Many people, when they think of an epidemic, might imagine a deadly flu or some other disease that would be fatal. Many are shocked to discover that obesity is actually an epidemic of such proportions that it is considered the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States. America has a serious ongoing obesity problem (Neuman, 2018). In America, ninety-three million adults were affected by obesity in 2015-2016. One in three Americans is obese, an additional 34% are overweight, and one-third of Americans under the age of nineteen are obese and/or overweight. Additionally, adult obesity rates exceed 35% in seven states, 30% in twenty-nine states, and 25% in forty-eight states. “Every cure for obesity must start from these three essential precepts: discretion in eating, moderation in sleeping and physical exercise”. The causes of obesity are not necessarily what we eat, but rather "why we eat": increased well-being allowing us access to more food, selection and overabundance of food choices, and self-soothing of our high stress levels using foods. all contribute to obesity. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Various levels of wealth allow people the opportunity to purchase more high-calorie foods which changes people's eating habits from home-cooked meals to unhealthy foods, not necessarily fast-food (Dhillon, 2014). In contrast, poor families depend on unhealthy nutrients because they are cheaper and more accessible to them. A study conducted at Harvard University states that consuming healthy food is more expensive and costs around $550 more per person per year, pushing people to consume cheaper unhealthy foods. Becoming obese is not as difficult as you might think. Much obesity is the result of unnecessary, tempting foods and the body's ability to digest and store that food as a fat reserve (Rogers, 1918). Everywhere people go, they are faced with tempting food choices. Whether it's the kiosks at the shopping mall, waiting in line at the supermarket checkout or going to see a film at the cinema; it seems that unhealthy food chases people. Obese people, however, will never admit these causes and instead fail to notice them. They may admit that they like certain dishes, but they will never think of eating too much. We have all fallen into the trap of stress eating, but some research shows that ancestral stress is a psychological correlate of obesity. Stress can disturb an individual's ability to maintain a strong, healthy diet. Obese patients also usually show signs of depression, anxiety and isolation. The relationship between depression and increased food intake is consistent even in children and adolescents. This leads to a lot of human suffering, a lot of wasted potential and a lot of financial stress on national health systems. Obesity impacts childhood. Childhood obesity worldwide, and particularly in the United States, is a growing problem that has received much attention. While most studies have confirmed the correlation between television watching and obesity in children, few studies have examined the effect that fast food television advertising might have on childhood obesity. Ians (2018) found that obese children are more likely to develop a debilitating hip disease, slipped capital femoral epiphysis, during adolescence. Additionally, some causes of childhood obesity are fast food and lack of exercise due to the introductionof technology (Chong, 2006). Lately, Americans have adopted an inactive lifestyle and spend most of their time in front of the TV. Thus, the average American does not engage in any physical activity, which is harmful. Likewise, because children depend on their parents to provide meals, their parents' choices determine their diets. One of the factors that influence a parent's meal choices for their family is the level of stress the family is experiencing (Chou, Rashad, & Grossman, 2008). Low-income parents are primarily at risk of high levels of chronic stress, due to the financial and emotional pressures of low-wage work, lack of access to healthcare, and inadequate housing. When parents are under stress, they may buy more fast food for their children to save time or reduce meal planning needs. Currently, obesity has an impact on healthcare costs. Obesity is a major public health crisis and something needs to be done (Singal, 2016). Being overweight puts you at a greater risk of developing complex medical conditions such as heart disease, stroke, type II diabetes, infertility, high cholesterol and some types of cancer. Type II diabetes is a disease with worrying tendencies. According to Crimmins (2015), people fail to live to their full potential because diabetes kills them. This is really a shame. Given all the causes and impacts of obesity, many Americans are trying to fight the battle against obesity, but it's difficult when food is constantly forced upon them. Being overweight is really difficult to deal with; there are health problems associated with obesity as well as depression and emotional problems (Chou, Rashad, & Grossman, 2008). Obese people live with constant reminders of their harmful habits (Chou, Rashad, & Grossman, 2008). Although the causes of obesity are many, there are just as many solutions to address the problem. According to Chong (2006), reducing calories and fat, reducing meal sizes, and providing nutritional information to consumers can reduce obesity. Americans usually try to find fast and convenient ways to do things, which is why fast-food restaurants are so popular and successful (Chong, 2006). Decreasing portion sizes would save more money in the long run if people ate less compared to the medical bills they would face. Chong (2006) states that Americans always try to profit from their money by finishing meals, thinking they are saving money. However, in the long run, they will spend more money on medical expenses such as medications and diets to cope with the negative effects of obesity (Chong, 2006). Additionally, restaurants could also increase healthy meal options as a responsible approach to obesity. reduce the risk of obesity and other chronic diseases associated with eating out. Americans rely on foods eaten outside the home for about 33% of their calorie intake. Many restaurants serve foods that contain excessive calories, fat, sugar and salt while neglecting fruits, vegetables and whole grains, the important nutritional values needed to meet the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. According to Dhillon (2014), governments should create strategies such as advertising campaigns, nutrition labels and adaptation of public transport to encourage greater physical activity and a healthier lifestyle. Not to mention that there is a simple solution to corpulence: decrease food consumption and increase physical exercise (Rogers, 1918). Losing a pound or two in a week may not seem important at first, but it will become considerable over the course of a few months. Ultimately, those who seek to9
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