Obesity in America

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Recommended: Short and long term consequences of obesity

Good news! We’re Number 2! As declared by a 2013 report from the U.N., America has only the second highest obesity rate in the world at 31.8%, second to Mexico with an obesity rate of 32.8%. America has held on to the title of most obese country for over 60 years. From 13% obesity in 1962, estimates have steadily increased right up to 2013’s 32.8%.
This may sound like good news, but the harsh truth is that America didn’t reach the number 2 spot through sweeping diet changes or social conscience or sheer determination of a will to live longer, healthier lives. We made the number 2 spot solely by the fact that someone else had a higher increment than we did. Our numbers increased and are expected to continue to increase to nearly 43% by the year 2030.
Americans believe obesity is a more pressing public health issue than smoking but, many cannot correctly identify the host of public health risks associated with the nation’s obesity epidemic. According to the Mayo clinic obesity can carry many health risks, such as: High cholesterol and triglyceride, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome — a combination of high blood sugar, high blood pressure, high triglycerides and high cholesterol, heart disease, stroke, cancer, including cancer of the uterus, cervix, ovaries, breast, colon, rectum and prostate, sleep apnea, depression, gallbladder disease, gynecologic problems such as infertility and irregular periods, erectile dysfunction and sexual health issues, due to deposits of fat blocking or narrowing the arteries to the genitals, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, a condition in which fat builds up in the liver and can cause inflammation or scarring, osteoarthritis, skin problems, such as poor wound healing.
In a rece...

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... the obese population and lifestyle? Money might be a consideration. Eric Schlosser in his book "Fast Food Nation" states that the annual health care costs in the United States stemming from obesity approaches $240 billion. According to the National Institute of Health, $75-$125 billion is spent on indirect and direct costs due to obesity-related diseases yearly.
If money isn’t enough, how about living a long healthy life? To quote United States Senator Tom Harkin -
“Obesity now contributes to the death of more than 360,000 Americans a year. The incidence of childhood obesity is now at epidemic levels. Alarm bells are going off all over the place. But our government has done virtually nothing.”
Education is the key in battling obesity. Obesity is a very preventable cause of death in this country. A lesson learned too late for about 360,000 Americans last year.

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