The Prevalence Of The Obesity Epidemic

Being overweight, eating poorly, and not exercising are becoming an epidemic in America, especially among college students. Most of the research on it states the same things, however the first research article I found speaks more to the behavior and its current affects on college students’ health. A slew of doctors and Jesse S. Morrell wrote an article about “Risk Factors Among College Men and Women” in relationship to obesity. The opening of this article stated that “an estimated 300,000 deaths each year are attributable to obesity… and young adults have experienced dramatic increases in obesity rates,” (Morrell, 2012, pg. 82). This statistic is what really got the research going and helped the researchers focus specifically on college-aged individuals. Upon diving into their research, the authors found more alarming statistics and related diseases. This included a recognizable relationship between obesity in young people and chronic disease risk, especially diabetes and cardiovascular disease (Morrell, 2012, pg. 82). In fact, CVD was the second leading cause of death in the US in that college-age group showing that our generation is at a greater risk for health problems than ever before due to our lack of exercise and healthy diets. Researchers then took to college campuses to examine students and their habits and provide risk assessments to promote healthier lifestyles and hopefully decrease the probability of CVD and DM through the metabolic syndrome system,

Thousands of children around America are increasingly joining the obesity epidemic and are struggling to get out of it. In the documentary, Fed Up, by Stephanie Soechtig, she creates a documentary that targets young teenagers and parents to uncover the truth of the epidemic and reveal how the food industry is hurting the children 's diet by making them become addicted to sugar. It explains how it is beyond people 's willpower and exercise alone that solves the epidemic, rather it is the food industries ' fault for the nfood they produce. Soechtig uses pathos, ethos and logos by documenting personal stories from young obese teenagers, providing a numerous amount of credible sources from a wide range of experts, and having evidence for the epidemic.

In the United States, a crisis is breaking out known as the Obesity epidemic. For the first time in history, it is possible for the children of this generation to have a lower life expectancy than their parents. Millions of Americans are exposed to ads that are luring them into eating the cheap, fast food of billion dollar companies such as McDonald’s. Obesity has established itself as the fastest growing disease in the nation and continues to make an impact on the general population. The issue of Obesity is directly related to todays technology through television, cell phones, video games and all of sorts of new gadgets.

People all around the world suffer from overweight or obesity. Whether it from food choices or inactivity it all comes down to one thing the food industry. The food industry produces mass products that are shipped to grocery stores, than go to our homes, making them liable for some of weight gain and obesity in America.

There is also continued increase in the proportion of children at risk of being overweight (Puhl & Latner, 2007). Childhood and adolescent obesity and overweight trend increased considerably between 1999 and 2004. However, the trend seemingly leveled between 2005 and 2006, and then surged in subsequent years. In 2008, the estimated obesity prevalence rate among children and adolescents of 2-19 years of age was 16.3 percent and overweight prevalence rate was 31.9 percent (Fleming et al., 2008). In 2010, it was estimated that 38 percent of children in the European Union and 50 percent of children in North America were overweight. This dramatic increase in childhood obesity is likely to have considerable long-term impact for economics and public health. If not reversed, the public health obesity toll is likely to continue rising as children and adolescents enter adulthood and start experiencing delayed and usually life threatening obesity complications (Fleming et al., 2008). In addition, there is increasing concerns regarding the vulnerability of many children to the adverse emotional and social obesity consequences. The effects of some of these consequences may be immediate with undesirable health outcomes and potentially lasting effects (Puhl & Latner, 2007). Childhood obesity is specifically problematic because it is not only linked to various comorbid physical and psychological problems but also adult obesity predictors and mortality risk factor (Werthmann et al.

Obesity has always been a topic that many have had due to the increase attention it has received. Across America, there has been a lot of attention on the obesity epidemic. In America and the inner cities, more people are eating meals away from home in addition to consuming larger portions from fast food restaurants. At this rate, gaining weight is the likely outcome. High energy dense food has become convenient and affordable. Fast food is almost everywhere in America and, contributes to the growing obesity epidemic. Access to healthy foods are either expensive or have a limited access to it. For example, soda is everywhere for low costs, but coconut water is expensive or not found easily depending on the demand for it. Our environment

Obesity has started to rise not only in America, but also worldwide. America has begun consuming more fuel, more electronics, and most importantly, more food. Not just any food though. Americans are eating unhealthy foods and eating them more consistently. This means our energy intake has increased while our output has decreased or stayed constant, leading to an increase in weight for both adults and children. Obesity can lead to an increase in all kinds of health-related illness. Obesity is one of the highest causes of preventable deaths, only second to smoking. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, known as NHANES, is carried out by the Center for Disease Control to estimate obesity using BMI, or body mass index. In 1960, the data from NHANES showed that only 13.4 percent of Americans were obese and 0.9 percent were extremely obese. In 2010, NHANES showed that 36.1 percent were obese and 6.6 percent were extremely obese. This is equivalent to a 170 percent increase in obesity and a 600 percent increase in extreme obesity (Fryar). This increase in obesity can be attributed to increased portion sizes, advertisements, and technologies that have created an inactive lifestyle.

