Obesity Is An Obesity Epidemic Exists

Obesity Is An Obesity Epidemic Exists
To understand whether or not an obesity epidemic exists, one has to define obesity and determine
what suggests an epidemic. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH) (2015), obesity
means having too much body fat which can occur when one has more caloric intake than one uses,
which is different for each person. In comparison, overweight means weighing too much and may
result from bone, fat, muscle and body water (NIH, 2015). In both obesity and overweight, an
individual's weight is considered greater than what may be considered healthy in relation to their
height (NIH, 2015). Contributing factors that may affect weight are eating high fat goods,
overeating, genetics, or not being physically active (Akabas, Lederman, & Moore, 2012; NIH,
2015). To determine what is considered a healthy weight, a body mass index (BMI) is used to
measure an individual's height and weight and estimates body fat as a determinant of potential risks
for diseases (Akabas, Lederman, & Moore, 2012; Morrill & Chinn, 2004). BMI less than 18.5 is
recognized as underweight, 18.5 to 24.9 is within normal weight and is categorized as a healthy
weight, 25 to 29.9 is overweight, 30 to 34.9 is mild obesity, 35 to 39.9 is moderate obesity, and 40
and over is severe obesity (Akabas, Lederman, & Moore, 2012; Jones, 2006; NIH, 2015; Reville,
2006). Currently, one in three adults in the United States are obese, increasing potential for health
risks such as heart disease, diabetes high blood pressure
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The Obesity Epidemic Of Children
Individuals and societies link to obese children The obesity epidemic holds the responsibility to
annihilate many of the health benefits that have contributed to the increased durability recognised in
the world today. In 2014, approximately 41 million children under 5 years of age were affected by
overweight or obesity. Today, progress in extinguishing childhood obesity has been gradual and
conflicting. A greater number of children are, even from before birth, on the brink to developing
obesity. Children who are not yet at the bodymass–index (BMI)–for–age verge for the early staged
of childhood obesity or overweight are at an all high of developing obesity. This also presents the
needs of the children. Lack of nutrition in early childhood places children at high risk of developing
obesity when food and physical activity arrangements concur. Many countries now face the strain of
hunger in all its categories, with rising rates of childhood obesity as well as high rates of child
nutrition. Childhood obesity is often secluded as a public health issue in these ambient times, where
culturally, an overweight child is considered to be healthy. In high–income countries, the risks of
childhood obesity are considerable in low socioeconomic groups. Although presently the results
show to be true in low and middle income countries, a changing pattern is emerging. In large scale
countries, certain population subgroups, such as migrant and indigenous children, are at
exceptionally high

Obesity Epidemic In America
People all around the world suffer from overweight or obesity. Whether it from food choices or
inactivity it all comes down to one thing the food industry. The food industry produces mass
products that are shipped to grocery stores, than go to our homes, making them liable for some of
weight gain and obesity in America. Although the food industry does not play a major role in the
obesity epidemic in America, it does plays a key one because they produced the food that goes into
your mouth. Most people don't know what goes on in the pre–shipping face of the food that goes on
the shelve of a grocery store. American manufacturers, pump their food full of sugar, salt,
hydrogenated oils, saturated fats, preservatives, dyes, artificial flavors, ... Show more content on
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These corporations know that we have long work hours, chronic stress, and lack of sleep, making us
prone to put on excessive weight. They increase portion sizes, create more opportunities for snack
times, for example vending machines in schools and add ingredients to foods that make you want to
eat more. Examples of common ingredients in foods and drinks that can cause you to want to eat
more are: sugar, high fructose corn syrup, MSG, aspartame and refined mineral–depleted salt("Food
Industry and Obesity"). Because of this knowledge factory owners know exactly what to do to get us
to buy their products, therefore making us vulnerable to excessive weight gain.Not only do food
companies target adult, but also children. Bill Whitaker, a CBS News correspondent conducted a
similar study of TV ads on kids. The results showed that American children are bombarded with
commercials for unhealthy foods that contain a lot of salt, fat, and sugars.Children are an easy target
for the food industry. Young and impressionable, children are eager to eat whatever looks and tastes
good.(Voiland and Haupt). The food industry is now capable of influencing the youth of America,
making it easier to raise the rate of being overweight and or obese. Mcdonald's being the largest fast
food industry has found ways to attract children. A cheeseburger Happy Meal has 520 calories, 20
grams of total fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 50

Preventing Obesity Epidemic
Since the issue of obesity remains prevalent, there are leading experts in the field of health sciences
and exercise physiology who have tried to prevent obesity from increasing. These experts want to
stop the obesity epidemic, but they have different approaches to solving the issue. One of the
methods that have been working towards becoming a solution was "the development of obesity–
preventing drugs". The experimental use of drugs was run by experts that are a part of the FDA(
Food and Drink Administration), they believed that there were many different solutions, and that
"one of the most effective" would be a weight–loss drug.(Food and Drink Administration).
However, these drugs were often failures and deemed unsafe and ineffective on their ... Show more
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Americans have become used to the normalcy of a complicated lifestyle, and have lost values that
were once embraced. There have been people who have tried to slow the increasing obesity rates,
but none are willing to put in the effort and time to stop the epidemic. The hesitation to putting a
stop of increasing obesity rates is evident in the ever increasing obesity rates. There are too few
people who are willing to make the choice to fight against the issue of obesity. It has become more
and more normal to the American people. As Emerson wrote in his piece "Self–Reliance" there are
many choices that a person can make on their own that will allow them to till the "piece of land that
is given to him". In other words, everyone is given a life that allows them to make choices that will
affect the rest of their lives. So, the best option is to till the ground to receive the "nourishing corn".
And in order to till the piece of land that they are given they must make choices that will benefit
them. In that same way, there are choices that people can make that will allow them to lead a healthy

Essay On Obesity Epidemic
"More than one–third or 78.6 million of U.S. adults are obese", according to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention. Obesity does not only mean a bigger waist line, but also a greater chance at
developing life–threating health problems. Preventable diseases such as "heart disease, type 2
diabetes and certain types of cancer" are increased in individuals who are considered obese (CDC).
While physical activity plays an important role in a healthy lifestyle, what one consumes is also a
significant factor. With obesity at staggering high rates, healthy food choices should be made more
available and affordable, while the price of unhealthy food and drinks should be increased to help
bring a decline to this ongoing epidemic.
To understand the full extent of the obesity epidemic, one must first understand what the term obese
indicates. A person whose BMI, or body mass index, ranges above 30 is considered obese. The
healthy BMI range for a normal person is between 19 and 24 (CDC). When an individual consumes
more energy, or calories, than they use, the excess calories are stored in the body as fat and thus
causes weight gain. Over time, without "both reduction of calorie intake and increased activity", a
larger amount of fat is stored and as a result obesity occurs (Diet and ... Show more content on
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A statement from the Department of Agriculture reported that the soda consumption in the U.S has
increased "500 percent in the last 50 years (Diet and Obesity). Soda contains no nutritional value,
yet because this "liquid candy" has been a part of the American diet for quite some time, it is the
"norm" for many individuals (Diet and Obesity). To disengage from the traditional diet and add
incentive for people to make healthier choices, a type of consequences should be

