Brianna Galindo

Enc1101/Massey
12/8/2015
Obesity
America is one of the most obese countries worldwide; however, it is an obvious statement if
applied to the real world around you. There are several fast food locations within blocks from
each other on most streets. Fast foods, however, are not the only source of obesity; stress is also
another factor that contributes greatly to weight gain in which one becomes overwhelmed with
feelings and they seek food for comfort. Obesity might not be considered such a serious disease
like cancer or AIDS, but it definitely is associated with heart-related conditions, diabetes, and
premature aging of the entire body and brain (see Figure 1). Thus, discussing obesity in a country
like America, we as individuals must consider potential factors and causes in order to come up
with a plan effective enough to seize obesity, an issue that decreases the quality of life.

Americans have a tendency to settle for less when it comes to their health and diet. Therefore,
purchasing fast food and soft drinks is convenient when one does not want to cook or buy food at
the market. Furthermore, the ingredients within the food these places process are significantly
unhealthy and should be unacceptable. Most people who purchase these types of foods do not
even know what they are truly consuming. The lack of knowledge clearly does not affect their
choices, hence leading to the problem we face with obesity. Nonetheless, the portion size of these
foods are not even measured. People seem to ignore the fact that there are standards when it
comes to eating the right food as well as the right amount of food they will eat. The consumption
of pizza, burgers and sodas are some of Americas most favored fast foods to eat on any given

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day. By consuming such foods and drinks regularly, American teenagers, adults, and children
slow down their metabolism by up to 12 times, as research has proven (Henrix 122).
Additionally, countless health issues, for example diabetes, which is directly associated to ones
eating habits, negatively influences their weight and the amount of fat stored in their bodies (see
Figure 1). Research published by the World Health Organization found that a rise in fast food
sales correlated to a rise in body mass index, and Americans are notorious for their fast-food
consumption such food makes up about 11% of the average Americans diet (publichealth.org).
Therefore, creating a plan to reduce obesity includes changing diets and refraining from
consuming fast food in general.

Another factor to consider is the amount of stress that overwhelms Americans in their
everyday lives. Ranging from money to family to health, all of this causes a large amount of
stress, hence leading to weight gain and obesity. How can we fix this? The answer is looking for
methods of relaxation and trying to reduce the amount of stress we suppress one way or another.
If we look for a period to relax within our days, the amount of stress held within us can greatly
be reduced. Ways that are most often helpful to reduce stress is through exercises or meditation.
Activities that are continuous and rhythmic are especially effective at relieving stress
(helpguide.org). These activities include walking, running, swimming, and even dancing; the
options are endless. A group of inner-city residents suffering from chronic pain, anxiety,
depression, diabetes and hypertension were trained in meditation. They experienced a 50%
reduction in overall psychiatric symptoms, a 70% decrease in anxiety, and a 44% reduction in
medical symptoms (Roth & Creaser, 150-2, 154, 157).

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The awareness of obesity has soared higher and higher recently than ever before. If you look
at figure one you will be able to see the percentages of obese adults in the U.S. According to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, just over
one-third of U.S.
adults, about 97 million, are obese
(NaturalNews.com). We expect this number to
increase by 42% by the year 2030, however others
think the increase would exceed 50%. Looking at this,
it is quite frightening to know that the health of our
nation might be at stake, especially when most cases
of obesity are preventable. As the Associated Press
states, The number of obese Americans soared
during the 1980s and 1990s, doubling among adults
in the U.S. and tripling among children. Inactive lifestyles and

Figure 1 Obesity in America

changes in eating habits have contributed to weight gain, as more

Americans work at desk jobs, use electronic devices and get
served increasingly larger portions at restaurants
(NaturalNews.com). One thing is for certain, and that is that we must take action to have the
responsibility of looking after our health in the best way they can and to avoid consuming
processed foods. The solution is simple: if you eat real food and exercise the most you can, you
will be able to either decrease the weight you are at, reduce the stress you suppress or maintain
yourself at a healthy state.

