Obesity Is A Disease, By Dr. Mitchell Roslin

Ask any person on the street what is the one issue that consumes more than half of the nation and the answers will vary from cancer to the outcome of the 2016 presidential election. Most Americans are blind to the modern day plague that consumes even the nation's youth. What is this black death that promises health complications in the future, obesity affects more than two-thirds of American adults and one-third of American children. The term obesity is defined as the condition of being grossly fat or overweight. The “American diet” of processed foods is the root of the problem. The nation's health conditions have declined since the 1970’s and reached an all time low in the early 2000’s. The solution lies within the 18-27 year olds of the country

Obesity is defined as a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduce life expectancy and/or increased health problems. “The problem of obesity is increasing in the United States. Understanding the impact of social inequalities on health has become a public health priority in the new millennium. Social, political, and economic factors now are acknowledged to be "fundamental" causes of disease that affect behavior, beliefs, and biology.” (Goodman, 2003)  In the United States today, obesity has become an enormous problem. In the last 3 decades, the number of people overweight has increased dramatically. Obesity has not always been seen as a medical

Obesity has been a growing problem in the U.S. for more than a decade. Various reasons and theories are thrown around as to the cause of this severe problem by psychologists, dietitians, and professors trying to pinpoint a single cause. Due to America’s vast supply of resources, luxurious living standards, and moral of the country, there is no one cause for obesity contrary to advertisements offering a quick-fix drug. America’s obesity problem is rooted much deeper than just cheap fast food and poor choices. Medical conditions, influence of genes, unhealthy lifestyles, and mental illnesses are all contributors towards obesity in any one person. Obesity is a serious problem in America with multiple contributors and one lone solution

Recently, a lot of debate has gone around about whether or not obesity is considered a disease or not. It is very difficult to pinpoint one sole reason obesity is occurring in people, there are many different justifications for what causes a person to become obese. Obesity is a disease that is currently sweeping the entire world. Percentages of not just adults, but children are skyrocketing like never before. People have never been so overweight until now. I am going to examine why obesity is considered a disease through a scientific, economic, historical, and futuristic lenses.

The United States was once one of the most healthiest countries in the world ranking second, but after some years the United States has plummeted to rank thirty-seven. The current problem of poor health in the United States is caused by the United States government’s lack of innovation in keeping America healthier that has damaged every American’s evolution to stay healthy in the day and age of technology. According to The State of Obesity there are now four states that have over thirty-five percent of their citizens who are obese, all states having above twenty percent obesity rates and thirty percent in twenty-five states. All together over thirty-five percent of the United States population is obese (including super obese) that and of

“Obesity is a disease that affects more than one-third of the U.S adult population (approximately 78.6 million Americans). The number of Americans with obesity had steadily increase since 1960, a trend that has slowed down in recent years but show no sign of reversing”.

America, like any other country, has its assortment of problems: immigration, debt, or foreign affairs but one issue that is rather hard to overlook, literally, its obesity epidemic. The extra pounds have become a sight all too common in America’s society, “men are now on average seventeen pounds heavier than they were in the late seventies, and for women that figure is even higher: nineteen pounds.” (Kolbert). Obesity does not just affect adults in this way either, the kid population has been getting bigger, according to the numbers on a scale “the proportion of overweight children, age six to eleven, has more than doubled, while the proportion of overweight adolescents, age twelve to nineteen, has more than tripled.” (Kolbert). This issue has been a major concern to doctors and scientists for decades and in recent years, has even has the American Medical Association recognizing obesity to be a disease (Pollack). That is a highly debatable statement because obesity itself is a preventable lifestyle. Obesity is avoidable and curable to all (or at least most) of its sufferers. For some citizens, obesity is not a choice, rather genetics, but for the majority of the population, obesity is caused by an unhealthy diet and lazy lifestyle, and for these certain individuals, through a lot of work and discipline, the return to a healthy lifestyle is not as impossible as it may appear.

Besides, studies have shown that “The obesity epidemic ranks among the leading causes”. (WHO, 1998) are “poor diet and physical inactivity were the second leading cause of death in the USA in 2000 and may soon overtake tobacco as the leading cause of avoidable death” (Mokdad et al.,2004). “Obesity is a complex medical condition, which has social and psychological dimensions and some major economic aspects.” (WHO, 2000). “It affects people of all ages and socio-economic groups, and of both genders, and is not restricted to developed countries” (WHO, 2000). From

Thanks to the two YouTube videos provided about obesity, I now have a clearer understanding of the obesity epidemic that has taken America (or should I say THE WORLD?) by storm.. The effects of obesity is mind blowing. Through the videos, I was able to learn that diet related diseases, such as: type 2 diabetes, dementia, heart disease, hypertension, and cancer; pose a greater threat to the developing world than acute infectious disease, such as: HIV. This information is a wake-up call to everyone. We must start improving the obesity epidemic.

About a year ago, my doctor informed me that I was obese; I didn’t consider myself as obese, but the numbers do not lie. Since then I have lost the weight, but I have fear I may gain it back. In 2013 the American Medical Association classified obesity as a disease, how does this affect the patients, the medical community, and the health care system? Will patients receive better care? I believe that obesity is a disease because it prevents the body from working normally causing illness; which has the potential to cause other health issues, affecting a person’s physical and mental health. Concern for my health and those around me, has motivated me to learn more about obesity and be more proactive about this global issue that affects people

Obesity has caused great dilemma in America. It was known as an adult disease. “Over two thirds of adults are over weight or obese.”(Obesity, Jerry R Ballenttne) these numbers are increasing rapidly. Obesity is not just a appearance

Understand this problem, it is important because the Center for disease control found that the range of obesity in American states rise and falls from 22% to 38% (Harvard). Almost one in five people are obese in slimmest state, and one in three is obese in Americans fattest states. This means obesity is a national security threat, and it’s affecting our society. Obesity also affects America as a society, because it demonstrates how un-restrained Americans can be when it it comes to consumption. Americans also lead very sedentary lives and seemly go out of their way to be inactive.

When it comes to people health, what usually comes up in mind? People may think of some disease, such as cancer or stroke, but nobody thinks about Obesity, which has become one of the biggest issues in America. Obesity is the accumulation of unnecessary body fat. It is a lifestyle disease that is spreading fast worldwide. This disease is affecting individuals of all age, ethnicity, and gender. As we all know, America has an extended history of solving complex problems, but it seems like obesity has stuck with the American people. In the essay, called Politicians Want to tax us Thin, written by Kyle Smith, she states, “We know obesity is a problem, but just to be sure we need to spend more resources to study it” (501). Smith says that somehow we are unsuccessful to solve the problem of obesity, and it’s affecting many people all over the world. Many people’s problems are due to their bad habits: they do not care to read the labels of what they eat, and they do not think what is natural and healthy for them before they eat. People pass such habits to their children, as it is predictable, and now childhood obesity is also becoming a rising issue. Many factors contribute to the causes of obesity in America while health officials and scientists all agree on the more general causes including lack of exercise, eating junk food, and family lifestyle.

When it comes to people health, what usually comes up in mind? People may think of some disease, such as cancer or stroke, but nobody thinks about Obesity, which has become one of the biggest issues in America. Obesity is the accumulation of unnecessary body fat. It is a lifestyle disease that is spreading fast worldwide. This disease is affecting individuals of all age, ethnicity, and gender. As we all know, America has an extended history of solving complex problems, but it seems like obesity has stuck with the American people. In the essay, called Politicians Want to tax us Thin, written by Kyle Smith, she states, “We know obesity is a problem, but just to be sure we need to spend more resources to study it” (501). Smith says that somehow we are unsuccessful to solve the problem of obesity, and it’s affecting many people all over the world. Many people’s problems are due to their bad habits: they do not care to read the labels of what they eat, and they do not think what is natural and healthy for them before they eat. People pass such habits to their children, as it is predictable, and now childhood obesity is also becoming a rising issue. Many factors contribute to the causes of obesity in America while health officials and scientists all agree on the more general causes including lack of exercise, eating junk food, and family lifestyle.

Obesity today is the most common form of malnutrition in America. As many as “30 percent of young men and 20 percent of young women are significantly overweight”, the situation rising to “over 50 percent in both sees from the age of 40 upward”.(Anderson 389) In America, obesity is a health problem that many