The Obesity Epidemic : Obesity Essay
The obesity epidemic proves to be an issue in America and continues to grow with time. In simple
terms, obesity is a disorder where the subject has increasing amounts of fat, leading to health
problems in the future. This epidemic has steadily increased in American bodies for decades and
researchers have tried to find the root causes of this problem. Though there is controversy as to what
is the primary cause of this rising epidemic, it is clear that there are many factors that contribute to
the fluctuating weight gain among many American citizens. With these factors, there are multiple
perspectives of the epidemic. One of the primary perspectives is that an unhealthy diet contributes to
obesity in Americans; with the popularity, convenience and cheap prices of fast food, statistics have
shown direct relations of increasing obesity rates with an unhealthy diet. A secondary factor of rising
obesity rates is the lack of exercise or activity in the body. Without a way to burn off excess calories,
they sit in your stomach and there is not a good alternative to burn them off like in a workout.
Additionally, with the strong presence media plays in society, there is an idea that women have to be
stick–thin as the norm. As a result, there is a new perspective that being overweight is due to societal
standards of skinny figures and the increasing media, creating weight bias. These different
perspectives all provide a basis for researchers to explore this issue and find ways to

Obesity Epidemic
The American Obesity Epidemic The American obesity epidemic is an issue that has become
increasingly prevelant over the years. While this is a very large and complex issue, it can be
primarily pin–pointed to a few key factors, such as poverty, lifestyle, and the types and availability
of food these days.
The largest contributing factor to obesity in this country is poverty. Charles L. Baum discusses this
extensively in his article The Effects of Food stamps on Obesity. "Poverty has historically been
associated with a decrease in food consumption. This at least partially changed in 1964, when the
Food Stamp Act began guaranteeing food for those in poverty. Since the act's passage, obesity has
been steadily on the rise in this country, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Children's health and wellness expert Dr. Alan Greene discusses this likeness of sugar to a drug in–
depth in his Healthline.com article Is Sugar an Addictive Drug. "Evidence is mounting that too
much added sugar could lead to true addiction. Added sugar is not the sugar naturally found in
foods, but the amped up levels added to many processed foods. Medical addiction changes brain
chemistry to cause binging, craving, withdrawal symptoms, and sensitization. Excess added sugar
can do just that, through changes in the same pathways as addiction to amphetamines or alcohol.
Sugar addiction could be an even harder habit to break, according to recent evidence about how
added sugar affects our stress hormones." Though the quantity and variety of food avaliable to us
today is for the most part a good thing, it is having and will continue to have dire consequences for
the

Today in America obesity has become a horrific epidemic and Americans are trying to find the cause
and a solution for it. For the first time ever in America obesity has become such a big problem that
is said to be big as the dealing of drugs in America. It seems that in America today obesity and
overweight Americans have become the new normal. Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in
America and type 2 diabetes goes hand in hand with obesity. Obesity causes heart disease,
cancer,and high blood pressure which are also some of the leading causes of death in America.
Obesity doesn't just happen to people it happens because of the unhealthy foods being eaten and the
lack of exercise on top of that. This obesity epidemic is not only the fault ... Show more content on
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People choose to turn to meals that are already prepared for them instead of paying more money and
spending more time cooking meals using healthier ingredients. Fast food restaurants are known for
creating fast service and big meals for low prices which entices customers to buy more of their food
because it doesn't require any work on the customer's behalf to be able to feed their families. Fixing
this bad habit in most Americans households would require a change in the prices of fruits and
vegetables giving the ability for anyone and everyone to be able to buy fresh produce from grocery
stores and make it easier for everyone or helping people choose the way of making a fresh and
healthy meal for their families instead of providing the meals given through drive thru windows. In
the situation of trying to make the prices of fresh produce cheaper and helping adults make meals
for their families instead of buying meals another solution could be for the government to step in
and create a limit on how big restaurants are allowed to have their portion sizes. All fast food
restaurants are in competition with each other so every restaurant tries to bring in as many customers
as possible and if you are able to bring in a lot of customers that gives you power over every other
restaurant. The key to bringing in customers

For years cartoons have depicted obese kids rolling down streets, however, this may become an
unfortunate truth. The issue of the obesity epidemic in America has become an enormous issue.
Obesity, which is the accurate term to describe being above overweight on the body mass index
(bmi), is an epidemic with many causes that can have staggering effects. Industries have found ways
to market their food products in order to gain money, uncaring of the trouble and harm they may be
causing to others. The obesity epidemic has become a very controversial political topic being
discussed nationwide. Despite how bad things have gotten there are ways to fix this broken country.
For starters, before one can begin to delve ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The food industry has mastered the delicate art of trickery over many years and has been able to
convince consumers to buy their products, thinking they are healthy, when in reality they are
contributing immensely to the obesity epidemic in America. Food corporations have developed a
marketing strategy where they target juvenile audiences with their products. The companies do this
by having advertisements on children's television programs encouraging children to buy their
processed, high–sugar food products. Companies get kids' attention by including beloved children's
figures with their commercials, thus piquing their interest. Children view their favorite characters on
television programs and ask their parents or guardians to purchase the items for them and the
parents, remaining blissfully unaware that they are relinquishing their child's health to mass food
corporations, concede and buy the food, which causes their child to become unhealthy and
eventually obese. Another way food companies market their products is by embedding their
advertisements with words like "Cheap, easy, fast", which appeals to low income families looking
for a inexpensive meal, or families on the go that need to quickly get a bite to eat. Due to the fact
that unhealthy fast food choices are often the easiest method for gaining a quick meal, more and
more families are

