U.S. ObesityEssay Preview: U.S. ObesityReport this essayThe United States is knows world wide for being the land of opportunity and happiness. In the land of opportunity, why is it that the people are so overly concerned with everything in their lives that they apparently do not take care of their precious bodies? Why does the wealthiest country in the world act so carelessly when it comes to healthy eating and staying fit?
The United States of America has an obesity rate of 65%, which is 22% higher than the rest of the world (Jamison). This striking statistic is mainly due to the overall way of life of Americans compared to the less spoiled countries around the world. Americans desperately need to change their ways of life so the obesity rate can shrink and the people can become healthier.
Far too many Americans are becoming overweight or obese due to their diets and modern lifestyles. Obesity is defined by a persons body mass index (BMI). BMI is calculated by the weight of a person in kilograms divided by the square of the height of a person in meters (kg/mĂâ ). Obese, as defined by Dr James Geoff, is having a BMI of 30 kg/mĂâ .
Dr. Karle Jamison of the United States Department of Health and Human Services emphasizes that the United States obesity rate is out of control. Since the early 1980s, the United States has seen an 77% increase in the obese population. Not to mention, in the 1980s obese was defined as having a BMI of 23 kg/mĂâ . If that definition still stood today, 80% of Americans would be considered obese (Jamison). These are very alarming figures that urgently need to be controlled.
Obesity is not as simple as it may seem. To most, obesity is just being extremely overweight, not that big of a deal. But they are wrong. Many things other than all that extra fat are attached to a person when they are obese. For these people, it is extremely difficult to get around. Joints like knees and ankles wear out much quicker due to extra stress (Krebs). It is even complex to get airline tickets because an obese person often does not fit in one seat. Most importantly, the chances of getting diseases like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, many cancers, and even Alzheimers more than quadruples (Krebs).
There are quite a few main factors that commonly are associated with causing obesity. Many obese adults were obese children. These obese children are often quite lazy and are couch potatoes (Eager). Krebs points out that the parents of these children do not monitor or regulate their childrens eating habits, lounging time, or their activeness. Later in these childrens lives, these adolescents have extremely inactive lives which causes them to become even fatter. Young children at that age in other countries are out and about with their friends, running around or even working, while staying healthy. American parents need to do a better job in producing healthier, more active children.
In the 1980s, when Americans were much leaner, children were pushed and guided towards being active. Instead of spending all day Saturday inside watching television, kids were playing games with friends. Calories were burnt off while running around instead of building into mounds of fat. Physical education in school was also mandatory. Schools now spend all their time and money in preparing students for standardized tests that physical education is beginning to disappear. This cuts out another 5-8 hours a week of activity from a childs life (Ryan).
Adults in the United States are obese also because of the new modern lifestyle. The majority of modern day jobs in the United States are focused around desks and computes with very little emphasis on physical activity. While Americans sit in their air conditioned offices, snacking away while typing on a computer, most other people around the world are working hard outside burning calories. Due to the lack of activity by Americans, calories are built up and stored as fat, helping Americans to become more obese than the rest of the world (Eager).
Since Americans have such lush jobs, they need to make time to work out after work. This is often difficult for the majority of Americans. Mike Nezbitt, the athletic trainer and fitness coordinator of Northern Arizona University, stated in an interview that, “one main reason people do not find the time to work out is because after a stressful day at work, they just want to go home and relax.” He also emphasized that, “people need to sacrifice some of their off-work time and get into the gym or jog a few miles at least three times a week to help ward off unfriendly pounds.” The new modern day jobs are not allowing Americans to take care of what is most important, their bodies.
Diets and nutrition is one more major part of obesity in America. Dr. John Ryan reports in an article in the San Francisco Chronicle that, “more and more people are eating at fast food restaurants to make their lives more convenient.” Since fast food chains are popping up everywhere, ordering a super sized extra value mean is as easier than ever. Americans find fast food as a quick, cheap way to eat as much as they can on the run. A large percent of Americans eat about two to three meals a day at fast food chains (Eager). These people do not realize that they are eating a whole daily amount of calories, fat, and saturated fat in just one super sized extra value meal (Ryan). This new diet, compared to little or no physical activity destroys the human body in the form of obesity (Ryan). Again comparing Americans to the rest of the world, it is easy to see that other nations do not have a fraction of the fast food joints as the U.S. does. Instead, they eat healthier,
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Diets and nutrition is one more major part of obesity in America. Dr. John Ryan reports in an article in the San Francisco Chronicle that, “more and more people are eating at fast food restaurants to make their lives more convenient. Americans find fast food as a quick, cheap way to eat as much as they can on the run. A large percent of Americans eat about two to three meals a day at fast food chains (Eager). Americans do not realize that they are eating a whole daily amount of calories, fat, and saturated fat in just one super sized extra value meal (Ryan). This new diet, compared to little or no physical activity destroys the human body in the form of obesity (Ryan).\307\309
The food that they are eating is no substitute for the physical exertion that comes with a new world. In other words, eating a diet that brings with it a ton of the physical activity of living off the grid could be the new norm for most Americans. In fact, many of the fast food chains and retailers which have opened in the U.S. have been in business for many decades now. And in their last few visits they never came across that they did not believe the fast food community held their weight. This year and beyond, a few fast food joint owners that opened in California in 2014 are already starting to see significant shifts in the fast casual movement into the U.S. In this instance it was hard to see a change in the people who are already eating that food. As a result, there was not a noticeable change in Americans eating their food.
In 2008 the American Council on Exercise (ACO), the bodybuilding organization, decided to become a food company to help promote healthy eating habits and improve body composition. Now that they are getting closer to the U.S., their focus is on healthy eating habits. And while the current “fat-free meals” may only be available in some stores, they’re not limited to this portion of our mainstream diet (CDC). The group has also launched an app and app called Big Diet to show that we actually do care. Big Diet, now out of business, will let you see the benefits of eating healthy, clean eating as part of the Big Meal plan. Big Diet will show you when your favorite fast food chain can do the heavy lifting for you, as is done by your local pizza chain. Big Diet will also provide free meals to you without any added fees. Big Diet will include: the Big Day Menu, breakfast and lunch specials, snacks and beverages, $8.96 or $9.99 a pop each, $24.99 for unlimited access; and Big Diet offers a complimentary lunch and breakfast discount. $8.96/year plus $5.99 in snacks and $29.99 for unlimited access. Big Diet will provide a free lunch and breakfast discount. $8.96/year plus $5.99 in snacks and $29.99 for unlimited access. Big Diet will provide a free lunch and breakfast coupon for $20+ on certain Big Day Menu items, $10+ on all items with complimentary $10-$20 breakfast breakfast discount, and $25-30 Big Day Meal Menu items.
Big Diet allows you access to a whole daily amount of calories, fat, saturated fat, sugar and processed food that is available to everyone. In a perfect world, people wouldn’t need to buy and start eating every day that they can. And while they often eat a lower standard of quality food than people may be used to, eating healthier food provides a whole day of high quality food that they cannot consume (CDC).