Obesity In America Research Paper

Obesity in America is an epidemic affecting nearly 38% of adults across the nation, and we need to work together to cure it. Obesity, being a nation wide issue, will be immensely difficult to put to an end, but it’s not too late to stop its spread. Obesity rates have been on the rise since the early 90’s, and we are going to set out and find a way to stop it in its tracks.
Obesity has a longstanding relationship with the United States. The rates of obesity have risen exponentially over time, and don’t seem to be stopping. In 1990, obese adults made up less than 15 percent of the U.S. population. Although, by 2010, obesity rates were 25 percent or higher in 36 states, and 12 out of those had a rate of 30 percent or higher (An Epidemic of Obesity:

The first leading cause of obesity is a poor diet and a lack of physical exercise. “If a person eats fewer calories than he or she metabolizes, he or she will lose weight. Therefore the most common causes of obesity are overeating and physical inactivity.” (Jerry R. Balentine). This demonstrates how improper eating can cause people to gain weight. “Epidemiologic studies have shown that diets high in fat contribute to weight gain.” (Jerry R. Balentine). This is just one fact that proves how poor diet leads to weight gain. The second leading cause of obesity is genetics. “A person is more likely to develop obesity if one or both parents are obese.” (Jerry R. Balentine). This shows that adults with tendencies for obesity, are more likely to pass those tendencies on to their children. “Genetics also affect hormones involved in fat regulation. For example, one genetic cause of obesity is leptin deficiency.” (Jerry R. Balentine). So not only can poor diet choice affect your weight, but even your genetics can affect

The amount of obese people in America has been growing exponentially. The State of Obesity’s statistics state that, “Nationwide, diabetes rates have nearly doubled in the past 20 years from 5.5 percent (1994) to 9.3 percent in 2012.” (The State of Obesity). These stats put into perspective the amount of growth that obesity has had over the years. The State of Obesity statistics also state, “According to the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), 13.9 percent of high school students were obese, and an additional 16.0 percent were overweight.” (The State of Obesity). This shows that obesity is gaining ground even in our school system. Also, healthy food being expensive is also causing a large amount of the obesity in our youth. The State of Obesity statistics state, “More than 15 million U.S. children live in "food-insecure" households — having limited access to adequate food and nutrition due to cost, proximity and/or other resources.” (The State of Obesity). When cheap junk food is all that is available to people, then that’s what they’ll purchase. They also state, “Lower-income individuals often have more limited access to affordable, healthier food options — living in neighborhoods with fewer grocery stores with less healthy options — and that have more available less expensive food options, such as processed or fast foods, are of lower nutritional value