The Obesity Epidemic Of Obesity Essay
Introduction
Obesity is becoming an outrageous and alarming health issue in today's society. Children are rapidly
getting engulfed by this pandemic every day. According to the book Public Health 101: Health
People–Healthy Populations, pandemic can be defined as, "An epidemic occurring worldwide, or
over a very wide area, crossing international boundaries and affecting a large number of people"
(Riegelman, Kirkwood, 2015). The World Health Organization estimates that 43 million children
worldwide are overweight or obese, with the United States leading the numbers (WHO, 2016).
About one in three children and teenagers in America are obese. Obesity can lead to a variety of
other serious health issues, such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma, high blood pressure, and other
health risks. Finding effective interventions and programs to reverse obesity rates is essential.
Obesity is one hundred percent preventable and treatable.
Intervention Strategy 1: Obesity Prevention Programs
Childhood obesity is continuing to grow at a rapid and dangerous pace. It is vital for the population
to be educated on practicing a healthy life style to prevent obesity. A study done by C. Nathan Marti,
Eric Stice, and Heather Shaw (2006) evaluates the effectiveness of childhood prevention programs
in a variety of different settings. The study was funded by the US Agency for Healthcare Research
and Quality (AHRQ) and the National Institutes of Health. There have been a variety of childhood
obesity

The Obesity Epidemic Of Obesity
The Obesity Epidemic is a topic widely studied and mentioned in several contexts' both medical and
social. Obesity is described by Boero (2012) to have exploded in meaning Post– World War II to be
more than a "physical flaw." Weight concern became an idea that debuted in magazines mainly
targeting women and emphasizing "natural thinness." The disappearance of the normally worn
"corset" and popularization of the typical 1920's "boy catching" flapper, increased the production of
diet products and the ideology of "desirable thinness" which gave birth to a social and moral model
of obesity as a disease (Boero 2012). Throughout her book, Boero (2012) examines the ways in
which the view of obesity has transformed into a medicalized epidemic, rather than a simple "flaw
in human biology" in addition to the implications that come along with the "epidemic" title it has
been given. Although there is a relationship between poor health and fatness, the Obesity epidemic
would fail to exist in the absence of societies constant fat shaming, medicalization of fatness and an
emphasis on individual blame. The Mayo Clinic's "My Weight Solution" pamphlet and "The HAES
Manifesto" each approach health and weight from a different angle. The Mayo Clinic's pamphlet
takes the Anti–Obesity Approach giving reasons as to why people should have a negative outlook on
Obesity while also blaming a handful of obesity–related issues on the bad habits of an individual
person. The HAES Manifesto adopts a more

The Epidemic Of Obesity And Obesity
There's an appalling epidemic in today's society sweeping across not only the United States, but all
across the globe. This horrible epidemic isn't the bird flu, or any type of sickness, rather obesity.
Today, obesity rates are at an all time high in America. This disease, obesity, is being passed down
the family both genetically, and by the terrible eating habits developing in the US. Kids growing up
in this generation are facing frightening issues such as increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, high
blood pressure, etc., the list goes on. Zinczenko proves this in his text Don't Blame the Eater, when
he says, "Before 1994, diabetes in children was generally caused by a genetic disorder – Only about
5 percent of childhood causes were obesity–related, or Type 2, diabetes. Today, according to the
National Institute of Health, Type 2 diabetes accounts for at least 30 percent of all new childhood
cases of diabetes in this country." (Zinczenko 463) The sad part about it, is these kids more time
than not, are born into these types of situations. There's no surprise that obesity rates in America are
directly correlated with the increasing amount of fast food chains popping up on every street corner.
These fast food restaurants are masters of the art of advertising, and are using it as the strongest way
of increasing sales. This is very dangerous because not all advertisements are true, despite what the
common American might think, and it can be used to sway people's thoughts

Obesity : The Obesity Epidemic
The Obesity Epidemic What is obesity? According to the Health Reference Center Academic,
"Obesity is a clinical condition characterized by an excess of body fat". Obesity causes serious and
life–threatening diseases. Obesity can be calculated using the BMI or Body mass index. The higher
the BMI the more obese a person is considered. More than 1 third of the population in the US is
obese. Medical costs for treating obesity were estimated at $147 billion in 2008. Non–Hispanic
black and Mexican American men with higher incomes are more likely to be obese than those with
lower incomes. On the other hand, women with higher incomes are less likely to be obese than those
with lower incomes. This may be a result of the type of food that they eat. Obesity in the US is a
very common health issue; no state had a prevalence of less than 20%. The increase in obesity rates
in the US was from the 1990s through the 2010s (Adult Obesity Facts). There 's a lack of statistics
about obesity in the Middle East, but we expect the rates to be similar to those in the US and
increasing. Obesity is an epidemic that is spreading quickly through the nations. Due to the various
debilitating effects obesity has on many levels, I would like to expose in depth the causes,
prevention, effects, and treatments of obesity. Debates on those points should be outlined quickly to
help stop this epidemic. Beginning with the diverse causes of obesity, the direct and most common
reason is the intake of more calories

When people observe children who are overweight, they think they are cute, but in reality the obese
children are setting themselves up for numerous health risks. The problem of obesity in children is
on the rise in America. One in three children in America is obese (Kelly). Anyone can recognize
there is a problem with the growing numbers of children overweight, however, no one has come up
with a way to stop the obesity epidemic. This epidemic in children has been caused by numerous
factors now numerous solutions can stop this if they are put in use. Children are weighing more than
they ever have. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says, "Obesity has tripled in the past
30 years from seven percent to twenty percent" ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Even with that there is no distinct way to to predict if a child will be obese or not (Perry). The
advances in technology are other reasons why children are becoming obese. Technology advances
are encouraging a sedentary lifestyle for children. A study done by the Kaiser Family Foundation
done in 2012, showed that children ages seven to eighteen spend seven and a half hours daily their
phones or on social media (Kelly). They found that children spend four and a half hours watching
TV, two and a half hours listening to music, one hour on the computer, and thirteen minutes playing
video games a day (Kelly).When children are watching TV or playing video games, they are
mindlessly eating, not knowing how many calories they are taking in. The key to stay healthy is to
maintain a balance between energy intake and outtake (Perry). Playing video games and sitting on
the couch watching TV is not a way to burn energy. Technology and emotion distress can be rooted
back to a child's weight. Being depressed or emotionally unstable can cause children to put on extra
weight. Being obese affects a person emotionally and psychosocially (Perry). Children understand
that they are not the same size as everyone else, which causes them to distance themselves. Instead
of going to play tag, exercising, they will stay inside being sad about being overweight and not
being

