The Comparison Of Couch Potatoes

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

In 2008, Sanjay Gupta, neurosurgeon, wrote Stuck on the Couch in the New York Times as an incentive for people to stay active. He focuses on exercise and sticking to a routine while raising the question that if everyone knows it is healthy to work out, then why do so many people fall off the bandwagon? To effectively communicate his purpose Gupta uses compelling rhetorical questions to make the reader question themselves, basic and rigid structure to make it easier on the reader, and alludes to other doctors supporting his claims.

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 data collected from a survey performed by the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System regarding time, frequency and proportion of exercise reports that 58.1% of the interviewees were considered physically inactive; 29.8 % concluded with not having time for exercising. Besides, the statistics showed that there was not much difference between genders as it was almost the same percentage of passive lifestyle; however, there were differences when considering race and age (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2010).

Why is the American Nation called “Couch Potatoes?” The United States is one of the largest overweight populations. We need to stop that! It’s important to improve our physical conditions for a better life. Changing some habits can also improve our physical, emotional, and financial health.

III. Americans are stuck in their sedentary lifestyles; people just do not know or have the courage and discipline to forge a different path forward.

Despite diets, physical activity, behavior modification, drug therapy, and gastric surgery, "few people reduce their body weight to a desirable or healthy level and fewer maintain weight loss beyond two to three years" (36). This makes America fat, overweight, and even obese. The issues of size and weight are of social concern. Technology has sped up the pace of American living but it has slowed down physical activity. Americans drive everywhere they go and try to park as close as they can. What may have begun with the simple remote control has drawn America from baseball fields and parks to the television and computer screens. America no longer surfs the waves; they rather surf the net (Arzino 1). Phil Arzino writes, "We're becoming a nation of couch potatoes that's raising a generation of tater tots" (1). This sedimentary lifestyle effects adults as well as teenagers, toddlers, and infants.

(Brownell 70). The lack of exercise is one of the main causes of obesity in the United States.

With new technological advancements and the changing of times, people have become increasingly sedentary in their daily lives (“Pounding Away”). With all of our cars and motorized vehicles, few people are forced into strenuous physical activities that would burn the calories needed for a healthy lifestyle. With the creation of robots and mechanized devices to make working more efficient and cheapen labor costs, less than 20% of jobs in the private sector now require moderate physical activity (“Obesity in America”). What had once required for you to get up and walk to the other side of the room can now be done by writing an email or picking up a phone. This decrease in activity in the workplace would be fine if it were counterbalanced by steady leisure exercise. Sadly, many people in their leisure time do not exercise. What do they do instead? The average American spends “55% of his waking hours sitting down” (“Obesity in America”), whether it’s in front of a TV or a computer. Another outcome of the modern age is the change in eating habits. Serving sizes have steadily increased and many fast food places now offer an option to super-size their meals, e.g. McDonald’s, for just a few cents

The American lifestyle of convenience and inactivity has had a damaging toll on every fragment of society, particularly on children.

In 2009, the World Health Organization released a report highlighting the 10 leading risk factors for death and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), utilizing data from 2004 (Global Health Risks, 2009). According to the report, physical inactivity was the fourth leading cause of death in high income countries, resulting in 0.6 million deaths and 7.7% of total deaths throughout the world. Additionally, the data showed physical inactivity to be the sixth leading cause of disability-adjusted life years in high income countries, resulting in 5 million DALYs.

Many people are not getting enough exercise for a variety of reasons. Not everyone knows how much exercise is enough for a start, and so they may think that they've done enough because they go for a long walk a couple of times a week. Other people have a better idea of what they should be doing to keep fit, but just cannot find the time. It is particularly difficult for those who work full-time and have other commitments, such as family, which demand much of their time. Then, there are those who simply cannot be bothered to exercise. They could probably find the time if they wanted, but they don't want to, and so they don't.

According to Dr. Claudia Walther, a doctor from the Heart Centre of the University of Leipzig, “People today have different lifestyles than in the past...they’re less active…” Currently, exercise is portrayed as too hard and people have become lazy. They don't want to have to work and spend time exercising.

Today's world is full of modern conveniences. Communication is at the touch of a button, you can drive right to the window and get handed a greasy, hot meal, and even walking has become bothersome. Trying to find that spot closest to the door is worth driving around the lot five times. Kids play more in virtual reality than outdoors, and parents who are strapped for time settle on quick, processed meals for dinner. Unfortunately, we've created an environment fit for the lazy. Instead of having to preform physical activities to function throughout the day, we must find time for physical activity, which might not be realistic for everyone. The fast food industry and quick processed dinners feed the consumer with no time for exercise, and the

A study from the Netherlands suggests, "that even an extra 40 minutes of couch potato behavior will dramatically increase your risk of getting type 2 diabetes." Scientist gather 2,497 participants who sat for at least nine hours and strapped motion monitors to participants' thighs for eight days and testing the glucose levels in their blood.