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As for children in todays society, the awareness of obesity has become increasingly apparent.
The Obesity Action Coalition (OAC), for instance, has been involved in many childhood obesity
activities and initiatives (obesityaction.org). The creation of obesity resources is highly
recommended and often available online when needed to be referred to for help. In addition, the
first lady, Michelle Obama, has taken actions into her own hands when it comes to children in
school and their diet plan there. As a matter-of-fact, she has established a program named Lets
Move! in order for children of todays generation to get up out of their seats and start getting
active. She greatly encourages the children of America to eat healthy and exercise as much as
possible. These methods of improvement give our nation some hope in order to prevent and
avoid future health issues. If these motives are spread through the world, everyone could
possibly be knowledgeable about how to take care of their bodies. There is no secret on how to
reduce the risk of becoming obese or losing weight; all you need to do is eat the right foods and
as recommended, exercise at least three times a week for at least 30 minutes.

What needs to be one is the start to eliminating the chains of fast food, for that network has
only caused the issue of health problems to spread quickly and dangerously. That being said,
eliminate McDonalds, Wendys, and all other fast food locations of the same sort. We need to
start promoting healthier options, such as Subway to say the least. We should educate the public
on the importance of our health because our bodies are only one and we are the only ones who
can truly take care of it. Our bodies are important and are sacred, therefore we should not
mistreat them and feed them the poison we call food if they are processed. We should promote
exercises, for there is a lack of it, hence leading to obesity. Instead of sitting in front of the
television, get up and go outside for a while. With these small changes, obesity will begin to

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reduce. We should try to influence the new generation to make the right choices that other
generations did not. We should inform them of all the positive health benefits that will come to
them for being a healthy individual. The actions that we take will influence future generations,
therefore our actions must positively affect them and lead them to take the right steps towards a
bright future.

In conclusion, there are several simple things that we can do to help our country in
general to lose weight and reduce the rates of obesity to become as healthy as we can be. Things
such as refraining from buying unhealthy foods, eating the right foods instead and getting more
exercise. However, sometimes people cannot make these changes on their own, so with a little
help from others, more steps need to be taken in order to finally see the change we desire. It may
be hard to begin a new and healthy lifestyle for some people, but for others it may be very easy;
it all depends on ones mental state and effort they put into making healthy choices for their
health. Not just eating healthy and exercising in general, but considering the fact that we also
must eat the right portions of the foods we will eat, is important too. We should care about this
topic for the sake of our future, especially if we want a future. Whether we like to admit it or not,
obesity is a major problem in America. Changing your lifestyle is a challenge, but with
determination, one will find themselves making the right choices, feeling better, eating smart and
have the most energy they have ever had!

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Work Cited
Admin. Obesity in America. 2012. Minnesota. 2ndWind. Web. 8 Dec. 2015.
B. Roth, T. Creaser, Meditation-based stress reduction: experience with a bilingual inner-city
program, Nurse Practitioner 22(3) (1997): 150-2, 154, 157.
Gomez, Gregory L. When Did Obesity Become an Issue? NautralNews. NaturalNews, 19 Oct. 2012.
Web. 28 Nov. 2015.
Henrix, William. Soft Drinks and Metabolism. Seattle: Rain City Press, 2010. Print.
Kopelman, Peter G. Obesity as a Medical Problem. Nature 404.6778 (2000): 635-643. Org. 27 Nov.
2015.
Obesityaction.org. Obesity Action Coalition Home Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2015
Obesity in America-PublicHealth.org PublicHealth.org. PublicHealth, n.d. Web. 07 Dec. 2015
Robinson, Lawrence, Melinda, and Robert Segal. Stress Management. How to Reduce, Prevent, And
Cope with Stress. Helpguide. Oct. 2015. Web. 08 Dec. 2015
Rolls, Barbara J. The Supersizing of America. Nutrition Today 38.2 (2003): 42-53. Web.17 No. 2015.