American Culture Influence

Eating disorders are mental disorders that can have a serious physical complications. There are two main types of eating disorders anorexia and bulimia. These are complex disorders focusing on issues of eating, body weight, body shape. People who intentially starve themselves suffer from an eating disorder called anorexia this disorder usually begins in young people around the time of puberty, involves extreme weight loss due to starving themselves . People with bulimia consume large amounts of food and then rid there bodies of the excess calories by vomiting abusing laxatives, taking enemas or over exercising.

Anorexia is an eating disorder that struggles with the fear of gaining weight and refuses to be healthy. Another eating disorder is Bulimia, which is when you overeat followed by forced vomiting and excessive exercise. Binge Eating is one of the most common eating disorders along with Anorexia and Bulimia, Binge eating is when you lose control over one’s eating. All of these common eating disorders all suffer from guilt or depression. “Individuals with bulimia and binge eating eat large amounts of food to reduce stress” (CEDC). They also could have risky behaviors, such as dealing with drugs or alcohol or even death. People with Anorexia or Bulimia are very concerned with being overweight or in other words fat.

America is known for its advanced society and technology, but is also known to be one of the most obese populations. Found in “Down to Earth”, America is one of the most progressive countries to exist; therefore it should be the healthiest (“Obesity in America”). If America is so highly advanced, more advancement needs to be put towards obesity rates. As time goes on, adults and children are having to consequently expand their waistbands because of unhealthy habits. In an article previously discussed, Brown-well states that Americans are at an all-time low in exercising (Murray). By having less motivation to exercise, family health is at stake. Future generations need to be more pressured to keep physically fit for their health. With less motivation for a healthier lifestyle, communities across America will remain obese. According to CBS news, Americans prefer to consume Twinkies over Tofu (“The Blame Game”). With Americans not giving healthier options opportunity, less interest will be put into healthy options. Individuals are focusing on the pleasure of taste than their own well being. Internationally speaking, Americans have one of the strongest societies, but the weakest mindset for healthy living. With stubborn attitudes and continual unhealthy choices, obesity will not only stay but

The two most common eating disorders are bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa. Both disorders, primarily affect young women, therefore the majority of the research on eating disorders has been done with women subjects. The onset of bulimia is between adolescence and early adulthood while the onset of anorexia is between early and late adolescence. Not only is the onset different but the disorders are unique. Bulimia nervosa is characterized by loss of control over eating which leads to food binges. These episodes are interspersed with episodes of purging, such as vomiting or laxative abuse, to keep weight down. The goal of anorexia is also to keep weight down , but to a

The environment in which people live in plays a huge role in the choices people make when it comes to food and activities. The subliminal marketing and the easy accessibility of junk food makes America a toxic place to live. It’s tough for individuals to make the right choices when bad influences are woven into the fabric of society. What can we do to fix this widespread epidemic that is affecting the country? Small changes in a person’s lifestyle can have a drastic effect on their health. Weight gain is closely linked to “a high intake of potato chips, potatoes, [and] sugar-sweetened beverages” (“Obesity in America”). So a change in a person’s diet to a healthier one can be very beneficial. Also, exercise and physical activity can help protect against sudden weight gain. Another culprit for obesity is TV, it is one of the biggest enemies of exercise and the friend of snacking. Under the protection of the First Amendment, manufacturers have the right to promote their products freely, regardless of the negative effects it has (“Pounding Away”). Thus, many people are overly exposed and tempted by many junk or fast food products that are heavily advertised. Putting down the remote and exchanging hours of surfing the net for leisure exercise can significantly change a person’s well

More than one third of adults in the US are obese, and 8.4% of children age 2-5, almost 18% of children aged 6-11 and 20.5% of kids aged 12-19 are considered obese (Ogden, Carroll, Kit & Flegal, 2014). In 2008, obesity was estimated to cost the United States $147 billion dollars (Finkelstein, Trogdon, Cohen & Dietz, 2009). The rates of obesity among Americans of all ages points to a lack of nutrition education and a lack of cultural and institutional support for healthy eating habits.

Eating disorder is a term used to describe several psychological disorders characterized by abnormal eating habits. Some of the most common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. Anorexia nervosa is probably the most well-known of these. A person suffering from anorexia nervosa will obsess over weight gain and show unusual anxiety related to weight gain. Depending upon the type (binge-eating/purging type or restricting type) a person will either consume food and then attempt to “purge”, a term used to describe a method of forced removal of food from the body such as self-induced vomiting, or they will restrict the amount of food consumed. In most cases the person will be under healthy weight and often see themselves as average weight or even overweight. In bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorders the affected person will eat excessive amounts of food. People suffering from these diseases report feeling out of control during their binge eating episodes. In bulimia nervosa binge eating episodes are followed by some method of purging whereas in binge eating disorder they are not, although the person normally expresses feelings of guilt or embarrassment afterwards. People suffering from bulimia nervosa are usually average weight which can make detection difficult. Those with binge eating disorder are normally

