Emily Kimball

English 2010

OBESITY

Obesity in America has been a growing issue. It is one of the highest causes of death in

the United States because it causes so many health related diseases. The thing we have control

over is the thing that is harming Americans most, our eating habits. Food has one use, to fuel

our bodies. However, American’s think otherwise. Nowadays we use food for pleasure, or even

to entertain our guests. People are always wondering what they are going to eat for their next

meal. We get done eating lunch, and start planning our dinner. Food is always on our mind. It’s

okay as long as we are eating the right food, and getting enough exercise. We need to get our

mind off of eating all the time, and put it to work thinking, and creating life. If we spent as much

time thinking about life as much as we think about food then we might start using the other

90% of our brain.

Obesity

People with too high a body mass index are considered obese. To calculate BMI you take

the weight of the individual, and divide it by their height in meters^2. BMI=weight in kilograms/

height in meters^2. The chart is as follows:

Below 18.5= underweight 18.5-24.9= Normal 25-29.9= overweight 30-and over= obese

This formula works most the time. It’s a good guide to follow if you are an average

American. However this It is not always accurate if you are a body builder, or wrestler

(something that makes your muscle percent

extra high) then this in this case the formula

doesn’t weigh off right.

Deaths

Obesity death rates are at an all-time high and keep continuing to rising. In 2000 The

Center for Disease Control and Prevention stated that poor diet was the second leading cause

of death in America at 400,000 16.6% of total deaths. Smoking is just barely the popular funeral

site at 435,000 18.1 total deaths (Obesity Facts). Shocking? Yes. Who knew food was so deadly

when used wrong.

Health Concerns

There are so many side effects to being obese. The physical conditions include, but are

not limited to: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes, and bone and joint

problems. High blood pressure is so threatening because it is damaging to your arteries, heart,

Over the years obesity becomes

more of an issue. In 1963 obesity in

children was only at a 4%. In 2000

it raised all the way to 14%. If we

can’t control the problem now then

it’s going to just continue rising to

be an even bigger problem. We

have to control it now!

brain, and kidneys. When the blood pressure is high it strains the arteries, and doesn’t

accurately deliver the nutrients to all the parts of the body. High cholesterol is such a risk in

obese people because they usually consume more LDL in their diet then HDL. LDL clogs arteries.

Type 2 Diabetes doesn’t allow the body to use the insulin. If insulin doesn’t get into the cells

they will not receive their proper nutrients to function accurately. The insulin then builds up in

the blood resulting in dehydration, and many damages to the body. Along with the physical

problems that obesity causes it also is a huge harm emotionally. The emotional damages

include: drug and alcohol use, depression, and eating disorders.

Exercise

Exercising is just as important as eating a healthy meal. Exercise speeds up the

metabolism, and keeps muscles, bones, and everything else well circulated. When we exercise

we’re getting richer blood flow to every part of our body insuring it with all the nutrients it

needs. Working out reduces the chance of certain diseases you might be at risk for. Exercising is

also good for your mood. It’s a chance to release any built up tension held in your body. When

you work out it delivers more oxygen to your cells giving you more energy throughout the day.

We have natural drugs in our body, and exercise is one way to get them. When you exercise our

body releases endorphins. Endorphins make us feel good, because it’s a natural pain killer. After

a workout we are left refreshed and happy because our bodies are high off endorphins. If we

spend a little extra time incorporating exercise into our daily routines we’ll find everything we

do is easier, and we’ll have more energy to do it. Even just the little things help. Instead of

waiting for the elevator, take the stairs. We should park in the back of the parking lot to get a

short walk in. These little things can make you feel better, keep your relationship strong, and

even save your life.

Kids need to get out and play!

Video Games

Instead of going outside for some fresh air, and real life adventure, our generation

would rather sit inside on the cough playing video games, watching television, or simply just

web surfing. We need to get out and move around, instead of staring at a screen all day leaving

our joints, and muscles stiff from lack of movement. What do we crave when we are sitting

around watching television? Food. It’s so easy to be so relaxed into the movie that we don’t

even realize how much food we are eating while sitting there.

Convenient

Americans are living off of fast food. You drive a short distance down the street, and in

that short time you will pass several McDonalds, Burger Kings, Taco Bells, Arby’s, Wendy’s,

Carl’s Junior, Taco Time, Del Taco, Dairy Queen, you name it. It’s become so convenient to pick

up fast food. You don’t even need to get out of your car. We just have to drive up the window,

and we’ll have your hot dinner in a couple minutes. Instead of going home and making

something actually beneficial to our bodies to eat, Americans continue to starve their body of

the right nutrients, and drown in bad fats. To make things worse, Fast food places are usually

open 24hours too. They are the only places open that late because it’s the only business that

can stay in business to be open that long. This goes to show just how dependent Americans are

on fast food. Having fast food open so late is another bad tribute. Who needs food at 2am?

