The Obesity Epidemic
Vanessa Busse
English Composition 101
Instructor Delano
November 16, 2014
The Obesity Epidemic Two-thirds of people in the United States are overweight or obese; about a third of adults – more than 72 million – are obese, which is roughly 30 pounds over a healthy weight (Hellmich 60). Obesity can be defined as, “A condition in which an individual has a high percentage of body fat. A person is considered obese if he or she has a BMI [body mass index] of 30 or higher. A BMI of 40 or more, or 100 pounds (45 kg) over average weight, is termed morbid obesity. This condition is considered medically disabling and likely to shorten life expectancy” (Murphy 104). According to the CDC website, “Research has shown that as weight increases to reach the levels referred to as ‘overweight’ and ‘obesity’, the risks for the following also increase: Coronary heart disease, type two diabetes, cancers, hypertension, stroke, liver and gallbladder disease, sleep apnea and many other health problems” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). From fast food sales increasing tremendously, families being overweight, and portion sizes exceeding serving sizes, we can see why obesity is such a huge problem for Americans.
The need for fast, reliable, affordable, and convenient food, along with an increasing acceptance among Americans of a more homogenous culture, led to the rise of the fast food industry (Woloson 71). “Americans eat fewer meals at home than they once did. Fast-food restaurants are very effective at promoting the convenience and dollar value of their offerings” (Murphy 59). “Annual sales of fast food in the United States have grown from about $6 billion in the late 1970s to more than $140 billion in the twenty-first century” (Murphy 59). In 1996, 7% of the population ate at the 11,400 McDonald 's each day in the United States (Woloson 74). It’s easier for people to “grab and go”. Meaning that many families have after school activities like soccer practice or trumpet
English Composition 101
Instructor Delano
November 16, 2014
The Obesity Epidemic Two-thirds of people in the United States are overweight or obese; about a third of adults – more than 72 million – are obese, which is roughly 30 pounds over a healthy weight (Hellmich 60). Obesity can be defined as, “A condition in which an individual has a high percentage of body fat. A person is considered obese if he or she has a BMI [body mass index] of 30 or higher. A BMI of 40 or more, or 100 pounds (45 kg) over average weight, is termed morbid obesity. This condition is considered medically disabling and likely to shorten life expectancy” (Murphy 104). According to the CDC website, “Research has shown that as weight increases to reach the levels referred to as ‘overweight’ and ‘obesity’, the risks for the following also increase: Coronary heart disease, type two diabetes, cancers, hypertension, stroke, liver and gallbladder disease, sleep apnea and many other health problems” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). From fast food sales increasing tremendously, families being overweight, and portion sizes exceeding serving sizes, we can see why obesity is such a huge problem for Americans.
The need for fast, reliable, affordable, and convenient food, along with an increasing acceptance among Americans of a more homogenous culture, led to the rise of the fast food industry (Woloson 71). “Americans eat fewer meals at home than they once did. Fast-food restaurants are very effective at promoting the convenience and dollar value of their offerings” (Murphy 59). “Annual sales of fast food in the United States have grown from about $6 billion in the late 1970s to more than $140 billion in the twenty-first century” (Murphy 59). In 1996, 7% of the population ate at the 11,400 McDonald 's each day in the United States (Woloson 74). It’s easier for people to “grab and go”. Meaning that many families have after school activities like soccer practice or trumpet
Cited: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 27 April 2012. Web site. 2 November 2014. Gilbert, Anne. "Film Reviews: "Super Size Me"." Cineaste - America 's Leading Magazine on the Art and Politics of the Cinema Fall 2004: 47-9. ProQuest. Web. 16 Nov. 2014. Glaser, Jason. Obesity. Mankato, Minn.: Capstone Press, 2007. Murphy, Wendy B. Obesity. Minneapolis, MN: Twenty-First Century Books, 2012. Murphy, Wendy, and Nanci Hellmich. Obesity. Minneapolis: Twenty-First Century, 2012. Print. "Super Size Me." VideoHound 's Golden Movie Retriever. Ed. Jim Craddock. 2011 ed. Detroit: Gale, 2011. 990. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 16 Nov. 2014. Wadden, Thomas A., Kelly D. Brownell, and Gary D. Foster. "Obesity: Responding to the Global Epidemic." Journal of consulting and clinical psychology 70.3 (2002): 510-25. ProQuest. Web. 16 Nov. 2014. Woloson, Wendy. "Fast Food." St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture. Ed. Sara Pendergast and Tom Pendergast. Vol. 2. Detroit: St. James Press, 2000. 71-74. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 16 Nov. 2014.