What Are the Risk and Protective Factors for Athletes, in Terms of Different Types of Sports and Intensity?

Basically, obesity is the long-term result of a diet that delivers more calories in than are consumed through daily activity. Nevertheless, obesity is a serious medical condition that impacts a high percentage of Americans and should be treated with concern. There are many possible factors for the rise in the number of overweight and obese Americans. Brownell outlines these factors very well in Food Fight and writes, “The reasons for this growing problem are simple and complex at the same time. People eat too much and exercise too little...” (Brownell 2).

Food. Often a symbol of nurturance, wealth, relief of tension and comfort has now been distorted into the villain of a terrible condition, a condition that affects one out of every three adults in America (Raj). Society has taken advantage of the resources available such as the media and larger dinnerware pieces. Food has been used to lure people, not educated about the detrimental effects of overeating, into a marketing trap of “the bigger the better” (Young). Due to the epidemic rise in obesity among Americans, the NEH needs to fund education regarding portion sizes and obesity.

Obesity means having too much body fat. It is not the same as being overweight, which means weighing too much. A person may be overweight from extra muscle, bone, or water, as well as from having too much fat. (Obesity definition) If you believe growing waistlines are a problem affecting only rich countries, think again. The latest data reveals that the number of overweight and obese people in the developing world has more than tripled – from about 250 million in 1980 to almost a billion by 2008.

There are various eating disorders that plenty of people partake in currently within America. Most eating disorders focus on losing weight and maintaining a thin figure. According to the Office on Women’s Health, binge eating disorder is the most common eating disorder in the U.S. which affects about two percent of American adults (“Binge Eating Disorder Fact Sheet,” 2012). The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines binge eating is when a person frequently consumes a large amount of food. Although this disorder is most commonly found amongst people who are overweight, it can be found in a broad range of people with any weight (“Binge Eating Disorder Fact Sheet,” 2012).

Anderson, C.L. Funsch, & J.Y. Rabalais. (1 995). Structural Equation Modeling of Risk Factors for the Development of Eating Disorder Symptoms in Female Athletes, Intemational Joumal of Eating Disorders, 17(4)

“No one knows exactly what causes eating disorders. However, all socioeconomic, ethnic and cultural groups are at risk” (Matthews, 2001, p.3). Eating disorders are difficult to diagnose but can be deadly if left untreated. Background The Alliance for Eating Disorder Awareness (n.d.) observes, Eating disorders affect five to ten million Americans adolescent girls and women and approximately one million American boys and men. In addition, approximately 70 million individuals in the world struggle with this disorder.

According to a study of 3,000 people, men and women who visit fast food restaurants more than three times a week roughly weigh 4 to 5 kg more than those who visit them less than once per week. This fact is unsurprising, for there are many reasons fast food causes obesity. First, the ingredients of fast foods contain a lot more bad stuff than the good one. Most fast foods contain much, much more fats, carbs, and sugar and less vitamins and minerals than healthier foods. The high amount of fat and sugar exceeding the recommended levels of fat and sugar intake is a true cause of the obesity epidemic and many obesity-related health problems.

Therefore, there are probably several occasions on which we eat more than we should. In order for a person to be diagnosed with a (BED), they would have to experience episodes of ("Binge Eating"). that “occur, on average, at least 2 days a week for 6 months Wonderlich et al. (2003). Binge eating is an old problem, whose frequency is on the rise thanks to our culture's obsession with being thin, which is in direct conflict to our love of high-fat junk food.

Briana Carro Ms. Junjulas English 10R-08 7 April 2014 The effect society has had on peoples eating habits. Eating disorders have greatly affected women in today’s society. Women tend to feel uncomfortable with their bodies and become caught up in the ideal of being perfect or flawless. An eating disorder is a range of psychological disorders characterized by abnormal or disturbed eating habits. Some can even compare it to drug abuse where food is the drug.

Eating disorders are defined as a persistent disturbance of eating behavior or behavior intended to control weight, which significantly impairs physical health or psychosocial functioning. (Fairburn) Eating disorders include anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa that are... ... middle of paper ... ...ess our society forces upon women. Works Cited 1. Fairburn CG, Walsh BT. Atypical eating disorders (Eating disorder not otherwise specified).