The obesity epidemic in America is a very serious and ongoing issue. Many Americans ask
themselves what is the difference between obesity and being overweight? What can I do to fix it? As
Americans people deserve to know what those differences are, how to prevent obesity, and what the
actual causes of obesity are. Citizens also have the right to know the effects of obesity and the
solutions to obesity.
"One should eat to live, not live to eat." –Cicero, Roman
Americans need to know what the differences are between obesity and being overweight... Knowing
what obesity is and the differences is has from being overweight can be very important, and life
changing. If people understand what these differences are then they can find out if they are ... Show
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Knowing the causes to obesity are important. Some causes of obesity are thought of off the bat. But
some causes aren't all that well known. Researchers have found many causes to the obesity epidemic
in the U.S. Two main causes to obesity are added sugars/processed foods and genetics, specifically
with one's parents and grandparents. The last cause of obesity is the American government. Many
citizens of the U.S think that all sugar is bad. This statement is not true. As stated in
http://www.vox.com/science–and–health/2017/1/13/14219606/sugar–intake–dietary–nutrition–
science " Sugar is in so many of the foods we eat. It's loaded into our granola and our juice, our
BBQ sauce and salad dressing. Some ¾ of packaged foods and drinks in the US now carry caloric or
low–calorie sweeteners." In a healthy diet an American should consume roughly 6–9 teaspoons of
added sugars. However the average in America is currently 41 teaspoons! Statistics have found that
in the 13th century one pound of sugar would have costed roughly 360 eggs. Nowadays one pound
of sugar would cost the same as only two eggs... this is a serious problem. The 1980's was the
national start of making and selling "low fat" products such as milk. In all reality this was also when
the lowered the fat levels and raised the sugar levels sky high. As a result of extreme amounts of
sugar in products it has given scientists evidence to prove that sugar is 8x more addictive than
cocaine. Another cause of obesity is

Obesity: A Global Epidemic
Obesity is a condition characterized by excess body fat as a result of too much calorific intake which
exceeds the amount being used in the body. The body mass index (BMI) is normally used to assess
the health risks of this condition among those affected (2). A BMI of anything between 30.0–39.9 is
considered obese by the CDC (4). It is an emerging health issue which is caused by a number of
factors including genetics and behavior or lifestyles. Other factors causing obesity include diets,
physical inactivity, environmental exposures, psychological factors, and genetics. Obesity has
become a global epidemic which is spreading faster among demographic groups as well as regions
across the world. It has become a serious health issue because of ... Show more content on
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Some diseases have also been found to cause weight gain such as Cushing's disease. Weight gain
can also be caused by drugs such as those used to treat depression and those that boost activity such
as steroids (1). Thyroid disorders and the people who take medication for this are also at risk.
The Effects of Obesity
One major effect of obesity is the deterioration of the health of those affected. If interventions are
not taken, obesity can lead to death. Because of the increased fat in the body, obesity can lead to
heart disease and high blood pressure. Other health consequences include the development of
diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, depression and anxiety, breathing problems, osteoarthritis,
and poor quality of life (3).
Obesity also has economic and social effects. The cost of treating obesity–related illnesses is
immense which places a huge burden on the healthcare systems. Direct and indirect medical costs
consume a country's revenue which would have otherwise been channeled to other development
projects. The society also feels the effects of obesity because there are social costs associated with
taking care of this group of people. In most cases, obesity is associated with social stigma which
affects the social and psychological wellbeing of

Summary: The Epidemic Of Obesity
The occurrence of obesity has increased tremendously in the United States and is now considered an
epidemic. It is a dangerous epidemic, because it increases risks for heart disease, stroke, high blood
pressure, breathing problems, and more. It also increases the chance of developing diabetes, which
comes with its own list of scary health problems. Obesity is caused by two simple factors, simply
consuming too much food, and not getting enough physical activity. Although the causes for obesity
may seem simple, it is not quite as easy as it would seem to avoid becoming a part of this epidemic.
Eating too much is easy to do. This is especially true in a society where a single serving meal should
serve more people based on its nutritional contents, healthy options are often more time consuming
and expensive than the unhealthy, yet quick and easy food items, and the option to super–size your
meal for a surprisingly cheap price is available at any fast food restaurant, of which, there are an
abundance to choose and on every corner. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Many people spend on average eight hours of their day at work, often sitting at desk, their evenings
taking care of others, going to social events, or completing chores. Often, it is time for bed before
they have had the chance to realize how much they have eaten and how little they have exercised.
People in our society are always being rushed and therefore, stressed, which helps to contribute to
unhealthy eating and overeating. Sometimes the stress of the day is motivation for a workout, but
sometimes it is too exhausting to even consider making time for a

Obesity : A Growing Epidemic
Obesity
A Growing Epidemic. The number of obese adults now exceeds 25 percent in nearly two thirds of
states. The rates of obesity in America have risen in the last thirty years, costing Americans, health,
happiness, money, and productivity (Obesity is a serious problem 12). In this research paper I will
be telling you about arguments and opposing viewpoints about a growing epidemic in teens and
adults, obesity. Currently this topic is very controversial about who is to blame the kids, the parents,
or the advertising companies because the cost is so low and the advertisers are getting a lot of views
because kids are less active. The biggest issue in my opinion is that the parents and children are not
aware of all of the consequences and health risks they are putting not just themselves in but their
children. With this paper I want to bring out these issues so the parents especially have a better
knowledge of this whole situation. Also, in this paper I will be discussing how advertising, fast food,
cost/portion size, and better education about obesity. Obesity is a growing epidemic in teens and
adults across the world especially America and people need more education about this epidemic. My
position on this topic is that I am against obesity. I think that advertising for any kind of food that
someone likes is bad for the viewer because it is usually unhealthy food and this leads to an increase
in sales of that type of food and eventually leads to obesity. The fast food

Obesity : The Obesity Epidemic Essay
Despite the overwhelming evidence that Americans are among the most overweight across the
globe, this issue is constantly ignored. We hear about obesity being one of the most prevalent issues
in America yet through the years this issue seems to worsen. Although Obesity may not be taken
seriously by many, it is one of the leading health issues in America today.
Many don't understand the causes of this obesity epidemic, but being educated on this topic is the
best way to prevent and control this issue. A recent study from the Nation Center for Health
Statistics show that nearly one third of the United States (adults 20 years of age and older) are
obese. That's over 100 million people just here in the United States. Among the children, 21 percent
of teenagers are considered to be obese. According to John Hopkins University, being obese doesn't
just mean being overweight but also causing more critically health issues such as high blood
pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart diseases, stroke, bladder diseases, arthritis, sleep apnea
and some cancers.
This issue stems from two different causes, eating too much and not exercising enough. Although
some may argue that genetics play a role in obesity, when it comes to weight, one has the power to
change their physical appearance. Working out and exercising is a lifestyle that one must become
accustom too. However, what we put in our body is something that we may not have full control
over. One of the reason why Americans are

