Obesity In America Essay

Today, over two-thirds of the United States population is overweight and one-third of that obese. Roughly thirty-two percent of the overweight or obese individuals are children. This is more than double the rate of obesity in the 1970s. As a result, a larger portion of tax money goes into treating obesity related diseases. “A recent study by Cornell University, for example, indicated that the annual cost of treating obesity is now $168 billion. That amounts to 16.5 percent of the country’s medical care expenses” (Casebook 630). In hope to reduce the rate of obesity in the American population, a proposal to increase the taxes of obese people has been made. Considering that not everyone is overweight or obese because of binging, gorging and physical inactivity, it is a controversial topic. However, the major factors contributing to obesity are overeating and a lack of exercise. Due to the alarming rise in obesity in the United

Cosgrove, clinic’s chief executive and heart surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic, wants to declare obesity a disease and his solution would be to stop hiring obese people to help them lose weight. He said, “People’s weight is a reflection of how much they eat and how active they are. The country has grown fat because it’s consuming more calories and burning fewer. Our national weight problem brings huge costs, both medical and economic…” (Leonhardt 637). Although Dr. Cosgrove may be on to something, his beliefs seem harsh and problematic. Yet, a “tough-love” approach could be the motivation obese and overweight people need. Granted denying an obese individual a job is discrimination based on weight, another proposition such as, executing a tax increase paid by obese people could work. A national survey conducted by Phalanx Investment Partners LLC, suggest that about forty percent of Americans support taxing the obese. This means that some obese and overweight Americans support taxing the obese