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The Obesity Epidemic in the United States

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The Obesity Epidemic in the United States

Is obesity a growing concern for the citizens of the United States? Well, for over a decade now, the prevalence and incidence rates of obesity in the United States have been alarming. This is because millions of the United States citizens are exposed to cheap fast foods from companies such as McDonalds. Recent surveys indicate that over 160 million citizens of the United States either have obesity or are overweight (Murray et al., 2014). More so, Murray et al. also reveal that “More than 50% of the world’s 671 million obese live in 10 countries”, the top one being the United States (2014). As a result, the U.S. is losing human resource since most of its citizens are non-productive and dependent. More so, there are very conditions that come with being obese which are making the U.S. government spend millions in trying to find cures to them. All these factors lead me to ascertain my position that obesity is a serious problem that is deeply rooted in the United States, which if not curbed; it will lead to fatal consequences in the future.

First and foremost, the health ramifications associated with obesity are innumerable. However, most U.S. citizens can’t see this. In fact, majority of them disagree with this since there are very many television ads advocating for consumption of fast foods. Given the high number of U.S. citizens who are exposed to technology, such advertisements reach to quite a number. Hence, most people will be easily persuaded to eat these fast foods that cause obesity. Since these ads do not include the negative effects of consuming the fast foods, most people assume that they are healthy. However, the health conditions that come from consuming the fast foods and being obese are limitless (Cecchini et al., 2010). To begin with, most obese individuals are prone to coronary heart diseases and stroke. Due to lack of exercise or involvement in any physical activity, Cecchini et al. (2010) acknowledge that the excess fat in the obese people tends to make them more vulnerable to these conditions. Additionally, obesity also increases the risk of an individual acquiring diabetes, cancer, and depression (Xiang & An, 2015). In the report by Murray et al. findings indicate that in childhood obesity, there are more risks to acquire very many cancers, certain cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes (2014). Given that the United States is among the top 15 countries in the world with the highest prevalence in obesity in children, it is clear that the U.S. will be battling serious conditions like the cancers, on top of battling obesity. Therefore, obesity is a serious problem in the United States.

Another reason as to why obesity is a serious problem in the United States is the fact that the U.S. government is getting drained due to the boundless financial resources it is investing in fighting obesity in the country. Moreover, the citizens themselves are also suffering since there is an increase in the financial resources they are using to cater for the conditions that are brought about by obesity. Most citizens only realize the dire financial consequences of obesity when they are experiencing them (Kim & Basu, 2014). However, if they are not obese, it is hard to convince someone that there are fatal financial consequences of obesity. According to Murray et al. (2014), obesity in the United States affects both the young and the old, and also both genders. Therefore, you find that all the old are becoming more dependent, while the young are also becoming non-productive and dependent too (Kim et al., 2018). Thus, the young cannot work. Therefore, the government is forced to chip in subsidies for medical costs. This alone has been known to bring about the financial debts of the country. Surveys indicate that in the budget, the money allocated for healthcare in the United States, at least a third of it goes in treating obesity-related conditions. This is approximately 209$ billion (Kim & Basu, 2014).Alternatively, since the young are becoming non-productive, most firms in the United States are suffering due to low production (Murray et al., 2014). Low production in turn means a decreased economy full of inflations. If not urgently addressed, obesity will lead to a straining United States’ economy.

Childhood obesity is another reason as to why obesity is becoming a major concern for the United States citizens.

Among American children, 13% were obese in 2013, putting the US among the top 15 countries with the greatest obesity prevalence in children worldwide. Obesity prevalence among American children was nearly twice what was found among Western Europeans (Murray et al., 2014).

Have you ever imagined an America without the youth or children? These high prevalence rates of childhood obesity are worrying. Children are failing to eat healthy balanced diets and it is even a bigger problem that they have no control over the amounts of food they are taking, and the amounts they are taking (Han, Lawlor, & Kimm, 2010). Most parents in the United States are using fast foods as a means of escaping preparing meals. Consequently, most of their children are obese. The first reason it is a serious problem is because it threatens the youth of the future (Han, Lawlor, & Kimm, 2010). Although most parents in the United States view obesity as manageable, they however do not understand that this epidemic is capable of wiping out the youth of an entire generation. Secondly, childhood obesity is a serious problem in the United States because soon enough, the country will begin to depend on labor from brain drain. Obesity is set to lead to high child mortality if urgent and effective measures of fighting obesity are not taken immediately.

Obesity is also a serious issue in the United States since eating of foods that lead to obesity has become a culture. It is no surprise to find majority of the U.S. citizens working overtime. This is not bad. However, most of these workers tend to eat fast foods. Most people might argue that they often do not have time to prepare meals or go grab healthy food from a restaurant. However, an individual always has the option of preparing their own food, then carrying it to their workplace (Thiel & Manecke, 2018). This will help get rid of the dire effects of obesity. Similarly, obesity has become prone to most U.S. citizens since they tend to feast on fast foods at most festivities.

Festivities and ceremonies are a good place to enjoy and let loose. However, they can also be traps for diseases such as obesity. In most cases, adults often go the easy way out and opt to serve guests especially in birthday parties’ junk foods. What they do not know is that by doing so, all their efforts are being directed to making both their children and themselves obese. Given that most children nowadays do not engage in physical activities but instead sit and play video games, this American culture is making the obesity prevalence rates to be very high. Alternatively, after the adults come home from long shifts, they are often too tired to indulge in any physical activity. Less physical activity results to less burn of calories and therefore, more obesity cases. This culture is alarming. Therefore, it is time to curb it.

I do believe that obesity is a huge risk factor to the U.S. citizens. However, opponents to obesity are often seen as instigators to closure of certain companies such as fast food joints. However, the truth of the matter this, the opposition comes from the realization of the dire effects that arise from obesity. Obesity and its related overweight problems continue to exacerbate in the United States each and every single day. As they do, the country tends to lose millions of dollars both from the financial resources spent on paying health debts, or from the lost human resource. In addition to that, the U.S. citizens also tend to suffer from the huge expenses of treating obesity and its related conditions. The obese people also lack to enjoy the quality of life by engaging in activities such as sports. Whether we like to admit it or not, obesity is a huge problem in America. The good news is it is manageable. The United States currently has multiple of problems among them being obesity. Let us remove it from the list by engaging in healthy eating habits and also indulging in physical activities. This will immensely cut out the obesity rates in the country.

References

Biro, F. M., & Wien, M. (2010). Childhood obesity and adult morbidities. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 91(5), 1499S-1505S.

Cecchini, M., Sassi, F., Lauer, J. A., Lee, Y. Y., Guajardo-Barron, V., & Chisholm, D. (2010). Tackling of unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, and obesity: health effects and cost-effectiveness. The Lancet, 376(9754), 1775-1784.

Han, J. C., Lawlor, D. A., & Kimm, S. Y. (2010). Childhood obesity. The Lancet, 375(9727), 1737-1748.

Kim, D. D., & Basu, A. (2016). Estimating the medical care costs of obesity in the United States: systematic review, meta-analysis, and empirical analysis. Value in Health, 19(5), 602-613.

Kim, D. D., Arterburn, D. E., Sullivan, S. D., & Basu, A. (2018). Economic value of greater access to bariatric procedures for patients with severe obesity and diabetes. Medical care, 56(7), 583-588.

Xiang, X., & An, R. (2015). Obesity and onset of depression among US middle-aged and older adults. Journal of psychosomatic research, 78(3), 242-248.