In the article “The Fat Tax,” Jonathan Rauch ironically discusses the new public policy concern with obesity. Although the article is a satire, it’s economic analysis is actually valid. In order to get his point across, Rauch uses sarcasm, appeals to logos, and degrades the issue of obesity to help Americans better understand the “big picture.” Moreover, if the diet of American consumers does not change then maybe advertising more exercise to lose weight will cut down the obesity rate; but to be just as effective, enacting the fat tax will improve health as well.
James Hamblin wrote the article Body Weight, Clash of Ideologies for The Atlantic on January 16, 2015. Hamblin (2015) stated media has an important role in educating the public on what obesity is, therefore influencing policy. Hamblin (2015) wrote about a meeting of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) where he spoke about media's part in obesity. According to Hamblin (2015) reduction of obesity rates has been slow because the public does not understand obesity is a biopsychosocial disease.
He continues on to describes this effect of obesity and how it has influenced the food industry and society. The article then outlines the traits and analyses of two of the most popular diets; low-fat and low-carb. These regimens, however, are viewed as impractical in Dr. Foreyt’s mind, as he believes “only the caloric intake level matters,” (Foreyt 1). There are many who do agree with Dr. Foreyt’s beliefs. Time magazine writer, Alexandra Sifferlin, also has similar view with Foreyt, as evidence states “low-calorie group(s) managed to eliminate about 12% of its dietary calories and lost an average of 10% of body weight, keeping the pounds off for the full two years”
Using Research to Support Assertions Madison Houchin Purdue University Using Research to Support Assertions Thesis Statement: While the National Association of Sports and Physical education recommends that schools should allow students one-hundred and fifty minutes a week of physical education only six states adhere to the recommendation (Brochman,2011) therefore schools across the nation need to strengthen their policies and require physical education due to the fact that the lack of physical education has greatly contributed to sedentary lifestyles and childhood obesity. Obesity Action Coalition » What is Childhood Obesity? (n.d.). Retrieved May 8, 2018, from http://www.obesityaction.org/understanding-obesity-in-children/what-is-childhood-obesity
By concluding that obesity is one of the greatest problems America faces today, the result of change can only be measured by one’s desire for it. Everywhere we look, we see fitness gyms, health advertisements, and even all-organic restaurants. Although we have the right approach in trying to attack this problem of obesity, I believe the willingness to stop this issue lies in each and every person. We can push supplements and vitamins on people who we think needs them but it doesn’t fix the problem. Someone who is overweight and blind to the world of physical expertise becomes intimidated, which leads to excuse after excuse.
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.
In today's society, we have more people that are obesese than every before and this problem seems to be getting increasingly worse. With factors ranging from sedentary jobs, to food prices, to lack of exercise, and even how one was raised, there are many reasons that today's Americans are becoming increasingly overweight. This epidemic has several negative effects that include physical health problems, mental health problems, lack of quality of life, and even effects our future generation's health status as well. Many Americans today have jobs where they cannot move around much throughout the day. This causes the body not to be able to burn as many calories as it would if a person were allowed to move around more freely.
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.
A main contributing factor to weight gain is the substantial amount of excess energy that people are storing without proper physical activities to counteract excess intake (1). As the weight gain epidemic continues to show no signs of slowing down in America, more and more people are being latched with a variety of weight related health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart diseases, and several cancers (2). Low activity levels amongst U.S. citizens have started to show a common trend that defends the idea that excess energy intake is the top reason behind increasing weight gain (1). Weight related health conditions amongst people in the U.S. Surveys show that there has been an increase in caloric intake by 700 calories a day from the late 1970s until present day for people who do not follow dietary rules (1), and 200 calories a day for people who do follow a dietary guideline (2). Thus, making it difficult for people who follow dietary advice because they have to regulate their diets further with changing portions (1).
Obesity is one disease which a patient has control over. Although often a discouraging process, weight loss is achievable for 99% of all patients who suffer from obesity and it simply requires education and adjustments to normal lifestyle activities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “obesity
Obesity has many adverse outcomes that include: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, musculoskeletal problems, respiratory problems, cancer, depression, anxiety, frailty, dementia, and mortality. More than two-thirds of Americans are currently either overweight or obese since they are eating unhealthy foods. The government regulation of what we eat and drink is fair because it can prevent obesity and put an end to poor health. To begin with, unhealthy food causes young children to become obese at a young age. The text states, "The kids living in states where schools don't sell junk food are not as overweight" (Source 2).
Obesity has gained a lot of attention in the recent years especially in the 21st century. Right now in America, there is an ongoing epidemic. The cause is not by viruses or bacteria, but by human nature. There is no one way to solve this serious problem. With growing body sizes and serious medical problems associated with obesity, it is a problem that needs to be addressed and changed.
In a study done with 40 obese men and women aged between 32 to 56 was found that just by reducing 5% of the total weight led to substantial improvements in health, better control of insulin in the liver, fat and muscle tissue was the sources for improvement. This study reminds the benefits of gradually approaching toward the healthy weight. Slow and healthy weight loss is considered to be last longer and then quick and easy weight loss (Clark et al., 1995). In many other studies it was seen that setting realistic small goals such as 5% weight loss was a good way to maintain healthy weight loss (Perri & Corsica,
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
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.
