Saturday, January 23, 2010

Obesity In America - Do We Have A Chance?

By John Smith M.D

Obesity in the United America is at an all time high. The amount are actually astonishing and at epidemic levels. We tend to be literally eating ourselves to death. Here are some facts concerning our country and how overweight and obese we currently are. Why is U.S. the fattest nation on the planet? Why do we have a tendency to overeat as much as we do and do so very little to help ourselves subside obesity?

60 million people in the US are affected by the disease obesity, where girls and woman are particularly affected more. Over one-third of ladies between the ages of twenty and seventy four are obese, the bulk of them being Mexican American and African American. The number of Americans since the 1960's that are overweight or obese are a direct result of prepackaged foods and exercise and activity become less and less.

Fast Food now days plays a major role in the levels of obesity we see today. Fast food is currently socially accepted because of globalization. These foods do not only add extra calories but they are generally unhealthy in nature. The additional calories that aren't weakened by the body are stored as fats which provides rise to obesity. It is very easy to become overweight eating fast food because it is so readily available and it seems like it is the only sometimes that can satisfy your hunger.

Statistics since the 1990's show overweight and obesity has dramatically increased as an on the spot results of the our eating habits and particularly because of the fast food restaurants. Since the 1980's obesity in children has dramatically increased. Much to do with a lack of outdoor exercise and fast food. The biggest issue being computers and video games. Tell me when the last time you seen a child playing outside. Its terribly rare at the least.

Only 4% of youngsters in 1982 were thought to be obese. Currently more than 30% are obese. Out of about 25% of all obese children are now starting to show symptoms of the development of Type II diabetes. Of those children developing Type II diabetes, more than sixty percent of obese children are showing one or more signs of cardiovascular disease.

With obesity there is an increased risk of developing diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure. Even cancers such as colon, breast or prostate cancer. Obesity is linked to mental health conditions like having a low self esteem, shameful feelings and even depression. Health experts say that even losing ten to fifteen percent of your body weight can dramatically decrease people from developing these serious conditions. In addition, several obese people are discriminated against and targets of insults and various verbal abuse.

In the United States we have too many people dying each year as a direct result of obesity and we have too many individuals turning into diabetics because of obesity. Who do we hold accountable? The individuals that make foods that aren't healthy for us? Well, that will be one means to go, but we don't have to eat them. In fact, it may not possibly be our fault as a result of we live in a very nation where nobody takes responsibility for themselves anymore.

Its time for each one of us to be accountable for our eating habits and behaviors. In our current economy its a lot of easier on the wallet to eat at the many fast food restaurants that there is currently offered to us. We have to change our eating habits if we want to live a long healthy life. Value shop,put dinners together that are not expensive. Eat leftovers. Make yourself a sandwich. There are many things you could do to save money and not eat at fast food restaurants. Exercise for a minimum of 1 hour a day. Make your kids play outside.

We need to take control of this worldly problem now before its too late. If you found this article the least bit educating or interesting and would like to learn more about the exact statistics of our level of obesity and the diseases that can be caused and what we can do the prevent obesity then follow the link below.

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