Obesity Epidemic in America

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The average American is twenty-three pounds heavier than his or her ideal body weight (Rauh). If you compare "normal" with average, it's not much of a difference to say it's normal to be fat. "For children and for many adults who are overweight, they are starting to look at themselves as the new normal," says obesity expert Robert F. Kushner (Marshall). According to the” Journal of the American Medical Association,” one-third of Americans are obese today, which is a 23% jump from the late 1980s. A new Study shows that by 2030, almost forty-two percent of the country will be obese, causing health care $550 billion per year. Obesity is something that is worldwide, but is most common in America. There are many factors that play into why Americans have become obese, such as the frequent use of fast food restaurants, no physical activity, learned behaviors, and added substitutes (Livestrong).
In Eric Schlosser’s book "Fast Food Nation," he talks about how in the 1970s, people in the United States spent about $6 billion on fast food every year, in 2000, they spent $110 billion (Marshll). As the amount of money Americans spend on fast food goes up, so does the number of people who are obese. For many, going through the drive-through on the way home from work to pick up a box of greasy chicken, fries and a large soft drink is a normal habit to most people. Fast food companies persuade children to eat their meals with toys, setting them up for a lifelong habit of eating unhealthy fast food (Marshall). High fructose corn syrup was introduced in the 1970s and is added to a wide variety of foods served at fast food restaurants. You can find it in cookies, soft drinks, spaghetti sauce, bread and many other common products (Livestrong). The Co...

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Marshall, Serena. "Why U.S.’s Big Fat Problem Is Your Problem, Too." ABC News. ABC News
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Hendrick, Bill. "Even a Little Exercise Fights Obesity." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 04 Mar.
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Hutchison, Courtney. "Not So (O) Lean: Eating Faux Fat Makes Rats Real Fat." ABC News.
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William, Lynne, and Bronwyn Harris. "Olean." WiseGeek. Conjecture, 31 Jan. 2014. Web. 07
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Hellmich, Nanci. "Obesity Is Contagious among Friends, Study Suggests - USATODAY.com."
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