One of the pressing problems in the United States today is obesity. It is noticeable that people from different walks of life are suffering from obesity. Obesity is a serious problem because it poses a significant health problem to the people but it is also draining the resources of the United States government in terms of provision of adequate health care needs to obese individuals. Several studies have tackled this problem and confirmed the related costs associated with obesity and its disturbing effects. “Readers are warned that unless drastic wide sweeping efforts are instigated on a social scale, the obesity epidemic will win out” (Davis, 2013, p.1). In view of the repercussions of obesity, it is essential for the public to understand this problem and recognize solutions that would instill awareness towards making healthier food choices.
The problem of obesity can be attributed to various factors. From the individual perspective, one of the factors leading to obesity is the unhealthy food choices. The excess preference over fatty foods is one of the primary causes of obesity among individuals. A good statistic to demonstrate this comes from Ogden et.al (2012) where they contend that “more than 35% of U.S. men and women were obese in 2009-2010 (p.2). Even if the data seems to be outdated, it clearly shows the prevalence of the problem and the continuously increasing number as years pass. Nowadays, more people are preferring fast food because of their lifestyle that demands being able to get their food and eat them as fast as they can.
Obesity can also be attributed to external factors such as the environment and industries which continue to promote unhealthy eating. For example, the continued expansion of fast food restaurants and convenience stores that offer high sugar and fat content can be attributed as critical in shaping obesity among people. Thus, the easy access to these restaurants is forcing the public to prefer them over healthier home-cooked meals. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that the healthy food choices are still a bit more expensive compared to fast food. That is why preference is given to unhealthy alternatives because of it is cheap and is available compared to ‘healthy foods’ (Ogden et.al, 2012).
Obesity should be given proper attention because it has a detrimental effect to one’s health. By consuming fast food, people are becoming subject to increased health risks such as hypertension, heart attack, diabetes and other conditions that would shorten one’s lifespan. Arguably, these issues were highlighted as early as the 1950s to show that the number of obese Americans is starting to increase. “As early as 1952 the American Heart Association identified obesity as a cardiac risk factor that can be altered through diet and exercise” (Davis, 2013, p.2). While the public may not be aware of its effects, their unhealthy food choices are making them obese which might lead to healthcare complications in the immediate future if this problem is not properly addressed or resolved.
Since obesity has devastating health effects, it produces administrative challenges for the United States which has the duty to address the healthcare needs of the people. Since many citizens rely on healthcare to promote their wellness and medical aid, the increasing number of obese people is taking a toll on the government resources which is already very limited. Apart from being costly, it brings forward an unequal distribution of income to diseases that require immediate or particular attention.
Addressing obesity should involve the public finally realizing that their current lifestyle in terms of excessive fast food simply is not sustainable. This means that the person should be willing to improve food choices and lifestyles in order to lose weight and reduce the threats of obesity. Arguably, the most powerful approach in resolving this issue comes from the obese people themselves. They need to let go of their impulses and find ways to make the right decisions every time. A good metaphor to highlight this comes from the study of Barry et.al (2009) where they argue that “a big problem in America is that people are unwilling to work hard to control their impulses” (p.19). Seeing this, if individual urges can be prevented, it can help generate favorable choices for people who seek to consider healthier choices and also limit making wrong decisions about food.
References
Barry, C.L., Brescoll, V.L., Brownell, K.D., and Schlesinger, M. (2009). Obesity Metaphors: How Beliefs about the Causes of Obesity Affect Support for Public Policy. The Milbank Quarterly. 87(1), 7-47.
Davis, S. (2013). Remedies for the Obesity Epidemic: Can We Afford Them? Do We Want Them? Online Journal of Health Ethics 1(1), 1-7.
Ogden, C.L., Carroll, M.D., Kit, B.K., and Flegal, K.M. (2012). Prevalence of Obesity in the United States. US Department of Health and Human Services. NCHS Data Brief. 82(1), 1-8.
Sylvetsky, A.C., Hennink, M., Comeau, D.,Welsh, J.A., Hardy, T., Matzigkeit, L., Swan, D.W.,
Walsh, S.M., and Vos, M. (2013). Youth Understanding of Health Eating and Obesity: A Focus Group Study. Journal of Obesity,