Obesity Epidemic in America
The United States of America is the fattest country in the world. Obesity in America has reach
epidemic proportions. Obesity and weight gain has become major concern of public health in the
United States. In every state, at least twenty percent of adults are obese, and in twelve of these states
the obesity rate is above thirty percent. Mississippi currently holds the highest rate of obesity with
34.9 percent of its residents being obese. On the contrary, Colorado has the lowest rate of obesity
with 20.7 percent. CNN estimated that annual medical care costs due to obesity reached $147
billion, but the Institute of Medicine estimates it is closer to $190 billion. Since the 1980's obesity
rates have soared. Between 1980 and 2000, obesity rates doubled between adults and children.
Twelve years later in 2012, the Center of Disease Control and Prevention estimated more than one
third of children and adolescents are overweight or obese. Being overweight is defined as having
excess body weight from a combination of height, fat, and muscle. On the other hand, Obesity is
simply having too much excess body fat. Being overweight and obese are the result of caloric
imbalance. Society tends to consume more calories than calories expended. Obesity can lead to
more serious medical issues such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and even cancer. I believe that
there are many causes of obesity, but there are just as much solutions for a healthier life. The
standard measure for determining

Obesity has always been a topic that many have had due to the increase attention it has received.
Across America, there has been a lot of attention on the obesity epidemic. In America and the inner
cities, more people are eating meals away from home in addition to consuming larger portions from
fast food restaurants. At this rate, gaining weight is the likely outcome. High energy dense food has
become convenient and affordable. Fast food is almost everywhere in America and, contributes to
the growing obesity epidemic. Access to healthy foods are either expensive or have a limited access
to it. For example, soda is everywhere for low costs, but coconut water is expensive or not found
easily depending on the demand for it. Our environment ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Another factor is the media focus on fast food and huge portions of food being served everywhere.
These large portions exceeds the recommended amount of calories for the whole day. Current trends
show that children consume low amounts of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low–fat dairy.
Although in time more activities and sports are being created, it is shown that many children spend
six hours or more watching television, using their tablet/computer and phone. (Adult Obesity Facts,
2016) . Many children also consume about 172–300 kcal/day of sugar–sweetened beverages, which
exceed the recommended amount. (Childhood Obesity Facts,2016)One of the key drivers of obesity
is energy imbalance. More people are consuming sugar–sweetened beverages (SSB), larger portion
sizes, fast food, and interacting less in physical activity. Another determinant is the convenience of
energy dense food and the affordability. Most importantly, people live in an environment that is not
conducive to physical activity. It is also shown that adults are not being as activate too that would
lead to chronic diseases. In NYC Community Health Profile, conducted in 2015, adults in East New
York have the highest rate of diabetes (New York City Community Health Profiles, 2016). In
addition, 34% of adults consume one or more than twelve ounce sugary drink per day, and 81% of
adults consume at least one serving of fruits and vegetables per day

Obesity Epidemic Summary
Bruce Y. Lee's article entitled "How our Health–Care System Is Feeding the Obesity Epidemic"
(2015), suggests that while it's correct to suggest that personal choices can be blamed for the obesity
health crisis, the health care system in the United States also has to shoulder some of the blame. Lee
(2015) theorizes that failed financial incentives, lack of knowledge and training in medical
education and limitations of the physicians' role regarding infrastructure and other policy making
decisions have a direct impact on the obesity and subsequent disease processes that are impacting
the nation. Obesity in America has increased over 20% in the last 35 years and is directly or
indirectly the cause of multiple hundreds of thousands of deaths

The Epidemic Of Childhood Obesity
The epidemic of childhood obesity Childhood obesity is an important issue because of this diseases
impact over the past few years. With the changing of lifestyles, the production of children who are
not as healthy as they should be has increased. Due to these results, a widespread of children being
obese has occurred. The Center for Disease Control, CDC, distinguishes between being overweight
and being obese. Overweight simply means that the weight is high compared to others in the same
height category. According to the CDC, obesity means "an excessively high amount of body fat . . .
in relation to lean body mass" (CDC). There are so many factors of childhood obesity. Some might
say it's the parent and some might say that it's from advertisements. Childhood obesity can be a
combination of factors scientific, genetic, cultural, or even environmental. The debate over
childhood obesity and its factors has been going on for decades. The CDC estimated that around one
out of three children are obese and the numbers are on the rise. Obesity affects around seventeen
percent of children in the United States. There are many other factors that can cause children to be
obese like no exercise, eating junk food, being lazy, also the child's surrounding can affect them.
Some people may argue that the lifestyle changes are bigger contributions to the rising number of
childhood obesity. There are many serious diseases that can a result from being obese. Although
advertisements targeted

People make conscious decisions when they gorge their mouths with ninety–nine cent triple
cheeseburgers that takes two minutes to make. Yeah America is great and all, but obesity is not. The
McDonalds, Jack in the Box, Carl's Jr, on every corner is driving America down a very unhealthy
and scary road. As time goes on people find new ways to be lazy. There needs to be an epidemic for
exercise, and healthiness. The normal body type should be fit and lean, not over weight and fat.
There needs to be a scare across America where people are being too healthy, and too fit, not too
large, and too unhealthy. Although the portion size of food, and quality of food is a part of the
obesity problem, people need to exercise to end this epidemic of obesity. To keep a healthy body,
people need to exercise. Exercising burns the calories, fats, and oils from unhealthy food necessary
to keeping a healthy body weight. When I was a younger, around the age of eight, my friend had a
personal trainer so we could make youth football weight regulations. I remember something very
specific he said, "I can go eat ten pounds of ice cream, then as long as I worked hard enough to burn
all of those calories I just ate I wont worry about gaining weight"(Johnson). I always think back to
that quote when I go on a junk food eating spree. In addition, DeAngelis writes, "Among his simple
suggestions is using a step counter to log an extra 2,000 steps a day the distance, roughly a mile that
it takes to burn

The Obesity Epidemic
Introduction The World Health Organization defines being overweight or obese as abnormal or
excessive fat accumulation that may impair an individual's state of health. One asks themselves,
how being overweight or obese can be measured? Measuring or classifying an individual of being
overweight or obese can be done by measuring an individual's body mass index or BMI. BMI is an
index that classifies individuals to determine if they are either underweight, normal weight,
overweight or obesity. BMI can be easily calculated by an individual's weight in kilograms divided
by the square of individual's height in meters (kg / m^2). According to the World Health
Organization, an individual is classified by BMI, in the following order: underweight = <18.5,
normal weight = 18.5–24.9, overweight = 25–29.9, obesity = >30. BMI is useful to measure
population because it is standardized in both sexes and all ages in adults. According to the WHO,
overweight and obesity is the fifth leading risk global deaths. Being overweight or obese can lead to
diabetes, osteoarthritis, cardiovascular diseases (heart disease, stroke) and certain cancers
(endometrial, breast and colon). Epidemiologists and others in respect fields have figured out the
causes that lead to being overweight or obese. The main cause s an energy imbalance between
calories consumed and calories expended. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the
WHO have seen that globally an increased intake of energy–dense foods

