Obesity

Fit or Fat? Do we have a choice? According to a National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, one-third of the United States diet consists of junk or fast food (Allison). Obesity is the “abnormal accumulation of body fat, usually twenty percent or more over an individual 's ideal body weight” (Greenblatt). Obesity is becoming an overwhelming epidemic in America. It is more prevalent in African Americans, American-Indians, and children (Richards). In fact, nearly two out of three Americans are overweight or obese and the number of overweight children has tripled over the last twenty years (Greenblatt). Due to obesity, there are many deaths or life threatening effects in America. According to Greenblatt, individuals who are obese have a 50 to 100 percent increased risk of premature death from all causes, compared to those with a healthy weight. Moreover, they discovered that about one of every eight deaths in America is caused by an illness started by obesity (Allison). A stronger focus on solutions is vital in controlling the obesity epidemic. Rather than taking the easy way out by buying cheap fast food, people need to be taught how to save their money and recognize the negative effects of vast fast food intake. Allison, Fontaine, and Manson used data from numerous studies to estimate the number of deaths attributable to obesity in the United States on an annual basis. Their studies reveal that in 1991, the “average deaths due to obesity equaled 324,940; but, after controlling preexisting disease, deaths equaled 374,239” (Allison). This epidemic causes many health issues; including, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, type two diabetes, heart disease, stroke, some types of cancer, depression, and poor female reproductive health (Greenbatt). Americans can see this first hand through the documentary “Supersize Me.” Morgan Spurlock decided to go on a thirty-day eating plan where he ate fast food for three meals a day and upon asking if he would

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