Preview

Causes Of Obesity In America Essay

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1571 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Causes Of Obesity In America Essay
America has a problem. A weight problem. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claims that, just under one-third of American adults are classified as obese (Adult Obesity Causes). Our culture has steadily progressed towards the group of people we are presently who over-book themselves and reserve too little time for other things. This is where fast food and the whole “western diet” comes into play. The result of this lifestyle, which has been steadily shaped over time, is that America now stands as the tenth most obese nation in the world (Top 10). For being the wealthiest and most powerful country in the world this is very bizarre. Out of all the countries with higher obesity percentages than America, none of them are nearly as fortunate or capable of having a healthy lifestyle. Plentiful amounts of gyms and other resources one could use to lose weight are readily available but, somehow thirty-one percent of us are obese (Top 10). This should not be the case, for such a predominant nation. With the hope of gaining a better understanding of obesity and combat it much more effectively the learning of the causes, consequences of obesity and treatments available for obese individuals must be examined.
There are a variety of ways one can become obese including but not limiting to, dietary, exercise, genetic and environmental reasons. For example, “about
…show more content…
Social problems are also very common in obese people and even more so in children. One of the more renown characteristic is lowered self-esteem which can translate into poor academic performance and depression for not fitting in (The Emotional Toll). This is a more frequently seen in youth rather than adults because the children tend to be rejected by their peers and not fit in very well with their thinner classmates. Not only must these people cope with the physical problems presented by obesity but also psychological difficulties and social setbacks that result as

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    America - Land of the Free, home of the obese? As our country wages war against terrorism overseas, another domestic battle is taking place: the battle against fat. At the turn of the millennium, an estimated 64 percent of American adults were either overweight or obese (CDC). This unsettling statistic reveals the fact that the United States' proud citizens have trouble digesting, that we are the fattest country on the planet. In today's society, technological advances allow us to go about daily life with the least possible amount of physical exertion. Combine that with an infinite supply of cheap, delicious, and high-calorie food and it adds up to a problem of "supersized" proportion. It became official in 2000 when U.S. Surgeon General David…

    • 2646 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Obesity in America

    • 995 Words
    • 4 Pages

    As humans we all have certain motivations behind every action that we exhibit. This is called a hierarchy of needs, and in 1943 a scientist by the name of Abraham Maslow theorized it. When he discovered this characteristic of the human body, he came out with an organized chart, or pyramid. His pyramid showed five different levels, Basic needs, Safety, Love and Belonging, Self esteem, and Self-Actualization. Basically he created a blueprint for life. First you have to lay your foundation with your basic needs, then when you have those you add on safety and so on and son, until you get to Self-Actualization. Once you’ve reached the top, you’ve made it. But it is also saying that life is life and you can not do anything about that. Like in August Wilson’s play Fences when he says “You got to take the crooked with the straights” he is saying that in life, not only do you have to deal with and learn the easy stuff, but you also have to adjust and learn the hard things.…

    • 995 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Obesity is an epidemic in America. It has had an alarmingly growing prevalence rate since the 1960’s: almost 34% for adults alone. The percentage of children aged 6–11 years in the United States who were obese increased from 7% in 1980 to nearly 18% in 2010 and rising yearly. Obesity occurs across all socioeconomic groups regardless of race, gender and age. Studies do show that obesity occurs in America’s minority and ethnic populations at slightly higher rates, 25% more than white Americans. According to the centers for disease control and prevention (CDC), an alarming 1/3 of U.S adults are obese. Another 1/3 is overweight, leaving 68.8 percent of the total population of the United States overweight or obese! No state met the nation 's Healthy People 2010 goal to lower obesity prevalence to 15%. Rather, in 2010, there were 12 states with an obesity prevalence of 30%. A person is considered obese if he or she has a BMI of 30 or higher, which is a weight of at least 20% more than the maximum healthy weight for his or her height. To be considered overweight he or she must have a BMI of 25-29.…

    • 2502 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Obesity in America

    • 842 Words
    • 4 Pages

    I think this source can help me because it talks about several different factors that help to contribute to the obesity problem. It refers to the intake of higher calories. It also suggests that genetics can be a problem too. This article suggests interventions to help stop childhood obesity is a good step forward. The top intervention programs usually take place at school and works on having a lot of physical activity. The main problem to these programs are having is finding funding and having the obese children participate in them. This article believes that obesity can be tackled by education, prevention and physical activity. I could use his article to help talk about the problems that are causing obesity and what we have to do to help prevent and fix this problem.…

    • 842 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Obesity is an issue in America, that is impossible to overlook. Americans have always pursued lavish over dull. If an individual wants to be strong or in shape, he or she goes to the gym, educated to school, and if someone wants to be healthy then that means eating well. He or she must take the time to eat and drink well. America is a busy world, and fast food is at every corner to help hard working people save time and money. Does it save time? Yes it does. Does it save money? Not in the long run, with health care for themselves or family members. Of course America is also has a, “blame someone else,” mentality. Responsibility to oneself is lacking tremendously. When it comes to obesity, it's usually the, “its genetic,” or, “I'm big boned.”…

