, culture, and socioeconomic status. Genetics and environment can increase the risk of weight gain. However, the personal decisions one makes in proper eating and physical activity can also contribute to becoming obese. Balancing calories and food intake by 150 calories a day, along with physical activity can double weight loss, for example; a large and small chocolate chip cookie is about 200 calories and equals to about 40 minutes of physical activity. The recommendation is that Americans need at least 30 minutes of physical activity several days a week. Many people make decisions based on their surroundings, environment, and community. For example, depending on the distance of a store, Laundromat, Currency... [continues]

Read full essay