Why is America obese? Obesity is defined as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or over. BMI depends on an individual’s height, sex and age. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ¨In the United States, nearly 35 percent of adults are obese¨. Obesity is now considered a chronic disease by the American Medical Association. While some people do not take their health into consideration, obesity is an ongoing epidemic in America.
There are several reasons why the obesity rate in America is increasing. Unhealthy eating and inactivity are the main contributors. Fast food and eating out has become a large part of the fast-paced lifestyle in America. According to the National Center for Health Statistics ¨ about 37% of US adults consume fast food on any given day.¨(Last name or Title of Article ). Fast foods tend to be high in calories, salt, fat and sugar which can lead to may health problems. Eating healthy is not the end of it, there has also been a decrease in physical activity. Research states that ¨ in 1960 one out of two americans had jobs that were physically active. Now it estimated that only one in five americans achieve relatively high levels of physical activity at work. Most americans do to get enough exercise. Unfortunately, not eating healthy and not being active can lead to obesity.
Being obese or overweight can have a serious impact on health. Obesity can lead to health risks such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure,and type two diabetes. Research states that ¨Obesity is a serious concern because it is associated with poorer mental health outcomes, reduced quality of life, and the leading causes of death in the U.S. and worldwide, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancer¨ (¨Overweight & Obese¨11). Although this may sound affecting enough, other factors may also sound scary. Medical expenses related to obesity is increasing. According to Public Health ¨Per capita, the cost of medical care for obese patients is estimated to be somewhere between 36% to 150% higher than for non-obese patient¨.
There are many ways to prevent obesity. Eating healthy and physical activity are among the most effective methods. According to Stanford Health Care ¨Many of the strategies that produce successful weight loss and maintenance will help prevent obesity. Improving your eating habits and increasing physical activity play a vital role in preventing obesity.¨ (¨Obesity Prevention¨,1). For example, eating healthy may include eating five to six servings of fruits and vegetable daily, choosing whole grains over processed foods, and avoid eating out and drinking sugary beverages. Physical activity is another important factor. Research states ¨Get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity a week, or a combination of moderate and vigorous activity. The guidelines suggest that you spread out this exercise during the course of a week. Even small amounts of physical activity are helpful, and accumulated activity throughout the day adds up to provide health benefit¨.
In conclusion,obesity is an ongoing epidemic in America. Obesity’s main contributors are inactivity and unhealthy eating. Not eating healthy and staying active can lead to serious health risks such as heart disease, type two diabetes and depression. Being obese or overweight can cause medical expenses to increase. Eating health and physical activity are among the most effective ways to prevent obesity. Being educated and aware if this epidemic can help influence future generations.
