Today it has become common knowledge on which country is the most obese country in the world, the United States of America. America is by far the most obese country in the world, and the obesity pandemic seems to be only increasing as time goes on. Obesity has become increasingly more prominent since the 80s into the 90s and the early 2000s and is still continuing to increase. This is an issue for the obese as well as America as a whole as health and resources are at stake. To combat obesity, obesity must be stopped in its early stages, literally, America's children need to be educated and have their obesity inducing trends stopped before they become adults.With more and more unhealthy foods appearing on the market, and a lack of knowledge on the importance of exorcise, today’s youth are becoming the most obese generation to date. It does not take a genius to realize that the issue of obesity in America is a major problem. It is apparent in the day to day lives of Americans. A drive to school or work is nearly impossible without seeing a fast food restaurant on the way, many of which are open twenty four hours a day. In the grocery stores many families choose to go with the “quick and easy” meal rather than buying the ingredients to cook a meal that will be healthy for their families. When it comes to school lunches, oftentimes kids will be seen removing instant lunches from their lunch boxes on a day to day basis, which can be convenient on occasion, but where is the harm in a home packed sandwich every once in a while? In homes and zoos, animals are often more exercised than the people that live there, no hamster cage is complete without a wheel for it to run on, and a dog needs his daily walk to the park nearby, but “when are we going to start being humane to humans – why don't we make the same connection about how much of our rising rate of depression is due to inactivity?” (Barrett, 4). When are people going to start exorcising their own bodies the way they do their pets? Everyone is aware that their dog will not be as healthy, or happy unless it is kept in shape in healthy. However, these same people do no treat their own bodies in this same manner. Obesity is a problem that affects its victims body, mind, and finances as well. Obvious physical effects come with obesity such as not being able to partake in certain events or rides, and having to shop very selectively for clothing. Mental issues are apparent as well as obese citizens also struggle with self esteem and confidence. Obese citizens spend much more money on health related issues and are more prone to many diseases. “The average annual medical costs to treat an obese or overweight adult are $1,200 to $6,400 more than the costs to treat a healthy weight adult.” (Stewart, 1). If Americans could simply keep themselves healthy they would also be able to save themselves medical costs. Also obese citizens are often much less confident, making it more difficult for them to have relationships with others based on their physical appearance.
America's children can simply not continue in their obesity inducing trends. Dr. Mercola and Dr. Lerner discuss in their book “Generation XL” just how serious of a problem obesity is in America and the wide array of health problems and disorders come along with it, “A steady diet of poor nutrition disrupts their health slowly over time, but sooner or later poor eating habits will take their revenge in the from of frequent illness, allergies, infections, adenoid problems, tonsillitis, weight gain, hyperactivity, learning disorders, and a host of other ailments.” (Mercola and Lerner, 21). It is amazing how the risks of all these many diseases and disorders can be lowered drastically if people would just take care of their bodies. Children are suffering because adults are not putting the time or effort into teaching the kids to keep themselves in shape. Kids are being ridiculed, bullied, have self esteem problems, and even becoming depressed. These issue can be minimized if adults would just take the time to educate children on the seriousness of obesity. These children often become overweight adults, and many of these overweight adults continue to gain weight until they are considered obese adults. Nearly two thirds of the United States population in overweight, something that can not be said about any other country. Many obese citizens will claim that obesity is not an issue, let alone a major and continually rising issue in America. However these citizens are blind to the true dangers of this issue. People may say our country is attempting to halt the obesity pandemic by providing healthy alternatives at restaurants, or keeping Americans aware that they are in need of exorcize in magazines or commercials, but if that is the case, how is it that “our nation is getting fatter, with obesity rates increasing in 49 of the 50 states.” (Stewart, 1). Colorado is the state with the lowest obesity rate in the country, however it is a shame to know that although the state has the lowest obesity rate in the country, which is still nearly twenty percent, that Colorado is catching up quickly to the rest of the nation, which has an obesity rate of approximately twenty five percent. Obesity rates in Colorado have nearly doubled since 1995, and rates county to rise much faster than the rest of the country. This rise in obesity is most obvious in Colorado's children. “ More than one in four of Colorado's children ages 10 to 17 are obese or overweight. The Colorado Health Foundation's sweeping annual report card last year awarded the state a D+ for the health of our children. The same report conveyed that Colorado's childhood obesity ranking fell from third leanest in the country to twenty-third in the last four years.” (Stewart, 1). Even the state known for being healthy, active, and the least overweight is now nearly there with the rest of the pack, and the children are no longer part of the least obese group. America must teach their children the dangers of obesity, and prevent them from becoming obese. If action is not taken, obesity rates will only continue to rise until they are off the chart, and there is not turning back.