The Obesity Epidemic Essay
Obesity rates are soaring throughout North America (What Is Obesity?, 2013). With obesity
reaching almost epidemic proportions in the United States, and the threat of a global epidemic, we
must watch this alarming increase carefully ( Health Risks of Obesity, 2013). Obesity is defined as:
"...an excess of adipose tissue..." (A Report of the Surgeon General, 2014). The two most common
measures of obesity are Body Mass Index (BMI is a ratio of weight to height) and relative weight
index, such as percent desirable weight (Body Mass Index , 2013). BMI is the most frequently used
measure of obesity as it has a strong correlation with more direct measures of adiposity, such as
underwater weighing (A Report of the Surgeon General, 2013). Some ... Show more content on
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With over 22.5% of the current U.S. population considered to be clinically obese, compared to only
14.5% in 1980, there does not seem to be a cessation of this epidemic in sight (Hill & Peters, 1998).
Goran and Weisners' (2000) proposal that "... the inherently lower resting metabolic rate in women
versus men is responsible for the higher adiposity rates in women..." is wanting, especially since the
potentially modifiable factors of; less physical strength, less daily free–living physical activity, and
lower total energy expenditure are more likely the cause of the differences in observed adiposity
between men and women. Since our genetic makeup has not appreciably changed in the last twenty
years, we cannot strictly attribute the explosion of obesity to genetics. As these biological causes of
obesity are disproved, a focus on the environment as a reason for obesity is taking centre–stage.
With a multitude of environmental factors playing an ever–increasing role in the reasons for obesity,
it is hard to focus on one reason as the 'root' cause of obesity. Ever–decreasing levels of physical
activity, married with poor dietary habits are two likely causes of the obesity epidemic. Samaras et
al. (1999) concluded that physical activity is the strongest environmental influence on total–body
fat–mass in healthy middle–aged women. An inverse relationship was clearly apparent between
physical activity and total–body and

The Epidemic of Childhood Obesity
Introduction Childhood obesity is an epidemic that goes on throughout the United States. Studies
have shown how obesity in children may start, and how it affects each and every child in America.
Childhood obesity has been getting attention in the media from famous celebrities all the way to the
First Lady of the United States. There are many things that cause childhood obesity and very few
ways to stop it. However, there are people out there who are trying to help by getting children
active, eating healthy and getting back on track to having a healthy and long life. Background
Childhood obesity has been a growing problem in the United States. Reports beginning in 1960
there were few being recorded, because of that childhood obesity was not a problem in the
beginning stages. Since then numbers of obesity in children has increased over 20 percent
throughout the years. Beginning in the early 2000's is when childhood obesity became the epidemic
it once was, millions of fast food restaurants were being built all over across America. Also, children
started becoming less active and becoming more involved with technology. However, because of
childhood obesity becoming a problem it has caught the attention of the First Lady Michelle Obama
and she has made it a goal to help children in America get in shape, be active, and join her "Let's
Move" campaign. Because Michelle Obama started the campaign, it started to get attention in the
media and from celebrities who wanted to join on

Summary: The Epidemic Of Obesity
Obesity, a seven–letter word that is verbalized frequently in America and leads to negative
byproducts. Though the english word may only be seven letters, the negative outcomes are more
complex than the word itself. Obesity refers to someone who is overweight or over the amount
considered healthy. A Healthline articles states, "Children who have a body mass index (BMI) at the
same level or higher than ninety–five percent of their peers are considered to be obese" (Roth 1).
When someone's BMI reaches a certain level, they are considered to be at a level that creates even
worse health problems. This word has created more than a problem, it is an epidemic throughout
America. This epidemic is growing within the future of America, the children. ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
Parents play a crucial role in the prevention of obesity because they set the stage for their child.
When a healthy atmosphere is built, children follow and create healthy lives. At a young age,
children follow and adopt the ways of life from their parental roles. Thus, children adopt health
habits, food consumption, television screening time, and amount of physical activity from the people
they look up to. If parents are eating unhealthy foods and spending numerous hours watching
television, children observe these actions and copy them. As toddlers mature and grow, they build
personal preferences and actions from their parents habitual actions of unhealthy or active lives. As
a parental role, restrictions on video games, computer and cell phone time is essential for the
salubrity and well–being of children. An article written by Ron Benaroch states that diet and activity
plays the most imperative roles in children's weight (1). With diet and activity, parents create and set
up their child's routine and patterns. Thus, parents must be an example if they are truly serious about
the health of their children. Though it is easy for parents to pick up fast–food after a long and tiring
day at work or put their kids in front of the television for their own sanity, parents must be
intentional and consistent. Parents must monitor what kids watch and what they

The comprehensive assortment of convenient processed foods high in sugar, salt and fat, frequently
marketed in large serving sizes with excessive sides, has ultimately made selecting healthy eating
choices more difficult for the average consumer and policymakers. Various health experts maintain
the onslaught of advertising and promotion surreptitiously and unfavourably influencing ingestion
patterns and food partialities of individuals further complicates the issue. There has been substantial
encouragement, which has pressured governments and politicians to implement restrictions on the
publicising of unhealthy foods, particularly those targeting children. (Jolly, R. 2011) Researchers of
the epidemic of obesity are inclined to emphasise environmental aspects, including the convenience
of high–calorie appetising junk foods in conjunction with the influence of television programming,
video games, computers and tablets that discourage exercise. Theoretically, there are two
consequences to regular television viewing, which are a decrease in physical movement and an
increase in consumption of junk food as a result of junk food advertisement exposure. While there is
a continuing dispute regarding how food commercials impact the occurrence of obesity amongst
children and adolescents and, despite lacking evidence of a direct correlation between childhood
obesity and junk food advertising, numerous countries, including Norway, Finland and Sweden,
have prevented fast–food companies

