OBESITY IN AMERICA

Obesity in America and Its Effects on Our Society

Obesity in America and Its Effects on Our Society

Introduction

Obesity is a chronic disease of multifactorial origin that is characterized by excessive accumulation of fat or hypertrophy, overall adipose tissue in the body. This means that when the natural energy reserve of humans and other mammals, stored as body fat increases to a point where it is associated with numerous complications such as certain health conditions, or diseases and increased mortality (Adams, 2000).

Obesity in the United States and other countries are an important and rising public fitness crisis. Obesity is growing in United States with an increasing rate. Obesity amongst adults, young people, and children is gradually more encountered in medical settings, and a responsiveness of present etiological models, evaluation strategies, and involvement methodologies is essential for the optimal organization of this significant health problem. Between 5 to 25 children per hundred are obese in USA. It comprises 15% of the children population. Obesity is an increase in excess body fats which leads to the growth of the body weight. Childhood obesity is a weight-for-height in excess of 120 percent. It is a chronic disorder which has multiple causes.

Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems, which is leading to death of many individuals in America (Sturm, 2007).

In the United States after World War I, there was a sudden change of the ideal of feminine beauty enthroning androgynous female figure, no forms of extreme thinness. This ideal of beauty of 1920s is also expanding in Europe. The elements of beauty and thinness are taken as symbols of fashion and good looks in especially the Asian countries. As a result, obesity has been stigmatized socially and culturally. This has led, as in other periods of history, an unfair blame for obese patients claiming to the fact that although we have tried to fight rationally, however, the obesity still persists in much of today's society (Kushner, 2007).

Obesity in America

As known to all long, obesity represents one of the most worrying problems of Western societies, specifically in the United States has an alarming character. It is because obesity affects the health of individuals in a direct way. The life and eating habits are the basis for many of the problems of obesity in this country and others who see obesity gains ground incessantly. Particular concern is the incidence in childhood and adolescence, and that condemns millions of children to be overweight adults, with fatal consequences for their health. Often, policy makers and public health relegate this issue to focus on other issues (Imaz, 2008).

When we talk about education and values, obesity is on the sidelines too often, despite the many problems it causes, including medical expenses resulting from enormous attention for health problems related to obesity. America needs to take seriously this problem, based on a solid education from ...