To halt America's obesity trends and put a stop to the constantly rising rates in the country, america's children must be educated and made aware of the problem. A great deal of effort and dedication must be put forth in stopping America's obesity trends, or this country will simply continue on the path that it has been on for decades past. The obesity rate in children is becoming preposterous as “ About 25 million kids — nearly one in every three young people — are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight. If current trends continue, today’s children could be the first generation to live shorter lives than their parents.” (The Washington Times, 1). It is amazing to think that even with all the medical advancements being discovered constantly, that the upcoming generation will live shorter lives than those of their parents. On top of this, most of these children will go on to be obese adults. Children need healthy food, just as much, if not more than any adult does, but they just are not receiving the nourishment that their bodies need to function properly. Children are exposed to marketing on a day to day basis, through advertisements, television, and their friends at school, but it is a parent's responsibility to not simply cave into their child's begs and pleads to have the most sugar filled cereals, cookies, and pudding, along with everything else on the market today. The solution to help lower obesity rates in America is the children. They are the future of the country and can change the course of America's obesity trends. Children need to be educated on the dangers and issues that come along with obesity, parents need to improve on the way they are letting their children indulge in unhealthy foods, and sit in front of the t.v. for hours on end, especially with constant advances in technology making it more tempting to do so. In school children should be taught the dangers of obesity, and physical education must be kept in schools. Some might say that it is every individual's right on how they treat their own bodies, and although this is true, most people do not enjoy being overweight. Most people would prefer to be a healthy weight, have more confidence, and spend less on medical needs.
Teaching children of America to be physically fit and to keep their bodies a healthy rate is vital in turning America's obesity rate in the opposite direction. For parents it is extremely important to take the time to sit down with their children if they are upset over why they can not constantly eat certain foods or watch t.v. and play video games for hours on end and explain to them how keeping their bodies a healthy weight with eating properly and exorcizing and how they will be much better off in this way. It is also important that physical education is kept in schools as it is being taken out of some curriculums. Although it may cost money providing students with equipment to play sports, it is extremely important for our health. Students will exorcise more often when being put into sports, children, especially boys love competition and through sports they will be much more interested and devoted to participating to win, and thus getting exorcise while in the process. Physical education and sports should never be taken out of America's schools because it is far to important to educate our kids and avoiding generation after generation become more obese than the one before them. Adults should lead by example by keeping themselves a healthy weight according to their body mass index (B.M.I.), and those that are obese should eat more healthy food choices and exorcise to help lose weight. After all, children learn from others examples and without role models they will never change their ways. People can simply not stand by any longer and look on as America continues to become more and more obese, action must be taken.
America's reputation for obesity is notorious. If Americans are determined and willing to make change however, change can be made. This country can change from its obese ways and lifestyles. However the longer things stay unchanged the more and more obese this country will come along with the advancements in technology and the increases in fast and unhealthy foods. We must change our children's ways and teach them of the many dangers of obesity because children are the future of America, and through them this country can make a turnaround and become one of the more fit countries, rather than the most obese country in the entire world. It is a shame the situation that the country is in, but through ourselves and through the children, this country can change its destiny. However if action is not taken, this great country will just continue down its path of obesity, never to emerge. Obesity rates will continue to increase, and American citizens will begin to care less and less about being a healthy weight and looking out for the weight of their children. Every citizen of the United States of America should personally take it upon themselves to keep themselves healthy and to stress the importance of keeping a healthy body weight and exorcising to the children of this country to turn this country's obesity pandemic around.
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Barrett, Deirdre. Waistland: the (R)evolutionary Science behind Our Weight and Fitness Crisis. New York: W.W. Norton &, 2007. Print.
Mercola, Joseph, and Lerner, Ben. Generation XL: Raising Healthy, Intelligent Kids in a High-tech, Junk-food World. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2007. Print.
Kolata, Gina. "Overweight - Symptoms, Causes, Tests - NY Times Health Information." Health News - The New York Times. 05 Dec. 2011 .
Stewart, Maren. "Fighting Obesity in Colorado - The Denver Post." Colorado Breaking News, Sports, Weather, Traffic - The Denver Post. Web. 13 Nov. 2011. <http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_15578885>.
The Washington Times. "SOLUTIONS: Dealing with America's obesity problem - Washington Times." Washington Times - Politics, Breaking News, US and World News. 05 Dec. 2011 .
References
Kolata, Gina. "Overweight - Symptoms, Causes, Tests - NY Times Health Information." Health News - The New York Times. Web. 13 Nov. 2011. <http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/symptoms/obesity/overview.html>.
The Family Guide to Fighting Fat: a Parent's Guide to Handling Obesity and Eating Issues. New York: St. Martin's Griffin, 2007. Print.
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