Obesity in today's Society: Who To Blame?

1210 Words3 Pages

In 2010, 36 percent of adults, ages 20 and older, were considered obese. This percentage has continued to increase over the years (Obesity). Those considered obese are not only hurting themselves, but also those around them. Family, friends, as well as many others are forced to watch as their loved one becomes gradually worse each day. A variety of factors can cause this life-threatening epidemic such as food, a lack of exercise, and other lifestyle choices.

Understanding the basics and facts of obesity is the only way to figure out how to prevent it. Overweight is the extra amount of body weight that comes from muscles, bone, fat, and water, while Obesity is the extra amount of body fat (Overweight). Both of these terms refer to the excess weight in a human being, which is measured by the Body Mass Index (BMI) (Obese). Someone who is considered overweight has a BMI of 25 or higher. Those who’re considered obese are defined as having a BMI of 30 or higher (Causes). Both can result in an assortment of factors that can be harmful to the person if not properly taken care of. Although these terms can be considered similar due to their close resemblance, they are often confused as being the same thing.

Looking back into history, it is obvious that the rate of obesity has increased throughout the years. In 1960, about 45 percent of adults were considered overweight, including 13 percent who were counted as obese. In the 6 to 17 age category, 4 percent were considered obese. Continuing from 1980 to 2000, it is apparent that these percentages had doubled. In 2007 he obesity rate continued to rise. About 68 percent of American adults were overweight, and 34 percent were obese. The habits that the adults possessed had started to rub ...

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"Overweight and Obesity Statistics." U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Oct. 2012. Web. 11 Mar. 2014.

"Restaurant fare no healthier than fast food." USA Today [Magazine] Feb. 2014: 7. Student Edition. Web. 6 Mar. 2014.

Ruskin, Gary. "The Fast Food Trap." Mothering No. 121. Nov./Dec. 2003: 34-44. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 06 Mar. 2014.

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