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Essay / America's Obesity Epidemic and the Factors That Contribute to It
Many people, when they think of an epidemic, might imagine a deadly flu or other illness that would be fatal. Most are shocked to learn that obesity is actually an epidemic of such magnitude that it is considered the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States. America faces a major obesity problem (Neuman, 2018). In the United States, ninety-three million adults were affected by obesity in 2015-2016. One in three Americans is obese, another 34% are overweight, and one-third of Americans under the age of nineteen are obese and/or overweight. Additionally, adult obesity rates exceed 35% in seven states, 30% in twenty-nine states, and 25% in forty-eight states. “Any cure for obesity must begin with these three essential precepts: discretion in diet, moderation in sleep and exercise.” The causes of obesity are not necessarily what we eat, but rather "why we eat": increased wealth allowing us access to more food, selection and overabundance of food choices, and self-esteem. calming our high levels of stress through food. all contribute to obesity. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get an original essay Different levels of wealth allow people to buy more high-calorie foods, which changes their eating habits, meals made home to unhealthy foods, not necessarily fast foods (Dhillon, 2014). Conversely, poor households rely on unhealthy nutrients because they are cheaper and more accessible. A Harvard University study claims that eating healthy foods is more expensive, costing about $550 extra per person per year, leading people to eat less expensive unhealthy foods. Becoming obese is not as difficult as you might think. Much of obesity is the result of unnecessary, tempting foods and the body's ability to digest and store these foods as fat stores (Rogers, 1918). Everywhere people go, they are faced with tempting food choices. Whether at the kiosks at the mall, waiting in line for the cashier at the grocery store, or going to see a movie at the cinema; It seems like unhealthy foods drive people away. However, obese people will never admit these causes and fail to notice them. They may admit that they like certain foods, but will never think that they are eating too much. Everyone has been caught in the stress eating trap, but some research shows that ancestral stress is a psychological correlate of obesity. Stress can disrupt an individual's ability to maintain a healthy, solid diet. Obese patients usually also show signs of depression, anxiety and isolation. The relationship between depression and increased food consumption is also consistent among children and adolescents. This represents a lot of human suffering, a lot of wasted potential and a lot of financial pressure on the country's health systems. Obesity has an impact on childhood. Childhood obesity worldwide, and particularly in the United States, is a growing problem that is receiving a lot of attention. While most studies have confirmed correlations between television viewing and childhood obesity, few studies have examined the effect that television advertising from fast food restaurants may have on childhood obesity. Ians (2018) found that obese children are likely todevelop a debilitating hip disease – slipped capital femoral epiphysis – during their teenage years. Furthermore, some causes of childhood obesity are fast food and lack of exercise due to the introduction of technology (Chong, 2006). Lately, Americans have adopted an inactive lifestyle, spending most of their time in front of the television. In doing so, the average American does not engage in any physical activity, which would be harmful. Likewise, since children depend on their parents for their meals, their parents' choices determine their diet. One of the factors that influence a parent's food choices for their family is the level of stress they are experiencing (Chou, Rashad, & Grossman, 2008). Low-income parents are primarily at risk for high levels of chronic stress, due to the financial and emotional pressures of low-wage work, lack of access to health care, and poor housing. When parents are stressed, they may buy more fast food for their children to save time or reduce meal planning requirements. Currently, obesity impacts health care costs. Obesity is a serious public health crisis and something must be done (Singal, 2016). Being overweight leads to higher risks of developing complex medical conditions such as heart disease, stroke, type II diabetes, infertility, high cholesterol and certain types of cancer. Type II diabetes is a disease with worrying trends. According to Crimmins (2015), people cannot live to their full potential because diabetes is killing them. This is very regrettable. Given all the causes and consequences of obesity, many Americans try to fight obesity, but it proves difficult when food is constantly being forced upon them. Being overweight is really difficult to manage; there are health problems associated with obesity as well as depression and emotional problems (Chou, Rashad, & Grossman, 2008). Obese people live with constant reminders of their harmful habits (Chou, Rashad, & Grossman, 2008). Although there are many causes of obesity, there are just as many solutions to tackle the problem. According to Chong (2006), reducing calories and fat, reducing meal size, and providing nutritional information to consumers can reduce obesity. Americans generally try to find quick and convenient ways to do things, which is why fast food restaurants are so popular and successful (Chong, 2006). Reducing portion sizes would save more money in the long run if people ate less compared to the medical expenses they will face. Chong (2006) states that Americans always try to get value for their money by finishing their meals, thinking that they are saving money. However, in the long run, facing the adverse effects of obesity, they will spend more money on medical expenses such as medicines and diets (Chong, 2006). Additionally, restaurants could also increase healthy meal options as part of a responsible approach to combating obesity. reduce the risk of obesity and other chronic diseases associated with eating away from home. Americans rely on foods eaten away from home for approximately 33% of their calorie intake. Many restaurants serve foods that are high in calories, fat, sugar and salt, while neglecting fruits, vegetables and whole grains – important nutritional values needed to meet9