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Obesity In America Essay

760 Words4 Pages

Is it the nation’s goal to maximize obesity? The consumption of highly processed food has taken an enormous toll on the nation’s health. The government has tried many things to combat the rise of obesity. There have been initiatives to improve the health of Americans through nutrition. “Starting over a century ago, the USDA has empowered Americans to make healthy food choices by providing a number of publications, food guidance symbols, and, more recently, a suite of interactive online tools” (A Brief History of USDA Food Guides, 2017). These initiatives have not been enough. It's time to try something different. “Economic factors are central to the obesity epidemic” (Brownell & Horgen, 2004, p. 238). An excise tax on junk food, combined …show more content…

A major contributing factor to obesity is a poor diet. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third (36.5%) of U.S. adults have obesity (Adult Obesity Facts, 2017). Obesity causes many health problems, and research has shown that there are links between obesity and more than thirty medical conditions (Brownell & Horgen, 2004). Some of those conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and some forms of cancer. Obesity-related heart disease and diabetes are among the most common American afflictions, and in many cases, is wholly preventable through better nutrition. Better nutrition for all Americans would cause the rate of obesity to go …show more content…

Shouldn’t people be free to make the choice to eat unhealthy, processed food? People are responsible for their own actions, and they’ll have to pay the health consequences of poor nutrition. But an individual’s seemingly personal choices affect society. Some people argue against a tax on junk food because they do not want the government to tell them how they should be eating. But the government already has policies that affect public health. There are taxes on cigarettes and alcohol, and legislation mandating seatbelts and helmets. These policies are put in place for the good of the

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Junk food is responsible for the growing rate of obesity. This is outlined by David freedman in his article of “How junk food can end obesity.” David Freedman has credited the “health-food” motion, and followers of it along with Michel Pollan. Freedman claims that if the America desires to stop the obesity epidemic, or at least reduce its effects, they must shift to the fast meals and processed meals enterprise for assist, now not the “health-food” movement.

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1223 Words | 5 Pages

Radley Balko’s essay “What You Eat Is Your Business, in They Say, I Say, the author argues that the government should take more targeted initiatives in dealing with obesity. Within the last 15 years, the United States government has implemented numerous laws and initiatives to try to make America healthy again. However, are they working? The daily lives of Americans seem to revolve around food, whether it be eating healthy and following the food pyramid, or on the other end of the spectrum, eating fast food for every meal and snacking on junk food. There are larger issues that the government could be handling, yet they choose this obesity epidemic over pressing day-to-day problems.

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670 Words | 3 Pages

Almost 3 in 4 men (74 percent) are considered to be overweight or obese” (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases). The government should be able to control and limit our food options. This will improve our health, help us save money, and live an overall happier life. If the government regulated Americans’ diets it would change our country and citizens’ health for the better. Many Americans who are obese or overweight can be taught to eat healthier and possibly lose the weight that is physically and mentally dragging them down.

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995 Words | 4 Pages

American Obesity Essay “ Exercise , eat healthier , and start eating less , “ are just a few things people hear daily when talking about a healthy lifestyle . Our generation thinks that obesity is simple to overcome or simply blame on one another , however we have to really focus on why, and whose fault it really is. With the new year come resolutions , and some of those resolutions are to lose weight, if only it were that simple. We should start focusing less on the gym , and more on the real problem , which is the food industries advertisements food availability, and growing serving sizes.

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1274 Words | 6 Pages

Obesity has become a major issue in the United States today. The number of people who are overweight has increased dramatically. A study done by the Centers of Disease Control showed that since 1980, one third of our adult population has become overweight. America is known as the richest nation but also we’ve become the fattest nation as well (Rutten). There was a time when Americans went crazy over being fit and healthy they dieting, jumping onto the treadmills, and buying prepackaged non-fat foods.

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486 Words | 2 Pages

In America, a lot of us love food! Food is essential because it gives us nutrition and energy for our bodies to properly function. However, the biggest problem that we as Americans face is obesity. Obesity is a disorder that involves excessive body fat, and can lead to health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer, and death. In order to lower the number of people affected by obesity, many programs are now implemented.

