Obesity in America Obesity is a medical condition in which excessive body fat accumulates to an extent that it has a negative effect on health. Health risks involve heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, and other long-term conditions. It is important to prevent overweight and obesity among children, adolescents, and adults (“Preventing Overweight and Obesity”) because severe health risks may even lead to death. A very high percentage of The United States is affected by obesity. It needs to be prevented and treated quickly. Both Cassandra Bjork’s essay “Americans: Bigger by the Day” and Suzanne Britt’s article “That Lean and Hungry Look” explain the importance of exercise, diet, and genetics with obesity in America today. Exercise is …show more content…
Bjork explains how the modern lifestyle of the general public encourages obesity because there is no time in their busy schedules. “Many people sit all day in an office, and do not get much physical activity at all. The conveniences and technology of today contribute to a very sedentary lifestyle for much of the population (Bjork 360). Because of cars and elevators, it is also trouble-free to get from place to place rather than walking or taking the stairs. Without exercise throughout the day, a person’s energy levels will decrease because they are not staying active. Fit people will feel more energized throughout the day because they are constantly moving and fueling their body. “They’ve always got to be adoing. Give them a coffee break,” as Britt states in her article, “and they’ll jog around the block. Supply them with a quiet evening at …show more content…
This food consists of cheap, fattening products that the consumers, also known as the Americans, demand. McDonald’s is a very popular fast-food chain in the world today. They offer not only unhealthy options, but hefty portions as well. Bjork refers to the book “Fast Food Nation” by Eric Schlosser, which talks about how fast-food and obesity affect the nation’s people. “Now it’s the second leading cause of death in the United States, after smoking” (Bjork 360). Sometimes there are healthier options on the menu, such as salad, and obese people think that it is okay to eat. What they do not realize is that “it is not where you eat, but the food choices you make, and especially how much you eat… The outcome of the study indicates that eating a high-fat diet can lead to weight gain” (Bjork 361). Obesity can still be caused by eating big portions, not just unhealthy food. Britt sees eye to eye with this concept as well when she says “Thin people turn surly, mean and hard at a young age because they never learn the value of a hot-fudge sundae for eating tension” (Britt 198). Most people over eat when they are feeling stressed or have a lot of temporary problems because they think it will make the pain go away. Britt expresses her opinion about how thin people are not as nice as fat people because they never got to experience an indulged hot-fudge sundae. However, overeating unhealthy food causes them to gain more weight. To help