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Christian Seidel

Dr. Adrienne Cassell

English 1201

29 May 2020

Why is obesity a growing issue in the United States?

America has an obsession with being thin. Advertisements seen in the U.S. are

frequently controversial because of the use of rail-thin models or marketing tactics such

as fat-shaming. There are an infinite number of diets, workout plans, gyms and weight

loss supplements marketed to Americans on a daily basis. If this is the case, then why

has the rate for being overweight and obese skyrocketed in the last 3 or 4 decades?

With obesity “soon replacing smoking as the leading cause of preventable premature

death in the U.S.” (Zhang), it’s easy to see why it is concerning. The truth is, obesity is a

growing issue in the United States because of a lack of proper nutrition and adequate

exercise. Can it really be this simple though?

Obesity is not a new concept. It has

been an affliction for thousands of years as can

be seen through depictions from as early as

the Paleolithic period (before 8000 BC). The

health hazards of this affliction have been

known since ancient Greek times which

according to Hippocrates was seen to “cause

more sudden death in those who are naturally

fat than in the lean” (Bray 3). Though there

Fig. 1 Venus of Willendorf, Paleolithic

Period (“Venus of Willendorf”)
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have always been individuals who were overweight or obese, these numbers have

tripled worldwide since the 1970s (Obesity and Overweight).

Being overweight and obese is characterized by the amount of excess weight

that a person is carrying. A BMI chart is the most commonly used tool to diagnose

whether a person is a healthy weight. However, this chart only uses a person’s height

and weight and does not take into account the amount of muscle that a person has in

their body. This means that a person who is 5’9’’ but is muscular could weigh the same

as a person who is 5’9’’ and has a lot of excess fat. If a BMI chart is used in assessing

these two people, they could both be deemed as overweight or obese even though their

body compositions are completely different. More effective tools in measuring whether a

person is overweight are those that measure the amount of body fat such as: skinfold

thickness measurements, bioelectrical impedance, underwater weighing and DEXA

scans (Defining Adult Overweight and Obesity).

It is important to understand the effects of obesity on the body. Not only can it be

disfiguring on the outside, but it can cause severe health issues on the inside. Being

overweight or obese can increase the chances of suffering from a disease such as

diabetes, cancer, arthritis and cardiovascular disease (Bray pp 719-720). However, it is

also important to understand that not all overweight or obese people suffer from these

ailments and these ailments are also common in those of normal weights. Nia Mitchell

and colleagues state in their research that being overweight or obese are associated

with other health risks as well such as: sleep apnea which can lead to hypertension and

heart failure, cognitive dysfunction which can contribute to memory impairment and for

those in middle age can increase the likelihood of developing dementia (Mitchell et. al.).
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Not only do those who suffer from obesity experience severe ailments like the ones

listed above, they also experience other issues such as shortness of breath and

decreased mobility.

According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, 68% of

American adults were overweight with an astounding 34% being obese (Mitchell et. al.).

It is noted that both African American and Mexican American women have a higher

prevalence for obesity than other races. According to this same survey, obesity in

children has also risen significantly with 17% of children between the ages of 2 and 19

being labeled obese. It can be argued that the population most affected by obesity are

minority groups and low income individuals.

One reason for minority groups and low income individuals to be affected at a

greater rate than others is nutrition. The American lifestyle makes it difficult to get

proper nutrition and makes it easy to consume high fat, high calorie foods such as fast

food. Fast food is known for being calorically dense which makes it extremely easy to

consume beyond the daily recommended intake of 2000 calories. Low income

individuals are more likely to consume these types of foods because they are cheaper

and may be more accessible than fresh fruits and vegetables.

Another reason minority groups and low income individuals tend to be affected at

a greater rate is lack of exercise. In both groups, this may be an issue because of an

inability to find a safe place for exercise for both children and adults. It is recommended

that individuals get at least 150 minutes of aerobic exercise weekly, or 30 minutes daily

for 5 days. Those with more financial resources are able to combat these two issues

and therefore have a lower rate of obesity.

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It is a common misconception that laziness and poor diet are the only causes of

obesity. There are many other factors that can affect body composition such as health

issues, side effects from medications and even heredity. Obesity can also be affected

by environment.

The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) is an organization

that is committed to eliminating discrimation against those who are overweight. The

NAAFA explains that discrimination against those who are overweight takes place

everywhere and can have serious consequences for those who are discriminated

against. Stigma attached to being overweight can have a serious impact on mental

health and can even lead to a higher increase in weight.

There are many options when it comes to treating obesity and each has its own

rate of effectiveness. Many individuals opt to self-treat with diet and exercise. A majority

will find it difficult to stick with these changes and may find physician assistance helpful.

Counseling and support groups may also prove effective in helping those achieve their

goals. Weight loss medication is an available option for those with a BMI above 30 and

has proven effective when used in combination with diet and exercise (Obesity, Mayo).

There is a possibility of regaining weight lost after quitting medication and these types of

medication come with many possible side effects.

There are multiple weight loss surgeries available for those who suffer from

severe obesity. These surgeries change how the body absorbs nutrients and the

amount that it absorbs. Some surgeries decrease the amount of food that one can

consume in the first place. Surgeries come with severe risks including infection and

death.
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Preventing obesity has become a major focus. The federal program Let’s Move

was created in 2010 by former first lady Michelle Obama. The program was created to

decrease childhood obesity rates. This program focuses on physical education

programs in schools, the availability of recess, sports programs and healthy lunches

(What Can We Do?).

Though much more needs to be done to combat this epidemic, it is important to

understand that individuals can manage weight loss and healthy living on their own

most of the time. When diet and exercise is not enough, physician assistance can help

diagnose an underlying medical condition that may be the cause of weight gain.

However, lifestyle changes are usually enough to bring down BMI.

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Works Cited

Bray, G.A., et al. "Obesity: a chronic relapsing progressive disease process. A position

statement of the World Obesity Federation." Obesity Reviews, vol. 18, no. 7,

2017, pp. 715-723. OhioLINK Electronic Journal Center,

doi:10.1111/OBR.12551. rave.ohiolink.edu/ejournals/article/347887535.

Bray, G.A., et al. “History of Obesity.” Obesity: Science to Practice, edited by Williams,

G.

and Fruhbeck, G., John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., 2009, pp. 3-18.

“Defining Adult Overweight and Obesity.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 3 April 2020,

https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/adult/defining.html.

General Information on the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance. NAAFA,

NAAFA Inc., naafaonline.com/dev2/index.html.

Mitchell, Nia S. et al. “Obesity: overview of an epidemic.” The Psychiatric clinics of North

America vol. 34,4 (2011): 717-32. doi:10.1016/j.psc.2011.08.005.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3228640.

“Obesity.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 15

February 2020, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-

conditions/obesity/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20375749.

“Obesity and Overweight.” World Health Organization. World Health Organization, 1

April 2020, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-

overweight.
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“Venus of Willendorf.” Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11 July 2018,

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Venus-of-Willendorf, Accessed 30 May 2020.

“What Can We Do?” Public Health. Public Health,

https://www.publichealth.org/public-awareness/obesity/what-can-we-do/.

Zhang, Xiaochen, et al. "Physical activity and risk of cardiovascular disease by weight

status among U.S adults." PLoS ONE, vol. 15, no. 5, 2020, p. e0232893. Gale In

Context: Opposing Viewpoints, https://link-gale-

com.sinclair.ohionet.org/apps/doc/A623227786/OVIC?

u=dayt30401&sid=OVIC&xid=81ad9e5a. Accessed 29 May 2020.