    • 235 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Obesity in America

    • 493 Words
    • 2 Pages

    “If health is wealth Americans are going bankrupt.” We are very fat. In fact we are among the fattest nations in the whole world. In a recent study, 52 percent of Americans (that were polled) believed doing their taxes was easier than figuring out how to eat healthy. Over 10 billion donuts are consumed in the US every year and ⅔ of us are overweight. But why Americans? Why not China or South America? Here’s why.…

    • 493 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    America is the red, the blue, and the white. We are a great nation with amazing abilities to influence the world. However in the recent years, obesity has increased drastically. Over one third of America’s population is obese. (Go Red Flag) In fact, obesity is starting to take over America, but it needs to come to an end. Obesity can lead to many health problems. For example, type two diabetes can be caused from being overweight. Strokes and breast cancer are also possible health problems caused from being obese. Obesity in America needs to be dealt with because it could possibly lead to type two diabetes, strokes, or breast cancer.…

    • 1047 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Obesity in America

    • 1811 Words
    • 8 Pages

    In todays’ society, especially in America, obesity has become an epidemic of all sorts. In every state in the U.S., at least 20% of the population is obese. More and more people are dying due to heart related problems, and more people are becoming ok with being “big boned”. This is a huge problem for all of America and is becoming increasingly worse.…

    • 1811 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Obesity in America

    • 739 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Have you ever stood in front of a refrigerator that holds a slice of cake or a tub of ice-cream and your hand reaches out to get it even as your mind is screaming, "Don’t do this"! Although millions of Americans are overweight, eating a healthy diet will eliminate the obesity problem in America. Eating poorly or well can make a big difference on both the physical and mental aspects of your body. All in all, understanding what causes food cravings and learning to control them, as well as learning how to lose weight by means of a healthy diet can help anyone avoid becoming obese. Therefore, the result of choosing healthier foods will decrease the obesity rate and ultimately increase the rate of people who will have less medical expenses and be able to maintain a more active lifestyle.…

    • 739 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Obesity In America

    • 402 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In recent decades, the shift of eating practices has changed considerably due to the overwhelming popularity of fast food. Mirriam Webster’s Dictionary defines fast food “relating to, or specializing in food that can be prepared and served quickly” and is also supported with “little consideration given to quality or significance.” The readiness of these meals allows consumers to go about other matters, thus becoming a desirable option when time is under question. While there are many benefits to fast foods, awareness of consumption of such foods is alerting health professionals as unhealthy practices are directly linked to obesity and diseases like diabetes. In recent years there are reports of people filing lawsuits against fast food corporations claiming…

    • 402 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Obesity In America

    • 2002 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Obesity in America is not new and in many cases, obesity tends to strike younger aged children. Obesity among young children often starts from unhealthy eating habits. What parents put on their children’s plate is significant and essential to their health. It is important to develop healthy eating habits when a child is young so that those skills can stick with them throughout their lifetime. Unfortunately, obesity in America is out of hand and the problem is only getting worse. There are health issues associated with obesity such as cancer, heart disease, and even diabetes. It is important to stop the problem while people are young so that these health risks are limited and not life threatening. For many years, schools have been trying to…

    • 2002 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Obesity In America

    • 1099 Words
    • 5 Pages

    One in every three children in the United States is overweight or obese. (Solving Obesity 3) Childhood obesity has always been a problem in the United States, and continues to be a factor in the lives of many young children. This happens in many other countries around the world, but tends to be much more prominent inside the United States. The growing obesity in children is posing serious problems to their health, and will affect them for the rest of their lives. This leads to having one third of all children be predicted to develop diabetes in their lifetime. (Solving Obesity 3) This problem could no longer be ignored, it is ruining the lives of americas children and…

    • 1099 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Obesity In America Essay

    • 1797 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Obesity has been defined as a condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to an extent that health may be adversely affected. The classification of overweight and obesity allows the identification of individuals and groups at increased risk of morbidity and premature mortality.…

    • 1797 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Obesity in America

    • 3126 Words
    • 13 Pages

    Obesity in America is an ever-growing problem each day. As of 2011, The United States of America has the highest obesity rate of any other country of the world. What is obesity? Obesity is defined as “a condition characterized by the excessive accumulation and storage of fat in the body” (Webster). Excess obesity usually begins to have negative affects on the body and often causes health complications. The obesity rate in America has been on the rise for many years and will continue to only get worse if Americans do not take action immediately. Jeff Levi, Ph.D., executive director of TFAH said “Today, the state with the lowest obesity rate would have had the highest rate in 1995.” This is a fact that is not easy to hear and even harder to disprove (Levi). Based on polls taken in 2008, more than 50% of 4,000 people that took part in a poll said that they would give up a year of their lives if it meant they would no longer be obese. The same poll also gathered researched that shows the increasing weight of passengers on planes. Airlines have had to spend almost three hundred million on extra fuel to compensate for the massive growth in weight and size of passengers (Heather).…

    • 3126 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Over eighty million people are overweight and the number of obese or overweight people is increasing drastically every year. There are many overwhelming factors that contribute to obesity. Some of the factors include poor diet, genetics and medical issues. Not only is obesity on the rise, it is the number one leader of heart attacks. But, what is obesity? According to the Obesity Society (2014), obesity is one of the most pervasive chronic diseases and is the leading cause in mortality morbidity, disability, and other health issues. By identifying the factors you maybe able to prevent obesity.…

    • 649 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics