The Biological Cause Of Obesity In The United States

The ongoing controversy as to who is to blame for this unhealthy food/obesity epidemic is fiercer than ever. Fingers have been pointed in all sorts of directions and will continue to be pointed. The industries, personal responsibility, food culture, and parents have all taken heat for this rapid increase of obesity. But who is really the root of this ongoing problem? Though the industries affect the rapid increase of obesity and health problems correlating to this unhealthy food crisis, it is not fully their fault. If you sit down and think about it, the people who are to blame are none the less but the parents.

An Obesity epidemic is disturbing the financial and social stability of the United States. As stated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services “our modern environment has allowed these conditions to increase at alarming rates and become highly pressing health problems for our nation“(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). Efforts made by authority figures have been enforced to solve this severe crisis. Obesity has become a concerning problem in the United States. This epidemic is interfering with the success of American citizens and it is also impacting the American economy negatively. The obesity epidemic endures negative impacts to the United States’ economy; even though others argue it is contributing to the economy through the growing weight loss industry.

This research paper explores the impact of obesity on health economics of the United States at a national level. There is a brief description on obesity and related health conditions. The topic discussion includes the prevalence of obesity and its associated medical expenditure in the present and future. It reports on how obesity as a current epidemic has affected United States. The paper’s main focus is on the total federal and state revenue utilization, in regards to obesity. It illustrates various methods of expenditures: direct medical expenses, productivity expenses, transport expenses, human capital expenses and costs for utilization of emergency rooms. It demonstrates the government’s interventions like preventive measures and promotion of health to control and stop obesity, to save the fiscal costs of healthcare. Furthermore, there is explanation on the future financial crisis that would occur if obesity is not controlled.

Part of all the confusion is that most of the sugars Americans eat on a daily basis is not REAL sugar and mostly just corn syrup. There is no doubt that America has an obesity problem and the main cause is not eating healthy or just not dieting correctly. That does not mean that we have to cut sugar completely from our diets it just means that we have to watch how much we put in our bodies.

Obesity in America is a constant issue that seems to be on the rise and it is has been rising at an epidemic rate among the people of America. When you think of health you don’t necessarily thing of bellies and thighs rubbing together but why not? Is there a possibility of being a healthy and obese person? Who set the standard for what is too much and for what isn’t? And what makes this so wrong? I have done extensive amounts of research on the topic and I am here to question why should the size of a person be the reason we shake their head at them? And is there really a thing as being a HAPPILY OBESE individual in this world. Studies show so much on the topic and it is an extremely touchy topic. One wrong word is

There are fast food restaurant all over the world. People think that just because fast food is easily accessible that it is okay for them and their children to eat. The obesity rate and disease in America has increased over the years. Many people are dying because of obesity and related diseases. Fast food restaurant are growing in America and the world. The restaurants do not realize that they are killing people. Which is making people grow in weight all over the world. Another thing that is killing people in fast food is unsanitary health problems.

Obesity is a condition that is becoming increasingly common in developed countries. There are several known causes, and multiple proven health risks that follow. Many blame obesity on society, instead of analyzing their own actions. Obesity is caused by an abundance of unhealthy eating habits and a lack of exercise, and can result in a lowered life expectancy and a lack of energy.

What we eat and drink can cause obesity, which contributes to many other increased risk conditions, such as increased mortality, increased rates of chronic diseases and lower quality of life. About 300,000 of deaths in the U.S. are attributable to obesity related factors. Therefore, besides its social and physical costs on the individuals, there are monetary costs. United States spends about $190.2 Billion annually on obesity related illnesses and this makes up more than 20% of all healthcare costs.

Obesity has greatly increased among adults, teenagers and children in America. Statistics has shown that about two in every three adult in America is Obese or over weight. The children and teenagers are not left out also; the obesity prevalence is three times what it was in the previous years between 1970s and 2000 (Klegal, et al 2002). The occurrence of obesity has resulted in genetic, political, sociological and economic consequences (Hong T., Glazer G., 2005). Several institutions have been implicated by the government, for example, schools, family and genetics all play a part in the obesity epidemic. Certain policy determination caused by urbanization and has reduced the number of individuals walking or even taking part in daily exercise (Hong T., Glazer G., 2005). Policies that were formulated to support and encourage farmers and protect consumers from high priced agricultural food prices has resulted in food excesses and overproduction (Hong T., Glazer G., 2005). Technological advancement has reduced the number of workers that go to work daily and as such, some people work from home in the twentieth century; this has further reduced the daily activities performed by individuals (Hong T., Glazer G., 2005). Improvement in food processing and technology has led to the production of varieties

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines obesity as the excessive accumulation of fat that puts the person’s health at risk (Lenzi et al., 2015). The prevalence of obesity has increased worldwide over the past three decades. According to Holtz (2016), obese people have outnumbered the undernourished, with the World Health Organization estimating that 1.9 billion adults are overweight, out of which about 600 million are obese. Given the recent trends, it is estimated that 1.12 billion people will be obese by 2030 (Grossschädl, 2014). According to a report by the McKinsey Global Institute, 2014), the global impact of the obesity epidemic is estimated to be $20 trillion, or 2.8 percent of the global gross domestic product (GDP), which is on a par with the global impact from terrorism, armed violence, smoking, and warfare.

Obesity is one of the most serious health threats facing our nation as of today. Obesity is a very serious problem in the United States cause by unhealthy eating and Sugary drinking. By banning sugary drinks and unhealthy eating it can cause Americans a better supportive healthy life. If we can prevent health problems by simply eating right we as America should force whatever needs to be done to better Americans health. According "Healthy Eating." Public Health Law Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Aug. 2016. ‘’ more than two-thirds of American adults and one-third of American youth are now obese or overweight.

Finkelstein, Eric A, et al. "Economic Cause and Consequences of Obesity." Annual Review of Public Health, vol.26, no.1,Apr.2005,pp.239-257. EBSCOhost,

Statistical information confirms: obesity and overweight have already turned into an issue of national concern. In 2002, “a National Survey conducted by American Sports Data revealed that 61% of adults in the U.S. felt that they were overweight, 19% admitting that they were ‘considerably’ overweight” (American Sports Data). The major causes of obesity, overweight, and similar nutritional problems included genetics, population trends, hurried lifestyles, high-carbohydrate diets, less demanding workplaces, smoking cessation, and social class aspects (American Sports Data). That hurried lifestyles and a less demanding workplace contribute in the development of obesity trends is clear. But even more importantly, because the number of those who are overweight or obese exceeds one half of the American population, the government must control our diets. The information about the costs of obesity and related diseases is even more compelling.

In the United States today, obesity has become an enormous problem. In the last three decades, the number of people overweight has increased dramatically. A study done by the Centers of Disease Control showed that since 1980, one third of our adult population has become overweight. America is the richest but also the fattest nation in the world, and our obese backsides are the butt of jokes in every other country (Klein 28). The 1980s were a time when Americans suddenly started going crazy over dieting, jumping onto the treadmills, and buying prepackaged non-fat foods. However, while all of that was going on, the number of obese Americans began to increase. Approximately 34.9% of people in America are obese. According to a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association, fifty eight million people in our country weigh over 20 percent of their bodies ideal weight.The article “Fat Times” states, “If this were about tuberculosis, it would be called an epidemic” (Elmer-Dewit 58). The eating habits of society have steadily become more harmful and have started to produce gluttonous children, over-indulgent adults, and a food industry set too much on satisfying our appetites.

The prevalence of obesity has increased significantly over the last decade, and its causes are as varied as the people it affects. The effects on health and the burden it places on healthcare systems have correspondingly risen ominously. Obesity not only imposes a significant human burden of morbidity, mortality, social exclusion and discrimination but substantial economic costs. In the last decade, we have better assessed the direct and indirect economic burden of an increasingly overweight population; however, its causes for individuals are not yet well understood in economic terms. The social sciences have provided a number of explanations: these are broadly categorised as environmental (such as socio-economic context and changes in technological developments in both worlds of work and leisure), individual behaviour and genetic (though there is still little evidence of this). Here, I will examine obesity as a function of personal behaviour, ceteris paribus. I will explore this in three veins: obesity as a rational decision pursued by the individual, obesity as the result of a weak will, and as a form of (un/)willing addiction.