Obesity in America
ENG 101 SL1
26 June, 2006
Obesity in America
Obesity in America is a continually growing problem and even worse our own children are sharing in this problem. A commentary in the Washington Times reports that sixty million Americans are obese. What really is the meaning of obese? Obese is having a body mass index of thirty percent or more. In recent years, the percentage of obese Americans has risen. In the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics, the percentage of obese Americans rose from 22.9 in 1984-1994 to 32.2 in 2003 and 2004. The study also says if you throw in the number of "over weight" Americans (body mass index of 25 to 29.9) the total jumps to 66.3 percent of all Americans (Alfred A18). Why are we steadily becoming heavier as a nation, primarily because of our eating habits, genetic and metabolic causes and an excess of inactivity. As more and more people of our nation deal with obesity, they also have to deal with major health problems such as high blood pressure, heart attack and Type II diabetes that all stem from being obese.
Initially, the eating habits we have started all the way back in our mother's womb says an ABC News broadcast of "A Closer Look." The food the mother eats has some effect on the taste and smells in the amniotic fluids to a seven month old fetus. By age two, they have already developed some of our eating preferences. This means the more fatty foods we feed our children when they are young, the more they will depend on them as an adult. Our eating habits also have come from our fast-paced lifestyles which include the availability of the fast food restaurants. Having twenty-four hour a day, seven day a week access to these ready to eat meals have caused us to leave the kitchen and the more nutritious meals behind. Having the high calorie and large portions of fast food at a low price ready when ever and where we are is of course very tempting. It
26 June, 2006
Obesity in America
Obesity in America is a continually growing problem and even worse our own children are sharing in this problem. A commentary in the Washington Times reports that sixty million Americans are obese. What really is the meaning of obese? Obese is having a body mass index of thirty percent or more. In recent years, the percentage of obese Americans has risen. In the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics, the percentage of obese Americans rose from 22.9 in 1984-1994 to 32.2 in 2003 and 2004. The study also says if you throw in the number of "over weight" Americans (body mass index of 25 to 29.9) the total jumps to 66.3 percent of all Americans (Alfred A18). Why are we steadily becoming heavier as a nation, primarily because of our eating habits, genetic and metabolic causes and an excess of inactivity. As more and more people of our nation deal with obesity, they also have to deal with major health problems such as high blood pressure, heart attack and Type II diabetes that all stem from being obese.
Initially, the eating habits we have started all the way back in our mother's womb says an ABC News broadcast of "A Closer Look." The food the mother eats has some effect on the taste and smells in the amniotic fluids to a seven month old fetus. By age two, they have already developed some of our eating preferences. This means the more fatty foods we feed our children when they are young, the more they will depend on them as an adult. Our eating habits also have come from our fast-paced lifestyles which include the availability of the fast food restaurants. Having twenty-four hour a day, seven day a week access to these ready to eat meals have caused us to leave the kitchen and the more nutritious meals behind. Having the high calorie and large portions of fast food at a low price ready when ever and where we are is of course very tempting. It
Cited: Friedman, Emily. "Wisconsin Drops Ball on Physical Education", University Wire, January 31, 2005. Column, Badger Herald; source: U. Wisconsin, Madison, Wis. Myocardial Infarction (heart attack) Yorkshire Post, April 10, 2006 Tella, Alfred. "Obesity Times Influx", Washington Times, May 17, 2006. Commentary pg. A18