Obesity in the United States is an epidemic of growing proportions. According to the Center for Disease Control more than one-third (34.9% or 78.6 million) of U.S. adults are obese. ("Adult Obesity Facts", 2014). Obesity is defined as a body mass index or BMI, over 30. A person’s height and weight are used to determine BMI but does not measure how much body fat a person has.

How many times a day do we spot an obese person walking down the street? And how often do we see an obese person overcome this difficulty? Obesity is an epidemic that affects people worldwide not only in the United States. “According to the world health organization, the obese population of the world as a whole is approximately 1 billion people” (Suestalts). Here, in the United States obesity rates are on what seems to be an unstoppable incline. “Recent statistics show that from 1980 to 2000 obesity rates more than doubled” (Suestalts). The most common causes of obesity are overeating, physical inactivity, and genetics.

Since the 1960s, the United States has experienced an uptick in the amount of patients living with chronic diseases such as type II diabetes, coronary artery disease, and obesity. Currently, diseases such as obesity overwhelm the US healthcare system, which incurs major financial cost and negatively affects an individual’s quality of life. Particularly, the growing epidemic of obesity is affecting millions of people. Distressingly, the current generation of children is cited as the first generation that will not outlive their parents. Childhood obesity is defined as a child’s weight that is disproportionate to their height. More specifically, the body mass index for the child’s age must exceed the 95th percentile. In the past, obesity in the pediatric population was seldom seen. Accordingly, healthcare policies written by lawmakers and endorsed by healthcare providers must be implemented in hopes of winning the war waged against childhood obesity. Most importantly, this report will analyze Alabama Public Schools Policies and Implementation which is grounded on the Federal Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act. Additionally, this report will examine the historical, ethical, and political foundation of Alabama’s policy. In conclusion, this essay will reiterate the policy’s effectiveness and its impact on the nursing profession.

There’s an appalling epidemic in today’s society sweeping across not only the United States, but all across the globe. This horrible epidemic isn’t the bird flu, or any type of sickness, rather obesity. Today, obesity rates are at an all time high in America. This disease, obesity, is being passed down the family both genetically, and by the terrible eating habits developing in the US. Kids growing up in this generation are facing frightening issues such as increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc., the list goes on. Zinczenko proves this in his text Don’t Blame the Eater, when he says, “Before 1994, diabetes in children was generally caused by a genetic disorder - Only about 5 percent of childhood causes were obesity-related, or Type 2, diabetes. Today, according to the National Institute of Health, Type 2 diabetes accounts for at least 30 percent of all new childhood cases of diabetes in this country.” (Zinczenko 463) The sad part about it, is these kids more time than not, are born into these types of situations. There’s no surprise that obesity rates in America are directly correlated with the increasing amount of fast food chains popping up on every street corner. These fast food restaurants are masters of the art of advertising, and are using it as the strongest way of increasing sales. This is very dangerous because not all advertisements are true, despite what the common American might think, and it can be used to sway people’s thoughts

Today nearly 60% of America 's population is overweight, a statistic that 's only growing. More and more children are abandoning traditional forms of exercise for video games, television and other forms of a rapidly expanding simulated reality. Too many Americans today are more concerned with social media and popular culture than what 's going on in their neighborhoods and in the country we all call home. People are losing touch with their own realities. Furthering this argument of a lost touch with reality comes the notion and expectation things come easily and anything requiring hard work or discipline is voided unnecessary, which I believe is a side-effect of technology. The obesity epidemic has drawn considerable attention from policymakers, and while new policy initiatives to address the issue are already underway, new policy initiatives are not enough and are likely going to overlook the simple truth. Technology is a major culprit behind this nation’s obesity epidemic. Cell phones, video games and 600 television channels are making kids gain weight, and there is no easy way to solve the issue, other than to get off your couch, pick up a salad instead of a slice of pizza and get active.

Obesity seems to be a growing epidemic in our country affecting almost 40% of adults. Obesity is linked to many degenerative diseases, but over the year’s type 2 diabetes mellitus has dramatically increased in people who are obese. Our bodies tend to carry fat in different ways, studies have shown that people who carry their weight in the mid-section are more likely to increase their risk for cardio vascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. “This constellation of metabolic abnormalities increases the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus and of various cardiovascular outcomes”(Després, PhD, FAHA, FIAS, 2012).

Childhood obesity is an important issue because of the wide range of contributing factors. The disease has progressed tremendously across the world and has been paired with genetic factors along with lifestyles. Childhood obesity is a disease process that can worsen throughout life if not taken seriously. I decided to choose this topic because of my compassion for children, nutrition, and desire to educate others. Childhood obesity is an on-going battle with schools, parenting, lifestyle modifications and lack of adventure in children.

Globally, recent years have seen a shift in human dietary composition, from diets high in complex fiber and carbohydrate to a so-called “Western diet” consisting mainly of processed foods that are high in saturated fat and refined sugar content (Popkin, Adair, & Ng, 2012). Changes to dietary fat and sugar intake have resulted in many adverse health consequences, with a growing body of research suggesting that High Fat/High Sugar (HFHS) diet produces long-lasting detriments to brain functions.