Obesity Blows Up In America

By James Hairston

In an age where food is a major part of people’s lives, it is not a shock that the American people are on the path to an obesity epidemic. Food is everywhere, from advertisements on television, billboards on the road, to those small vending machines down the hall in the workplace. It is hard for one to resist the temptation of a Thickburger from Hardees or a Big Mac from McDonalds. These temptations are also the reason why America is one the unhealthiest country in the nation today.

A major cause of obesity in America is simply the improper lifestyle that many people are living. Today’s society makes it difficult for people to make healthy food decisions. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity in adults has increased over 50% within the past twenty years and has tripled in our youth in the past thirty. Instead of eating foods that are rich in nutrients along with wholesale foods that come from the land, many Americans choose to eat processed, packaged and refined foods.

Over the past thirty years, fast food restaurants have become mainstream to people by providing them with the luxury of quick services, great-tasting food along with cheap prices. With all of those advantages it is hard for some to avoid the temptation of going to a fast food place after a long day of work or a quick snack that is needed before of after one’s activities. Convenient as these fast food meals may be, they do not contain any type of nutrients.

The fast food industry spends billion of dollars yearly promoting their foods to the nation. The average child views over 10,000 food advertisements on TV every year and more than half are for unhealthy foods. Along with promoting these foods to adults, fast food chains are also signing contracts with schools, making it impossible for the youth of today to eat healthier.

Director of the Center for Human Nutrition at the University of Colorado’s Health Sciences James Hill, Ph.D states, “We are in an environment that encourages us to be inactive. While technology is good, it has made us more sedentary. We have even built our cars to hold our food.”

Behind tobacco, obesity has become one of the leading causes of death in America. Along with factors such as poor dieting and lack of physical activity, genetics and even certain medical disorders cause obesity. With hard work, determination and accountability, one can conquer obesity, but it is the American society that needs to recognize the problem and attempt to solve it. Put the remote down, get off the couch and go for a nice, brisk jog!