Main Factors that Lead to Obesity

Nia EdwardsDeVry UniversityENGL 147 Research Presentation

Main Factors that Lead to Obesity

My name is Nia Edwards. I decided to do my presentation on some of the Main Factors that Lead to Obesity.1

Thesis StatementPeople in todays society are led toward unhealthy food options and increased risks of obesity due to high costs of healthy food options and greater exposure of unhealthy foods, in order to resolve this healthy food prices should be reduced and should be advertised more so that they will be more available to the public.

My thesis statement is that:People in todays society are led toward unhealthy food options and increased risks of obesity due to high costs of healthy food options and greater exposure of unhealthy foods, in order to resolve this healthy food prices should be reduced and should be advertised more so that they will be more available to the public.

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HistoryEating at fast food restaurants was positively associated with a high-fat diet, having children and a high BMI, and was negatively associated with vegetable consumption and physical activity. (Fleischhacker et. al p. e467)

More and more people are becoming obese. Obesity is a serious health risk, it can lead to many health problems such as Diabetes, heart diseases, acid reflux, cancer, sleep apnea, high blood pressure and more.3

Effects of the ProblemThe current structure of food process is that high-sugar and high-fat foods provide calories at the lowest cost. Fresh fruits and vegetables are more expensive on a per calorie basis than are fats and sugars. (Stender et. al, p. 887) The government does not give much support to crops like fruits and vegetables.(Story et. al p. 262)

One of the reasons why more people are drawn to fast food places, is that the food is not only cheap, but the proportions you are receiving is large. Many fast food restaurants have value meals with items under $3. It is hard to avoid a deal like that, especially if you come from a large family, with several bills piling up. Most families think that it is better to eat fattening food, than to eat nothing at all, when they are making these choices. The government gives a lot of support to crops like corn which are used to make corn syrup, a main ingredient in unhealthy foods.4

Effects of the ProblemLiving closer to fast food restaurants decreases the likelihood of eating recommended fruit and vegetable intakes. (Fleischhacker, et. al, p. e468) Pregnant women who live over four miles from a supermarket are found to have a more unhealthy diet. (Story et. al, p.259)

Many people have issues with transportation for food. Gas prices are high, cars are expensive. Some people are confined to using the bus or just walking. If there is a fast food place right around the corner, then citizens are more likely to go there for food. This is an easier option when the nearest healthy food outlet is miles away.5

Effects of the ProblemFast food places are often utilized by teens due to their proximity to schools. (Fleischhacker, et. al, p. e461) Fast food places market themselves through television commercials, billboards, and websites. Some of these ads are seen in online games and IPhone apps.

The rise in obesity is not just adults, it is the young as well. Its bad enough that the vending machines in schools are filled with unhealthy snacks. Once school lets out, teenagers have a tendency to go down the street to a fast food place to eat. Fast food places are very well advertised, and in many ways. They have commercials made for people of all ages. Animated characters for children's appeal, and couples for the appeal of young adults. When going on a trip, one always passes by a billboard promoting a fast food joint. Fast food establishments have their own websites as well as others with ads. Iphone apps such as Pandora have ads for fast food. One can earn points for Facebook games by watching fast food commercials online.6

SolutionsHealthy food prices should be reduced so that they would be more available to the public. The government should provide more support for crops that make healthy foods. There should also be coupons and food stamps available for healthy foods.

If healthier food options prices were similar to prices of fast foods then more people would be open to purchasing them. It is logical to think that the crop prices of fruits and vegetables would be more reasonable if the government provided them with some support. There should also be coupons and food stamps for fresh fruits and vegetables.7

Another SolutionHealth food products should have more commercials and advertising so that the public is more knowledgeable about what healthy foods are available. Both household food availability (foods present in the house) and accessibility (whether available foods are in a form or location that facilitates their consumption, such as fruit on the counter) have been positively associated with healthful dietary intake. (Story et. al p.255)

If proper marketing works so well for fast food, why couldnt it for healthy food products? If there were more commercials, billboards and website ads for healthy food items, then more people would gain interest in them. The commercials need to have people of all ages consuming the foods, stating the taste and talk about how it is good for them and can avoid health issues. There also needs to be more health food outlets located closer to residential areas. This may seem difficult, but there are ways to make this so. One option is simply to build more grocery stores, or move them closer to homes. Another way is to take places already present and have them sell healthy foods. An example is how lately Walmart and Target stores have begun selling grocery items. With healthy foods more available them more people will be able to consume them, thereby decreasing obesity risks.8

Call to ActionIf something is not done soon, more and more citizens will become obese. Significant steps are needed to make healthful food choices available, identifiable, and affordable to people of all races and income levels and in all types of geographic locations. (Story et. al p.266) If everyone continues to become obese, then life spans will be reduced.

It is imperative that these factors be resolved. How many TLC specials need to air before the public can realize the seriousness of this issue? Seeing titles like Half Ton Mom should be a wake up call to this. In the Disney film, WALL-E the entire human population is obese, from a fattening diet of food in a cup. WE CANNOT LET THIS OCCUR! Healthy food options must be made more available to our society to ensure a healthful future for all.9

ReferencesFleischhacker, S.E., Evenson, K.R., Rodriguez, D.A., & Ammerman, A.S. (2010). A systematic review of fast food access studies. International Association for the Study of Obesity 12, e460-e471.Stender, S., Dyerberg, J. and Astrup, A. (2007). Fast food: unfriendly and unhealthy. International Journal of Obesity 31, 887-890.Story, M., Kaphingst, K.M., Robinson-OBrien, R., and Glanz, K. (2008). Creating Healthy Food and Eating Environments: Policy and Environmental Approaches. The Annual Review of Public Health 29, 253-257.

Here are my references.10