Essay on Obesity in America - 1221 Words

Obesity in the United States continues growing alarmingly. Approximately 66 % of adults and 33 % of children and teenagers in the US are overweight. Obesity is the result of fat accumulated over time due to the lack of a balanced diet and exercise. An adult with a BMI (body mass index) higher than thirty percent is considered obese (Whitney Rolfes, 2011, pg. 271). Causes of Obesity According to the USDA, at the start of century 21st American people have increased their daily caloric intake by consuming five hundred calories more than in 1970. As cited by Whitney Rolfes (2011), there are many recognized causes of obesity such as genetics, environment, culture, socioeconomic, and metabolism among others; but the cause most evident†¦show more content†¦The data collected from a survey performed by the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System regarding time, frequency and proportion of exercise reports that 58.1% of the interviewees were considered physically inactive; 29.8 % concluded with not having time for exercising. Besides, the statistics showed that there was not much difference between genders as it was almost the same percentage of passive lifestyle; however, there were differences when considering race and age (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2010). Consequences of Obesity According to the Endocrine Society webpage, obesity is an enormous concern in the United States and it is related with diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension. People with obesity have a higher risk of suffering a heart attack, abrupt cardiac death, angina, and cardiac arrhythmia than those that have a healthy body. Fat accumulation promotes higher levels of triglycerides and bad-cholesterol, and reduces the level of good cholesterol. Other potential health problems for obese people could be a stroke incident or renal failure. In the same way, overweight is a characteristic of young women diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, hormonal dysfunction, and infertility. Furthermore, most of the people with diabetes (Type 2) are obese. The National Health and NutritionShow MoreRelatedObesity in America909 Words   |  4 Pages When discussing the issue of obesity in America, it seems to be that there is plenty of blame to go around and most o f that blame falls on fast food companies. When searching for a concrete answer to the question used as my title, you will find none because there isn’t one. When asked this simple question, it is easy to blame the obesity problem on fast food considering 8 out of 10 Americans consume fast food according to a report done by the Huffington Post. But after doing more research you willRead MoreObesity in America787 Words   |  4 PagesGood news! We’re Number 2! As declared by a 2013 report from the U.N., America has only the second highest obesity rate in the world at 31.8%, second to Mexico with an obesity rate of 32.8%. America has held on to the title of most obese country for over 60 years. From 13% obesity in 1962, estimates have steadily increased right up to 2013’s 32.8%. This may sound like good news, but the harsh truth is that America didn’t reach the number 2 spot through sweeping diet changes or social conscienceRead MoreObesity in America909 Words   |  4 PagesObesity in America In the United States of America, there is a current epidemic of obesity throughout the country. Every age group is affected by this unfortunate trend. Even children are not immune to the national obesity problem. For a country that has an abundance of job opportunities, educational opportunities, and financial opportunities, it is a sad statement of fact that far too many people are tipping the scales in unhealthy ways. It is a fact that a disproportionate amount of the nationsRead MoreObesity : America s Obesity1204 Words   |  5 PagesDraft Obesity in America How many times a week do you go out to McDonald s or Taco Bell for dinner? If you go more than once or twice a week then you really need to look at your diet and how healthy your lifestyle is. America is having a huge obesity crisis, too many Americans just don’t care about how much they weigh or unhealthy their lifestyle is. From the advertisement of the fast food companies, to people not being able to afford healthier foods, and people just being plain lazy, America hasRead MoreObesity in America2116 Words   |  9 PagesENG 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 CenterRead MoreObesity in America2898 Words   |  12 PagesIn the United States today, obesity has become an enormous problem. In the last 3 decades, the number of people overweight has increased dramatically. A study done by the Centers of Disease Control showed that since 1980, one third of our adult population has become overweight. America is the richest but also the fattest nation in the world and our obese backsides are the butt of jokes in every other country (Klein 28). The 1980s were a time when Americans suddenly started going crazy over dietingRead MoreObesity in America995 Words   |  4 PagesFences Essay 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 foundationRead MoreObesity in America Essay1285 Words   |  6 Pagesa long time, obesity has been one of the notable health concerns that America has struggled with during the last five decades .Obesity as a health concern is not limited to America alone, it is a serious concern among other affluent societies like European countries. A considerable number of Americans spend a significant amount of money trying to lose weight. Obesity become an important focus in the news items during the year 2002.According t o research findings, the rate of obesity among the AmericanRead MoreEssay On Obesity In America955 Words   |  4 PagesObesity in America Over the years the obesity rate in America has increased significantly. From 1990 to 2016, the average percentage of obese adults increased from 11.1% to 29.8%. The escalating obesity rate in America has made obesity prevention one of the top public health priorities. Being overweight has become the new normal in America. Obesity is caused by eating too much and moving too little, depression, and the input of social media. A lot of people wonder why we are so concerned aboutRead MoreThe Problem of Obesity in America840 Words   |  3 PagesObesity: one of the nation’s most critical health problems. â€Å"Overweight is defined as having excess body weight for a particular height from fat, muscle, bone, water, or a combination of these factors. Obesity is defined as having excess body fat† (â€Å"Centers for Disease Control and Prevention†). When energy input and output get out of balance, obesity arises. Many factors can cause someone to become obese such as genetics, metabolism, level of physical activity, and more. â€Å"Overweight and obesity