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Obesity In America Essay

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Obesity in America has always been a major health problem because of the risks and dangers associated with this chronic disease. Obesity is defined as “Weight that is higher than what is considered as a healthy weight for a given height” (CDC). Despite the attention obesity has garnered from health professionals, the media, public, and numerous educational campaigns about the risks and dangers associated with excessive weight, it is still continually rising, and with it, comes acceptance. However, obesity is a serious problem that society must address instead of tolerating it. Obesity not only brings forth various diseases such as diabetes and coronary heart disease, it also affects the economy drastically, forces individuals to live in a highly consumerist way, and changes the …show more content…

Not only would it create a healthier future for everyone, but it would also pave the way to a stronger economy. An unhealthy diet brings about a plethora of diseases, which includes obesity. According to the Food Research and Action, obesity rates have doubled since the 1970’s and is the leading public health problem in the U.S. Nearly two-thirds of adults are obese. The increased prevalence of obesity in America is believed to be related to “the typical Western diet-frequent, large meals high in refined grains, red meat, unhealthy fats, and sugary drinks” (HSPH). In the simplest sense, obesity occurs when the amount of calories taken surpasses the amount of calories burned, because the extra calories are then stored by the body as fat. Nowadays, the general population of America is constantly living the consumerist lifestyle. Americans lead lives that require heavy demands, thus eradicating time that can be spent towards being more healthy. Thus, it is no surprise that Americans resort to fast food restaurants as their source for nutrition. In fact, according to NPR,” everyday, about 1 in 3 kids in the U.S. is chowing down on fries, burgers, pizza or other fast-food

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