Obesity in America

Obesity in America

What does it mean to be obese? To be obese is to have an above average amount of body fat. Obesity however, is not the same thing as being overweight, meaning you weigh too much. Being overweight can be contributed to muscle, tissue, as well as fat, whereas being obese means having too much body fat. 

America is currently the country in lead when it comes to obesity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "More than one-third of U.S. adults (35.7%) are obese. In 2008, medical costs associated with obesity were estimated at $147 billion; the medical costs for people who are obese were $1,429 higher than those of normal weight." Many factors can contribute to obesity. Health problems, stress, or even family issues. The CDC stated, "Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer, some of the leading causes of preventable death." Besides health conditions, obesity was found to be the main cause of more than 300,000 deaths per year. One of the main reasons society is becoming obese is because we are becoming lazier and lazier. As citizens of our country, we need to realize how obesity is affecting us as a nation.

Over the past 30 years, childhood obesity has more than doubled. Just like adults, approximately one third of children in America are obese. When becoming obese as child, it becomes normal. Being obese can only inhibit weight-loss as an adult. However, the younger you are, the longer you have to work it off and become healthy. Having a young body has it's advantages. Considering your body is still young and is not fighting health conditions that come upon you at a later time, obesity is easier to fight.

America has not been paying much attention to obesity being a huge problem. Yes, there are bigger problems that may effect all of the country, however, nothing is able to happen if we are all unhealthy and dealing with health problems. Being healthy gives you more energy, and overall makes you happier. We as a society need to start taking obesity as a threat, and work together to find a cure.



Works Cited:

"Adult Obesity Facts." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 13 Aug. 2012. Web. 20 June 2013.