In the United States, it seems that the public has constructed endless ‘solutions’ to the country’s rising weight epidemic, from fad diets to nutrition programs. According to Harvard University’s The Nutrition Source, “roughly two out of three U.S. adults are overweight or obese (69 percent) and one out of three is obese (36 percent)” (“An Epidemic”, par. 2). Interestingly enough, the majority of the ‘wonder’ regimens lack crucial aspects for effective weight-loss: Proper nutrition, incorporation of physical activity, and an individualized plan for calorie intake. Moreover, the various nutrition programs that have been implemented lack the depth and effective approach to produce continuous significant results towards the fight against obesity. When analyzing the fundamentals of fad diets and nutritional programs, we should ask ourselves a very important question: What are the flaws behind America’s approach to solving its obesity and malnutrition epidemic?

My preliminary thought (being influenced by American culture) is that it is unjust to force someone to comply with – at least some of – your beliefs. However, I also hope I can rationalize that idea. The word “force” connotatively implies, ‘to impede upon something’; in this case the impediment would be upon a form of freedom, since one is not free to make choices in what they believe. Arguably, the freedom to make choices (especially concerning beliefs) is not a human law, but a natural law of intrinsic origin, and thus, it would be unjust to hinder it.

The United States of America was extremely successful in trailblazing a new path for the growth and development of their own country, and set out to increase their power by attempting to colonize other countries and becoming allies with other foreign countries. To achieve such allies, the US would often overthrow existing governments to place a more “suitable” candidate who essentially acted as a puppet for the US. Although America’s influence in a few communities was praised as beneficial, it generally wreaked havoc in others, resulting in the destruction of previously capable governments, instability, and the creation of terrorist organizations.

Popular culture in America has visibly had an immense impact in other countries. It has created superheros such as Superman and The Avengers, invented cartoons that symbolize the childhoods of the youth such as Mickey Mouse and Scooby Doo, and globalized figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. There is no doubt that these idols represent positive images that spread influential ideas to other countries, but these positive ideas are only a small fraction of what American popular culture is. American pop culture invades other cultures and societies and to evade these intentions is nearly impossible. Many of these countries tend to look at the United States with disgust because of the way their culture is shadowed by them. The popular culture

Eating disorders are related to important physical complications and increased mortality. The eating disorders anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are the two famous and serious disorders in eating performance and weight instruction. They are associated with a wide range of adverse psychological, physical, and social significances. A person who has the eating disorder may start out just eating smaller or larger amounts of food, but at some point, their desire to eat less or more and will out of control. Also suffering or concerning about body weight or shape, or risky weight management and controlling food intake, may cause an eating disorder. Eating disorders are real illnesses. They frequently bring other illnesses such as depression, substance

The United States is one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world. Today, the U.S. is viewed as a role model and leader by other countries around the globe. The culture of the US has been shaped by the cultures of Native Americans, Latin Americans, Africans and Asians. The United States is often described as a ‘melting pot’ in which different cultures have contributed their own distinct "flavors" to American culture. Just as cultures from around the world have influenced American culture, today American culture influences the world. The term “western culture” often refers the cultures within the United States. The Northeast, South, Midwest, Southeast and Western regions of the United States all have distinct traditions and customs which have been influenced by different minorities. For example, the large concentration of the Nicaraguan population in Miami, Florida has been named Nicaraguita. The culture, including the language, traditions, and customs of Nicaragua have been influential in this region. The United States places a high value of the arts, education, and careers, and tend to disregard values such as family, religion, and respect. The arts extend beyond movies and television shows. New York, home to Broadway and its rich theatrical history are a key highlight of the United States culture. American music is very diverse as well with various styles, including rhythm and blues, jazz, gospel, country and western, bluegrass, rock 'n' roll and hip hop. In

Obesity is occurring in a diverse age range of individuals in the United States. When the thought of obesity in the U.S. comes to the minds of individuals, it is originally thought that not much of the country's population is obese; however, these conceptions are incorrect. In an article “The New War on Obesity” by Consumer Report’s, they state, “The U.S. currently holds the unenviable title of most overweight nation on earth, with more than a third of citizens now considered obese” (3). This horrific incident began the moment an individual made an unhealthy food choice. The food choice

Anxiety disorders are very common in anorexia and bulimia. Phobias and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) usually precede the onset of the eating disorder, while panic disorder tends to follow. Social phobias, in which a person is fearful about being humiliated in public, are common in both eating disorders. People with anorexia are especially prone to obsessive-compulsive disorder. Obsessions are recurrent or persistent mental images, thoughts, or ideas, which may result in compulsive behavior -- repetitive, rigid, and self-prescribed routines that are intended to prevent the manifestation of the obsession. Women with anorexia may become obsessed with exercise, dieting, and food. They often develop compulsive rituals -- e.g., weighing every bit of food, cutting it into tiny pieces, or putting it into tiny containers. The presence of OCD with either anorexia or bulimia does not