The Obesity Epidemic What is obesity? A condition characterized by the excessive accumulation
and storage of fat in the body; obesity is when someone is so overweight that it is a threat to their
health ("What is Obesity?"). Obesity is an increasing global health problem. Corpulence is an
important matter because of the astounding magnitudes that this disease has reached in the past 30
years ("Health and Aging"). Obesity is the reason for nearly 10 percent of the national medical
budget, which in this country it cost about $150 billion yearly. It is estimated that one in six children
and one in three adults are obese. Obesity is an epidemic not only in the United Stated but in several
other parts of the world. The top four countries being Mexico, New Zealand, Chile, and Australia;
worldwide obesity has nearly doubled since 1980 (Richard "Obesity Rates"). Obesity is the main
cause of death, related to heart disease, cancer, musculoskeletal disorders, diabetes, and several
other health risks. In order to better comprehend obesity, it is important to explore exactly what
obesity is and the potential causes of, what types of diseases, issues related with obesity and some of
the paths that could be taken to aid the situation. What can people as individuals do to prevent being
overweight or obese? At hand there is no simple resolution to the obesity epidemic. Obesity today is
described as an "epidemic," one of the most substantial health threats to Americans (especially the

Childhood Obesity : The Obesity Epidemic
Childhood obesity is not just an issue in United States– it is an growing epidemic. Obesity epidemic
in kids has increased by alarming rate just in last few decades. Nearly one in every five child is
obese in the United States. If the pattern of obesity continued on most of America's children will be
living with diabetes, heart disease, and dying young due to obesity. The American Heart Association
reported this year that childhood obesity is the top health concern among parents in the United
States, beating out smoking and drug abuse. My own younger siblings suffer with child obesity.
Their craving for fast food and very limited physical activity has made them overweight and
currently they suffer from health problems. Is this the future of our young generation? How much
contribution should a parent have in their child's diet? Fast food has taken over American diet and it
has lead to poor nutritional diet among American youth. Fast food companies spend billion of
dollars every year on commercials, convincing youth to love and eat their product. It's just not our
eating habits that has lead our young generation into obesity, lack of physical workout has also
played a major role in obesity epidemic. TV, computer, video games and other technology
entertainment has contributed to children getting no exercise. Obesity in children can put them in
high risks of developing chronic and serious illness. Unhealthy weight leads to having weaker lungs,
poor blood quality, heart

Obesity Epidemic Analysis
Imagine being at a friend's funeral, where the parents had to lamentably bury their young child, all
due to poor food and health that has dispersed throughout America. Although America is one of the
most prosperous countries in the world, it is also the unhealthiest country. The world's view of
American society consists of people having a Big Mac in one hand and holding a remote control in
the other. Obesity has begun to be a growing epidemic that has been in debate. The definition of
obesity is the condition in which an individual has an abundant amount of grossly fat and being
extremely overweight. Obesity has since been officially recognized as a disease by the American
Medical Association an action that could put more emphasis on the health ... Show more content on
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According to Shannon Brownlee, in It's Portion Distortion That Makes America Fat, demonstrates
how portions began to enlarge by stating, "As early as 1972, for example, Mcdonald's introduced its
large–size fries (large being a relative term, since at 3.5 ounces the '72 "large" was smaller than a
medium serving today"(13). The author supports the fact that portion distortion led to obesity due to
the fact that portions began to increase at an alarming rate, which led to more consumption of the
unhealthy calories. This is a great point to address because it can be argued that it was due to the
way that portions have evolved and american society has chosen to eat the way that they eat, no one
has forced it upon them. However, this concept is in a way to blame because Americans had no say
and no ability in changing or maintaining the portions that were back in the 1970's. In today's
society, individuals only buy what is offered in stores or restaurants and do cannot do anything about
it. Mark Bittman, in Bad Food? Tax It, and Subsidize Vegetables, states "Their mission is not public
health, but profit, so they'll continue to sell the health–damaging food that's most profitable, until the
market or another force skews things otherwise." This quote demonstrates that it is not america's
fault that obesity is on the rise and obesity should be considered a disease because if all this junk is
to blame then all the effects that come with it should be considered or taken care

Preventing Obesity Epidemic
A hefty life
Sunday's are meant to be spent at home slumped in bed watching either your favorite series or a
newly discovered movie from Netflix. Whatever the case, it's completely inevitable not to munch
out while doing so. Whether it be some leftovers, delivery food or even a fast run to the store.
Without thought, fast food is the go to. Most will argue that obesity is a disease, as of 2001 the
nation's surgeon general referred to obesity as an epidemic. (CQR: Preventing Obesity, Mantel), but
it's evident to see that obesity is based on a lifestyle, in the end it is us who decide what we consume
and how active we are.
The numbers are high more than a third of adults in the U.S are obese or overweight and about
300,000 of Americans die each ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
For example, a student special at Bush's Chicken costs six dollars, this includes a biscuit, a drink of
choice, chicken tenders and fries; aside from a caesar salad at McAlister's that costs about six dollars
plus the extra charge of your choice of drink. Convenience stores like Stripes or 7/11 and restaurants
like McDonalds and Denny's are open twenty fours making it accessible to eat at any moment and
although they may offer some "healthy" options most if not all people don't opt for those them
because of affordability. Moreover, one American out of four eats at a fast–food restaurant every day
(CQR: Obesity) incrementing their chances to face health problems. Overeating can cause problems
to one's well–being, in fact 44 million Americans are considered medically obese (CQR: Obesity
Epidemic, CDC 2002). CDC Director Thomas Frieden says "We need intensive, comprehensive and
ongoing efforts to address obesity. If we don't more people will get sick and die from obesity–
related conditions such as heart disease, stroke, type two diabetes and certain types of cancer."
(CQR: Obesity

In April 2018, ABC's Four Corners program aired an episode about the rising obesity levels in
Australia and the link between high processed foods, mainly sugars, and the rising obesity trend.
Health professionals are calling this rise the "Obesity Epidemic" as from 2017, 63% of adults and
27% of children are above the healthy weight level compared to 1988 where only 10% of people
were considered overweight (ABC, 2018). Many believe the rise in obesity levels are due to the rise
of cheap fast food products, an intake of excess added sugar e.g. soft drinks, and a lack of physical
exercise. This "obesity epidemic" is the leading health issue in the western world and can have great
effects on a a persons health and can act as a catalyst to more ... Show more content on
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Type 2 diabetes can be caused by obesity as the excess fat (mainly abdominal) can effect the body's
insulin and result in an insulin resistance (Salk Institute, 2009). Dr Gary Fettke, an orthopaedic
surgeon from Tasmania, stated on Four Corners that at least 4400 amputations (mainly feet and legs
due to ulcers) were performed last year due to the spike in type 2 diabetes resulting from the
increasing obesity levels (ABC, 2018) Fettke also stated that he believes that the rise of diabetes and
obesity directly relates to the rise in high sugar and high refined carbohydrates found in processed
foods. Obesity is also closely linked to heart disease and strokes as people suffering from obesity
have higher blood sugars, pressure and cholesterol which are all common high risk factors related to
heart diseases and

