One of the most common disorders amongst Americans is obesity- or, known as a disorder involving excessive body fat. It's prevalence is caused firstly by genetics that some may inherit, secondly by poor diets that some Americans may choose and lastly due to the lack of physical activity. Based on the statistics provided by the "National Institution of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases", more than two-thirds of adults are considered obese and of that more than one and twenty have extreme obesity. Obesity accounts for five to seven percent of national health expenditure in the U.S. and now outranks smoking and drinking in its deleterious effects on health and health costs.
Firstly, Obesity is caused by inheriting genetics from your family. Your genes may affect the amount of fat that is stored in your body and where you may carry extra body fat; however, even though you may become obese through genetics that does not mean you will be over weight. There may also be some hormone problems that may be the cause of obesity as well. Some hormones that may be a cause of obesity would be underactive thyroid and Cushing's syndrome Underactive thyroid is a condition in which the thyroid gland
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It's no secret that the amount of calories people eat and drink has a direct impact on their weight. Most people do not watch what they it; therefore, causing them to become obese. A part of not watching what you eat may have something to do with society. For example if you go to McDonalds all the fattening food will be on the dollar menu; whereas, if you want a salad from there it will be a little under six dollars. Of course majority of people are going to go for the dollar menu, they can get two burgers, fries and a drink for the cost of a salad. Although you're getting more for what you pay for, in the long run it would be better. You will be healthy not only from the looks of it, but on the inside as
The high obese population can be explained by culture, portion sizes, food companies and restaurant policies, diets, and traditions. Obesity is not only an individual issue; it is most importantly a national matter. It raises both individual and collective problems related to economic and demographic dynamics. Therefore, based on the alarming rate obesity is growing, it is crucial at this point to find a solution in order to slow down and hopefully stop this epidemic. Comparing diets of different countries and taking a look at the background story of American nutrition and regimes, it is clear that the American diet is very different from other nationalities and has worsened over the decades.
These are just some of the things that cause people to become obese. Now America is one of the most obese countries in the world. Mainly from people not getting enough exercise. Exercise is a big point why Americans get obese because they sit there and do nothing. On top of
Behavior and environment has a big role to play in obesity too. Studies show that less than 50% of adults in America get a healthy amount physical activity. This means that grownups cannot get enough calories out and end up gaining weight because they choose not to live healthy or they have a disease. Also modern technology influences obesity because it makes labor easier. Computers and televisions keep Americans on the couch all day.
Over the past century, America portion sizes and waistlines have grown exponentially. In 1975 the largest soft drink size was seven ounces, today a child’s size is 12 ounces. Also in the seventies high fructose corn syrup was invented and became a common ingredient in fast foods. Technology has contributed to our laziness and the ease of not leaving your couch to order more food. Obesity is a big problem caused by portion sizes, processed food and sugars, and technology.
One of the main causes is the abundance of unhealthy food options. Fast food restaurants and convenience stores that sell highly processed and calorie-dense foods are ubiquitous, making it easy for people to consume more calories than they need. Moreover, these foods are often cheaper than healthier options, which can be a significant barrier for individuals on a tight budget. Another factor that contributes to the obesity epidemic in America is the sedentary lifestyle that many people lead.
The obesity epidemic is only becoming more world wide spread as years continue to pass. Obesity has dramatically caused many negative effects on America and the way we live today. Obesity is simply defined as having excessive body fat usually resulting in serious medical problems. More specifically, though, obesity occurs when a person's Body Mass Index (BMI) — or, their weight in kilometers divided by the square of height in meters — exceeds 30 or greater. Studies have shown that about 13 million children and adolescents ages 2-19 are obese according to the article “Childhood Obesity: Can it Really Be Child Neglect?” by Abbie Goldbas.
Obesity is an ever-growing epidemic in the United States. Weights have been rising in the United States throughout the twentieth century, but the rise in obesity since 1980 is fundamentally different from past changes. (Cutler, Glaeser and Shapiro) Though it is not entirely clear what is to blame many scientists and researchers have a theory. The rise of obesity in the U.S. can be contributed to high priced fruits and vegetables, low costing processed foods, widespread increase in poverty, and a sedentary lifestyle.
Obesity is a medical condition that affects much of the global population. This medical condition can bring about other medical problems and issues if not treated properly. Obesity is a complex condition with many risk factors that can cause a person to develop the condition. These risk factors are environment, genetics, sleep, etc. Obesity can bring about serious health issues such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancers, and mental health problems.
After watching the video about Obesity in America, I had a realization of just how bad it is today. There are so many unhealthy and processed foods that are available to and the majority of the time, cheaper, for Americans. Obesity rates are growing in most of america and has become a serious health problem in early childhood. One of the problems in obesity is the fructose found in almost every food americans consume. The food industry will advertise that their processed foods are the “smarter choice” but are still filled with sugar and other ingredients we are not meant to consume.
Some have stated that race or socioeconomic status plays a big role in obesity. However, while some groups do have higher rates of obesity, every group has been gaining weight at the nearly the same rate. This suggest that race doesn’t play a role, and something else is behind the cause. With food being cheap compared to income and with it being more convenient than ever, Americans can’t help but get their fill of these unhealthy foods. “We have a survival instinct that drives us to eat constantly, because in human history starvation was the problem," Sturm said.
Obesity has become a major dilemma within America, mostly childhood obesity which has become in my eyes an epidemic. Childhood obesity will bring about adult obesity, health issues, psychological problems, and will even damper on sociological issues when pertaining to relating to culture and other people on a daily basis ( ex: brings about bullying or being bullied, social issues with kids, and low self-esteem and confidence). These include but never restricted to the fact of physical, social, environmental, psychological, and health issues all within a wider scale mostly if the pattern of obesity starts at an early age and then progress to adolescence and adulthood. The factors given in obesity has once again become a worldwide issue and concern for family, friends, and the child.
In conclusion, there are various factors that contribute to the amount of people with obesity in America nowadays. Some people blame the government, other blame fast food factories, and some blame parents. Although they may all play a role in this issue, parents carry most of the responsibility. This is because children mostly listen to their parents about what they should do, and parents have the responsibility of caring for their
Americans today are fighting an obesity epidemic. According to a study published by Genomics & Genetics Weekly, the number of severely obese Americans has increased by 70 percent in a 10-year span (2012). The study also claimed that over 15 million Americans have a body mass index of greater than 40 percent (Genomics & Genetics Weekly, 2012). To put that number into perspective, people with a BMI (body mass index) of 25 to 29 are considered to be overweight while people with a BMI of 30-35 are considered to be obese. Some may ask what has led to this significant increase in obesity?
What causes obesity in Americans? Some people believe that being overweight is the same as being obese, but lets be clear that this is not the case. To determine the difference between overweight and obesity there is a formula called “body mass index”. This formula calculates a person’s body fat by dividing their weight (lb.) by their height (in.) squared and then multiplying that number by 703.
The contribution of each of these factors has been studied, and although genes play an important role in the regulation of body weight, the World Health Organization Consultation on Obesity concluded that behavioral and environmental factors ( sedentary lifestyles with a mixture of too much energy intake) are primarily responsible for the dramatic increase in obesity during the past two decades.