Why is America so overweight?

Why is America so overweight?

Most people in the United States are either overweight or obese. People who weigh too much are at a very high risk of heart disease? diabetes? and many types of cancers and various illnesses. Being obese is no longer considered as just eating too much? but is now considered to be a serious chronic disease. Not only is it not healthy to be overweight? but there are also consequences? such as social discrimination in children and adults. In the last few years? obesity rates have sky rocketed by more thank 60 percent among adults. For instance? a decade ago? type 2 diabetes was unheard of in children and adolescents? in fact the medical term was "Adult onset diabetes". (Barlow? 1-11) Now children of all ages are suffering from type 2 diabetes? asthma and the numbers are getting worse.

And how can we not be? After all it seems that everywhere you turn there is literally a fast food store in every corner? I admit that the food can be very tasty and even addictive? but very unhealthy. If you think about what the average person consumes in their daily routine its enough to make you sick.

Overweight in children and teens is generally caused by lack of physical activity? unhealthy eating patterns? or a combination of the two? with genetics and lifestyle both playing important roles in determining a child's weight. Our society has become extremely less active. Television? computer and video games contribute to children's inactive lifestyles.

How do we stop it? It's easy to say? but is very difficult in practice. (Barlow? 1-11) The answer is to eat less bad food? eat fewer calories? eat more healthful food? try and cut out the junk and exercise more. This is really the best and successful way? but when we are given the choice of the chocolate bar or a salad? I am guessing that most of us will go for the chocolate bar. Why? We know they aren't good for us? but sweets taste so good. In fact we are surrounded by such big portions of high calorie foods? it's so easy to gain but it's excruciating to lose.

Apart from that there are many theories as to why two thirds of the population in the United States is either overweight or obese. (Ebbeling? 473-482) Many people believe that those who are overweight or obese simply gorge themselves on large quantities of food. While there may be some truth to this? I believe the quality of the food that we eat in this country today is more of a factor in obesity than the quantity of the food we eat. (Barlow? 1-11)

As human beings evolved through millennia they were used to periods of starvation and abundance. During the periods of abundance humans would eat sufficient amounts that would carry them through the periods when there was insufficient food supply. Our bodies are still not that far removed from our ancestors with respect to privation and ...