Over the last 15 years the rise in obesity has reached global epidemic proportions (World Health
Organisation (WHO), 2015). Obesity is defined as an "abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that
may impair health." Body Mass Index (BMI) is a common tool used to measure a person 's weight in
kilograms divided by their height in meters squared (kg/m2) (WHO, 2015). An individual with a
BMI greater than or equal to 30 is considered clinically obese (WHO, 2015). However this may not
be the most valid way of measuring obesity as it does not take into account muscle which weighs
considerable more than fat (WHO, 2015). The National Health Service (NHS) therefore
recommends using waist circumference as a more valid measurement of body fat (NHS, ... Show
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Research indicates that in the Western world, there are three primary factors that have caused a rise
in obesity; overconsumption of energy dense foods in large portions (Ello–Martin, 2005) poverty
(James, 2008) and sedentary lifestyles including reduced physical activity (Chaput et al, 2010).
These three factors have contributed to an imbalance between energy consumption and energy
expenditure. This is also mirrored in the developing world as they have adopted an increasingly
westernised lifestyle with the Middle East, Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia and China facing the
greatest threat (Hossain et al, 2007). It appears that the most common cause of the obesity epidemic
is the overconsumption of energy dense foods in large portions. Foods produced in large quantities
tend to be of poor quality and high in both calories and saturated fat. Energy dense foods are tastier,
cheaper, and more readily accessible. Ready meals from supermarkets have also seen a massive
growth and alongside it, a substantial rise in the intake of fat. Packaged food that is found on
supermarket shelves is often high in saturated fat, sugar and salt. Ello–Martin, Ledikwe, and Rolls
2005 state that "Fat increases the energy density of a food to a greater extent than either
carbohydrate or protein." Studies that have shown that

Obesity is an immense epidemic that is drastically increasing world wide (Pandita et al., 2016). It is
present virtually in all countries globally and continues to grow rapidly. Obesity is a problem that
affects countless number citizen's across the globe and is caused by various of factors within their
lifestyle (Pandita et al., 2016). The World Health Organization states that " Worldwide obesity has
tripled since 1975" (WHO,2018). This statistics proves how vigorously obesity has grown over a
certain timeframe and how it will still continue to grow at a steady rate. It is a worldwide epidemic
that many individuals especially children struggle to cope with on a daily basis. There are various of
factors that provoke the growth of obesity. Possible

The obesity epidemic has now become one of the most pressing issues of our time. In fact, the
World Health Organization (WHO) said "...obesity has more than doubled worldwide since 1980. In
2014, more than 1.9 billion adults (39 percent of Earth's adult population) were overweight. That
includes 600 million who were obese" (Kiener 2015). In the United States, slightly more than one
third of adults are obese (FRAC 2016), and obesity–related deaths make up 18% of all deaths, which
is now more than three times more prevalent than once estimated (Fox 2013). For most of its
history, however, many have misinterpreted obesity as a lifestyle problem that effect only "lazy"
individuals when the opposite is true. Obesity is an issue that goes beyond ... Show more content on
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In addition, children who live with parents who have less than 12 years of education,have an obesity
rate of 3.1 times higher (30.4%), compared to children whose parents have college degrees (9.5%);
this goes along with children living below the poverty level having an obesity rate 2.7 times higher
than children that live above it (State of Obesity). Overall, children who live in low–income
communities are 20–60% more likely to be either overweight or obese than children who live in
higher socioeconomic status and healthier environments (State of Obesity). Of the 50 states in this
country, research has shown that nine of the ten most obese states are located in the South (Frohlich
and Peters 2016). Mississippi was found to have the nation's highest obesity rate, 35.3%, compared
to the nation's state with the lowest obesity rate Colorado, 20.1% (Frohlich and Peters 2016).
Researchers found that the reason for this is because, "the increase in illness and hospitalizations
drives up healthcare costs both for individuals and for health systems" (Frohlich and Peters 2016).
In fact, there is a shown correlation between states with higher obesity rates and the states with the
highest healthcare costs: Louisiana, the country's second most obese state, leads the nation in annual
healthcare costs whereas Colorado, the country's least obese state, has the lowest healthcare costs in
the country, thus making it easier for people

The Epidemic Of The Obesity Epidemic Essay
Introduction The World Health Organization (WHO) defines obesity as the excessive accumulation
of fat that puts the person's health at risk (Lenzi et al., 2015). The prevalence of obesity has
increased worldwide over the past three decades. According to Holtz (2016), obese people have
outnumbered the undernourished, with the World Health Organization estimating that 1.9 billion
adults are overweight, out of which about 600 million are obese. Given the recent trends, it is
estimated that 1.12 billion people will be obese by 2030 (Grossschädl, 2014). According to a report
by the McKinsey Global Institute, 2014), the global impact of the obesity epidemic is estimated to
be $20 trillion, or 2.8 percent of the global gross domestic product (GDP), which is on a par with the
global impact from terrorism, armed violence, smoking, and warfare. Setting the Context Presently,
the toll of the epidemic on healthcare systems alone is between 2 percent and seven percent of net
healthcare spending in industrialized economies, excluding the huge costs associated with the
treatment of heart disease and type 2 diabetes that account for up to twenty percent of healthcare
costs (Bassuk & Manson, 2008; Alosco et al., 2015). In addition to the costs to healthcare systems,
obesity undermines the productivity of employees, thereby undercutting corporate competitiveness.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2013), during the period between 2011 and 2012,
62.8 percent of Australians

The Epidemic Of Child Obesity
Over the past decade there has been an epidemic on the rise. This epidemic is child obesity. We
spend millions of dollars each year trying to help or prevent the onset of obesity. Some of the
reasons are due to our youth consuming more processed foods and not being physically active.
However, we as a society cannot just blame the laziness and not eating the correct types of foods as
the cause for obesity. This problem is more complex than people think and we can fix it, but we do
need government cooperation. There are many causes of obesity some of which are poverty, food
insecurity, parenting, and physical activity. The United States has the highest amount of people
below the poverty line in its history. Since these people make below $20,000 dollars a year, their
only way of feeding themselves is buying the cheapest food. The cheapest food in a food market is
almost always processed food. These types of foods do not have the best nutrient content. Eating
these types of foods more frequently can increase a person's risk of becoming obese. One of the
many reasons people consume processed foods is because they are very cheap "The relative price of
fresh fruits and vegetables it's gone up by 40% since 1980 when the obesity epidemic first began. In
contrast, the relative price of processed foods has gone down by about 40%" (A Place at the Table).
Since processed foods are cheap, people under the poverty line will mostly buy these types of foods.
Sometimes people under the

Obesity Is An Obesity Epidemic Exists

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