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1655 Words | 7 Pages

The United States has been overwhelmed by obesity and obesity related diseases which has led to the acceptance of a new norm. The percentage of obese and overweight individuals has reached an all time high because of high consumption rates of unhealthy foods. Processed foods became very easily accessible and caused a large increase in consumption which began in 1980. People started to over consume these processed goods which resulted in weight gain and other unhealthy side effects. The increase in overweight individuals created a negative image that currently represents the United States as the most overweight country in the world.

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1281 Words | 6 Pages

There are many possible alternatives that can change obesity in the nation, such as lower prices of healthy foods, educating the public on how to manage their diet, and make economy encourage everyone to get on board with the new change that needs to happen. In order to fix the nationwide issue, all Americans need to take personal responsibility, to become

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432 Words | 2 Pages

Cheaper sugar substitutes that have been added to more a wider selection of foods and lower food prices combined with bigger portions lead to increasing calorie intakes. All those aspects have contributed to the rising number of obese Americans. Obesity does not only affect the physical health, it also brings mental, social and financial problems, leading to an altogether burdensome life. The excess weight caused by unhealthy eating habits and lifestyle choices results in increasing the risk of diabetes, heart diseases, cancer, high blood pressure and sleep apnea and a lowered life expectancy to the point that children have a good chance to die at a lower age than their parents.

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788 Words | 4 Pages

Has anyone ever wondered about America’s Obesity problem and whether it could be solved or not? American is a very obese country! According to the Food Research and Action Center chart located online, “In the US: 68.5% of adults are overweight or obese whereas 34.9% are obese, and lastly 31.8% of children and adolescents are overweight or obese and other children are 16.9% obese; of these children who are low income and overweight and obese 30.4% are preschoolers” (Carroll).

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656 Words | 3 Pages

Americans today are well-known for their eating habits. With all the options the food industry gives us it makes it hard to go to the grocery store and resist picking up that bag of barbeque-flavored chips or blueberry flavored candy. Due to these processed foods obesity is a growing epidemic in our country and who is to blame for it? In an article entitled “What You Eat is Your Business” by Radley Balko, Balko argues for less government intervention. Balko believes is it our responsibility to take care of ourselves and make it a priority.

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1067 Words | 5 Pages

The government should make the food industries reinforce their dietary supplements in the food they are providing for the people. The problem all starts with the food that is being consumed by the people. If the policies in the food industries are stricter and if they reduce the amount of fats and sugars they use, this can significantly decrease numerous risk factors that the people are facing. It all starts with the food and people’s willingness to fight against this disease. If the government helps with this issue the number of obese people would decrease immediately.

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959 Words | 4 Pages

stein and A. colditz 2009). The growth of obesity has reached to a limit where serious actions must be taken, since 1986 throughout to 2006 18.2% of the American population have experienced mortality due to obesity (Laidman, 2013). Although the death toll has increased, the government seems not to be paying attention to these evaluated statistics that has been occurring over the past 20 to 30 years (the epidemic of obesity, 2009). However not enough contradictions have been found towards this sub-topic as the statistics and statement is the only evidence and motivation in order for the government to take this issue with further actions. Government involvement becomes an important fact to this situation.

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1518 Words | 7 Pages

Obesity is a major problem in the United States, and with all the special privileges given to its people, America has become very lazy. With portion sizes rising and physical activity decreasing, it is easy to see how the rates on obesity has risen over the years in America. Obesity is a major problem that needs to be resolved because it affects all people of every gender, age, and race are at risk of being obese. Obesity rates in America have nearly doubled rather tripled within the last twenty years due to the many privileges that the American people have before us. Something must be done to overcome decrease the

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606 Words | 3 Pages

To change the world we need to combat obesity! Being that obesity is the 5th leading cause of deaths worldwide it has become a major issue (EASO, n.d.). Obesity is no longer just in the high income countries we associate it with, it’s now prevalent in middle and low income countries as well. This is cause for concern because now 65% of the world’s population lives in a country where more people die from being overweight or obese instead of being underweight. Death is an extreme when it comes to obesity, but still likely, and it’s mostly seen in the elderly.

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