Essay on American Obesity - 1424 Words

How can a nation so concerned with how one looks also be a nation with such staggering statistics on the growing population of obese individuals? According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), â€Å"about one-third of U.S. adults are obese.† Also reported in the CDC website from the National Heart Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), â€Å"†¦ overweight and obesity conditions affect an estimated 97 million Americans, and are the second leading cause for preventable death in the United States.† Obesity is defined by the Health and Wellness Resource Center as the â€Å"excessive body weight that develops over time as people consume more calories than they expend in energy.† (Carson-De Witt, et al., 3) The body mass index, BMI, is a measure used†¦show more content†¦This is no time to play the blame game on who’s responsibility, or right it is. The fact of the matter is we are all involved and we all need to do our part. Although m uch can be done by educating parents and individuals on the cause and effect of obesity, there are many issues that need a bigger brother to step in for bigger changes to be made. This is where the U.S. Government is able to do their part. Due to the alarming rise in obesity rates, along with the issues concerned individuals face in trying to make necessary changes on their own, the U.S. Government should be involved in the fight against childhood obesity. A dramatic increase in childhood obesity from previous decades gives ample reason of a need for U.S. Government involvement. Results from surveys done in 1976-1980 and 2003-2006 by National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHHES), show obesity rate has increased from 5 to 12.4 percent for children between ages 2-5, from 6.5 to 17 percent age group 6-11 year olds, and from 5 to 17.6 percent for 12-19 year olds. (qtd. in Gale, 2010) These numbers show more specifically how the younger generation is affected by this crisis. According to the CDC, since 1980, childhood obesity rates have virtually tripled in size, causing for this negative turn in history. Former Senator Bill First writes in an editorial for The Hill, â€Å"For the first time in our nation’s history, our children and grandchildren are on track to live shorterShow MoreRelatedObesity : American Culture : Obesity997 Words   |  4 PagesMark Loftus Prof. Downie ENG 102 21 February 2016 Obesity in American Culture Obesity plays an undeniable role in today s culture. Many factors such as increased meal size, food being advertised more often, lack of physical activity required for jobs, technology becoming a necessity in everyday life hindering activity, and unhealthy food being available at almost every corner of the streets. Ethnic backgrounds also play a role in obesity. Growing up I dealt with being overweight and had toRead MoreObesity : An American Crises1062 Words   |  5 Pagesto overweight and obesity by sex and race that are statistically significant with the Hispanic group. Among children ages 2 to 19, Hispanic boys are more likely than Hispanic girls to be obese. It is noted that Hispanic boys of this age group, 2- 19 years old are obese (NCLR, 2010). The target audience for this health promotion topic is Hispanic male children ages 2 to19 years residing in Norcross Georgia. This paper focuses on the literature reviews on the prevalence of obesity within this age groupRead M oreThe American Epidemic of Obesity901 Words   |  4 Pages As Americans we have made food not only a way to live but all help us with life events, whether emotional times or celebratory events we turn to food. However our society has been consumed with unhealthy food options readily available. This has in turn caused a huge medical epidemic in America. 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In September of 2014 it was shownRead MoreEssay On Understanding The American Obesity861 Words   |  4 Pages â€Å"Understanding the American Obesity Epidemic.† Understanding the American Obesity Epidemic, Sept. 2016, www.heart.org/HEARTORG/HealthyLiving/WeightManagement/Obesity/Understanding-the-American-Obesity-Epidemic_UCM_461650_Article.jsp#.Wg2lJxNSzBI. This article is helpful for access to some statics about obesity such as â€Å"Nearly 78 million adults and 13 million children in the United States deal with the health and emotional effects of obesity every day†. I am going to use a few statistics like thisRead MoreThe Effects Of Obesity On The American Population933 Words   |  4 PagesObesity has substantially increased in the American population, affecting both adults and children. According to the Mayo Clinic, the definition of obesity is defined as a condition of increased body weight that is caused by an excessive accumulation of fat. 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