The Obesity Epidemic in America

1054 Words3 Pages

Obesity does not discriminate against social status, sex, or race; it can take a person’s life and turn it upside down in the blink of an eye if they are not careful. Some people think of obesity as a worldwide killer because there is no outrunning it if it overtakes a person’s body. Every 1 in 3 adults are obese right here in America, that should give each and every individual some type of hint that there is a major problem occurring. The obesity epidemic is not something that has just caught the attention of people recently; it has been going on since the 1950’s! This epidemic is a major problem; over 2.8 million people die each year as a result of being obese or extremely overweight and over 40 million children were said to be obese in 2008, the numbers have been rising since then. Obesity can lead to many health complications and make life extremely difficult for an individual who suffers from it.

An individual who is said to be obese is at a very high risk to develop some type of health problem, most of which can become very serious and hazardous for that person’s life. Most obese people develop health complications such as high blood pressure, stroke, type 2 diabetes, abnormal blood fats, metabolic syndrome, cancer, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, and gallstones. All of these health hazards can happen to anyone, even if they are not obese; although, obese people are more likely to develop these health problems. Many people who become obese do not realize how big of a problem it really is until it is taking over their life. An obese person cannot get around as easily as a normal weight individual could, they may end up with some type of health problem that they cannot overcome because their immune system is not fully function...

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..., most individuals would realize how good of a feeling that really is. After all, the obesity epidemic is a huge and rising problem that will not just disappear. People are going to have to try to better themselves instead of having someone else do it for them. If obese individuals work hard and do everything they can to lose weight, the rate of this epidemic should be decreasing each year instead of increasing.

Works Cited

Tanner, Lindsey. "Just 1 in 4 Young Teens Meet US Fitness Guidelines." Daily Register. 08 Jan. 2014: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 11 Mar. 2014.

Healy, Michelle. "USA's Health Improving." Gannett News Service. 10 Dec. 2013: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 11 Mar. 2014.

Boyle, Theresa. "No Such Thing As Healthy Obesity, Toronto Researchers Say." Toronto Star. 03 Dec. 2013: GT.3. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 11 Mar. 2014.

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