Obesity in America Essay - 1472 Words

Introduction This essay will discuss obesity in America and the statistical data found surrounding the subject. This is an interesting and personal topic and something very interesting to learn about. The essay will cover different vantage points of obesity including obesity’s relationship to poverty in the U.S., parents’ fight for more physical activity in schools to combat childhood obesity, statistical data about America’s obese population and even a spurious correlation between obesity and sleep duration in children. The relationship between obesity and health has been a major factor in drawing national attention to the growing prevalence of obesity. As the second leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States, obesity†¦show more content†¦Obese and overweight persons also represent 67 percent of those with type 2 diabetes. That is a huge number and main indicator of how unhealthy it is to be obese. Increases in weight gain, whether modest or large, can increase one’s risk of illness and death. For example, individuals who have gained 11 to 18 pounds double their risk of developing type 2diabetes, while those who gain 44 pounds or more have four times the risk of type 2 diabetes. Strong evidence suggests short-term weight loss (as modest as 5 percent to 15 percent of excess total body weight) in overweight and obese individuals reduces risk factors for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Statement of the Problem The obesity rates in the U.S. are on the rise and so many children are moving the direction of the adults they see each day indulging in unhealthy eating habits. In a study conducted by Thomson Reuters, approximately two thirds of the sample population had a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 or greater which put them in the overweight category. There is a need for awareness about the growing problem of obesity and this report will explore, in some part, promote that awareness. By 2001, almost 21 percent of adults were obese, representing a nearly 75 percent increase. Because these data are based on self-reported height and weight, obesity rates are most likely even higher than these estimates suggest.Show MoreRelatedObesity in America909 Words   |  4 Pages When discussing the issue of obesity in America, it seems to be that there is plenty of blame to go around and most of that blame falls on fast food companies. When searching for a concrete answer to the question used as my title, you will find none because there isn’t one. When asked this simple question, it is easy to blame the obesity problem on fast food considering 8 out of 10 Americans consume fast food according to a report done by the Huffington Post. But after doing more research you willRead MoreObesity in America787 Words   |  4 PagesGood news! We’re Number 2! 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