Obesity In America Essay

Quinn Johnson

Mr. Griner

College Comp. 2

April 17th

Obesity Rates In America

Obesity rates in America are very high (around one-third of the current population) and are only heading upward every year. Obesity leads to many health issues. Some of these health issues include heart disease, strokes, and even diabetes. Some factors/reasons why America has a very high obesity rate is due to food deserts, overpriced healthy food, large increases in portion sizes, and a lack of physical education. However many argue that obesity isn’t as simple to fix as said and has no simple solution.

Food deserts are normally located in poor/low-income areas that aren’t given the same transportation and lack access to affordable and healthy foods. Food deserts

Unhealthy foods are more accessible than healthy food alternatives, people with limited finances could decide to choose cheaper foods and foods that are frequently heavy in calories, sugar, and fat. Consuming these unhealthy foods as most of America does is what is resulting in weight gain and rising obesity rates. Also, those who live in low-income neighborhoods often don’t have access to inexpensive, healthy food options like fresh fruits and vegetables and are instead given only a small selection of fast food restaurants and grocery stores that mainly only sell processed and very unhealthy food. “Low-income groups tend to rely on foods that are cheap and convenient to access but are often low in nutrients. Fresh fruits and vegetables and other healthier items are often more expensive at convenience stores and small food markets than in larger chain supermarkets and grocery stores” (health.gov). As a result, expensive healthy food options and a lack of access to healthy food options may influence people to make bad eating decisions, which is one factor that is contributing to the obesity rates in

One factor that's affecting this that is becoming a bigger factor every year is the portion sizes of meals in America. Over the last couple of years, it has been easy to notice a price and portion size increase in mainly fast food restaurants causing people to just keep eating more and more. “Food portions in America's restaurants have doubled or tripled over the last 20 years, a key factor that is contributing to a potentially devastating increase in obesity among children and adults” (nhlbi.nih.gov). If these portion sizes were like they were twenty years ago there is a good chance people wouldn’t be eating as much processed foods as they are around America