Over-weight body condition is actually referred to as a condition of obesity. This is a condition where one accumulates excessive body fats which pose a great danger to the health of such individuals. Health diseases related to being overweight include cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer among others. It is therefore one of the leading causes of death. Historically, being overweight was associated with gluttony or overeating. However scientific studies have come up with other causes which include biochemical combinations, genetic reasons, and other cultural factors. Obesity conditions are usually defined by the body mass index (BMI). According to WHO a BMI that is greater than 25 is simply overweight. Other classes of obesity are defined according to the level of the BMI above this level. The Americans have been rated as the society with the highest levels of overweight (Nestle, p06). Thus this paper will discuss the major reasons why the United States is a major culprit of obesity.
During the period of the early 1970s to the late 1990s, the average number of calories consumed by individuals was on the increase. This was greatly due to the change of diet. The change in the calories consumed was highest in the United States. This rate further increased as the level of technology improved in the production of foods. Studies indicate that the obesity rates in the US increased from 14.5% in 1971 to 30.9% in the year 2000 (Kuczmarski, p22). This was greatly associated with the change of diet by most Americans. Most of them resulted in the consumption of foods that had very high amounts of calories. The extra calories were mainly from excessive intake of carbohydrates from sweetened beverages. Americans are also heavily dependent on fast foods which contain a lot of calories. Studies have indicated that recent consumption of fast foods has more than tripled in the United States. This has resulted from the eating-out culture that prevails in the US. These fast foods contain very high levels of calories which contribute greatly to the levels of obesity. Other dietary changes result from the agricultural technology in the US which has led to cheaper prices for foods produced from corn, wheat, rice among others. Many individuals are therefore consuming this product as opposed to fruits and vegetables.
The food industry is also blamed for the high calories contained in the packed foods. The high calories resulting from these foods are from the genetically produced foods which are then processed to make them more appealing and tasty (Flegal, p19). The sugar content is therefore very high. The food industries also engage in a lot of production for junk food which targets children. This encourages the consumption of such foods since the advertisements are mostly targeting children and youth who are the highest consumers of such foods. Media advertising on these foods is usually very persuasive and it, therefore, beats the nutritional counseling of parents. If such children do not engage in physical exercise they eventually accumulate a lot of calories which leads to obesity.
Unfortunately, even with a change of diet in the US and the prevailing condition of obesity, most Americans are not physically active. This simply means that the calories that are obtained from food are not burnt in the body instead they keep accumulating over time. Studies indicate that only 26% of the American population engage in very vigorous physical exercises. 59% of the adult population do not engage in any vigorous activity in their leisure time. About 25% of the young people on the other hand engage in very light and moderate activities such as walking, watching T.V, computer games, playing Video games among others (Nestle, p10).
The American lifestyle also contributes a lot to the condition of obesity. Simple activities that can be done by use of physical activity are done by machines. The preference for machines to do most jobs in America makes most of them be very inactive. The use of cars and driving for young people makes even walking a big burden for some individuals. Muscle movement which is important for burning calories is not maximized. On the other hand, the community groups which should be campaigning for minimal use of such Labor-saving machines, physical activities, and healthy eating habits are mostly dormant and they do very little to influence the activities and eating habits of the American people (Flegal,p26).
In an approach to arrest the situation, there are various guidelines that have been put in place which are directed towards dietary habits. This includes the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This acts as a guide for the Americans on how much they should eat in a day. There are guidelines on calorie intake which are based on gender, age, and physical activities. There is also a consistent recommendation on engaging in physical exercises. Other measures approaches include seeking health care and ensuring a healthy diet (Flegal, p24)
In conclusion, Americans need to realize the calorie intake in their bodies will be very harmful to their health in the future. There is a need for more community dietary programs which will campaign for low levels of calorie intake and encourage the participation of Americans in physical exercises. This will act as a way of sensitizing people to reduce and burn their calorie levels. The Americans also need to change their attitude on instilling discipline into their eating habits. Having foods that are rich in calories at arm’s length does not necessarily mean you have to consume them.
There is also a need for a change of attitude towards engaging in physical exercises. Americans should substitute simple cores done by machines with physical activities (Nestle, p17). This makes their bodies remain active. Other approaches include the medical approach which should incorporate training sessions on diet and healthy eating habits.
References
Flegal KM. Overweight and obesity in the United States. International Journal of Obesity. U.S.A, 2008
Frances M and Ms Ln Berg. Overweight: America’s Obesity Epidemic: What Every Family Needs to Know. Oxford University Press, 2007
Kuczmarski RJ. Criteria for definition of overweight in transition: Background and recommendations for the United States. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. U.S.A, 2000
M Nestle. The contribution to expanding obesity epidemic sizes in the US. McGraw hill, 2006.