Especially the kind you get from fast food? Fast food stores keep multiplying. Think about it,

when you go on a drive how many fast food places do you pass compared to any other

businesses? There is way more fast food places.

Pleasure

Eating gives people a good feeling. It gives us pleasure to eat something that sends

delight through our taste buds. The foods that give us the most pleasure are the sweet and high

calorie foods. It’s a natural instinct to crave food, but we cross the limit to where we are eating

to feel good. When something gives us pleasure then we keep eating it, until we are so full that

we can’t get any more pleasure from eating food.

Cost

Food is expensive, and is constantly going up in price. It’s one of the highest costs right

next to gas and housing. Obesity doesn’t just pay a role on your body, but your bank account as

well. Buying groceries to make your own food at home is costly enough, but going out to eat

even at just a fast food restaurant is way more expensive. Yeah the fast food companies have

the catchy, highly advertised dollar menu, but when does anyone only get one thing off the

dollar menu and feel satisfied? Eating out is eating at your pocket, and your body. The bigger

the person is, the more they have to eat to feel full. Not only the direct cost of eating out at fast

food places, but the indirect costs: medical bills. Eating off of fast food puts a person at higher

risk of having to go to the hospital, because the food is harmful to our bodies, when overdone.

In American culture we always have food lying around. There are always cookies on the

counter, and chocolate in the cupboard. It’s so easy to grab these unhealthy snacks instead of

the fruit in the fridge. If we make the vegetables and fruits more convenient than the fats then

this will help the unhealthy snacking habit.

We can’t control everything that happens in our world. Just like we can’t control the

weather, or most diseases we catch. But, we have 100 percent control over our body image.

Every chocolate we sneak into our mouths, every French fry we devour, we know the possible

consequence. We need to stop the obesity issue. Once we stop using food for pleasure, and

start using it for fuel, then we’ll lower death rates, and forget obesity was ever such a burning

issue.

Looking at the picture to the left you

can see that the healthier the meal the

cheaper it is. The McDonalds meal is almost

twice as expensive and doesn’t have as

nearly as good as nutrition in it. If you think

picking up some items off the dollar menu

will save you money you have sadly

mistaken. Why are we paying more money

on the foods that are harming our bodies?

Proposal

Be the change you wish to see in the world-Gandhi. We must change our own bad eating habits

and not blame it on the food industries. We aren’t forced to eat the bad food but constantly we

are making the choices to eat it. We should have the interest of the health of our bodies at the

highest regard in life because if we don’t nothing else matters when it kills us. Nothing is as

important as our body’s health; it’s as simple as that. If the health of our body is bad, then

everything we do will be limited. We shouldn’t eat food that makes us feel groggy, and worn

out. The purpose of food is to fuel our body, so if it doesn’t give us energy, and make us feel

refreshed then there is no reason to eat it. Americans need to turn off the T.V. and enjoy real

life out in the sunshine. Our bodies are meant to constantly be moving keeping our blood

circulated, and our muscles strong. There is so much to experience in our world, and obesity

restricts us from it. Getting pleasure out of eating that chocolate bar or ice cream doesn’t

compare to the pleasure of hiking to the top of a waterfall, and being part of Earths beauty. We

have to quit putting trash in our bodies. Eventually all we’ll get out of Obesity is death. A

change needs to be made by everyone so that the obesity problem stops. Tweaking eating

habits, and becoming more physically active will save you money, make you look better

physically, and will make you feel like a new person. Experience life to the fullest, stop obesity!

SOURCES

Unknown, . "Childhood Obesity Facts." Cdc. Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention, 2011. Web. 20

Feb 2012. <http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/obesity/facts.htm>.

What Health, How to calculate bmi. N.p., 2011. Web. 20 Feb 2012.

<http://www.whathealth.com/bmi/formula.html>.

Be Healthy! Stay active! Enjoy life to the fullest!

Griffin, M.. High cholesterol risks: Top 2 dangers. N.p., 2011. Web. 20 Feb 2012.

<http://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/features/high-cholesterol-risks-top-2-

dangers>.

Nazario, B.. "Type 2 Diabetes Overview." Webmd. WebMD, 2009. Web. 20 Feb 2012.

<http://diabetes.webmd.com/guide/type-2-diabetes>.

Charkraburtty, A.. "Depression health center." Webmd better information.better health. WebMD,

LLC, 2010. Web. 20 Feb 2012. <http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/exercise-

depression>.

Brittman, . "Graphic sociology." The Society Pages. N.p., 2011. Web. 10 Mar 2012.

<http://thesocietypages.org/graphicsociology/2011/09/28/is-fast-food-cheaper-than-

cooking-at-home-bittman-mashup/>.