Obesity in the United States (Research Paper Sample)

Obesity in the United States
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Obesity in the United States
Introduction
Obesity has been a preeminent subject for discussion and consideration in different forums in the United States. The various topics under consideration include the causes of obesity, and the reasons for its rampant occurrence in the United States (Marks, 2004). Additionally, it is crucial to identify the possible means of dealing with the problem. Obesity has been a persistent issue among several Americans in the USA, and it has significant impacts on the individuals suffering from it. As such, it is also essential to look at its effects on the individuals and the society. The topics under discussion have also included the data representing the population size affected by obesity. The essence is to acquire the effect obesity has on the population and the most affected regions in the country. It is also essential to establish the magnitude of the problem and if it is a global issue and the methods employed to deal with it in other countries.
Causes of Obesity
Obesity is referred to as the accumulation of excess body fat, which leads to one being overweight. More than a third of the American’s population is obese. Research has revealed that causes of obesity are diverse and based on an individual’s body. However, there are major causes known to lead to obesity, and one of them is the diet of a person. Unhealthy diets often result in the deposition of excess fats in various sections of the body. The body’s digestive system is built to grind foods with the goal of acquiring only the nutrients required. As such, the food consumed is not digested in whole, since the body only breaks down the necessary amount (National Institutes of Health, 2012). The remaining quantity of the unused food is turned into fats in readiness for deposition while the rest is excreted through defecation.
Junk food is one of the sources of excess fats that people consume and is one of the causes of obesity. The livelihood in the United States is expensive, and a large population of the country is highly affected by the high-cost conditions in the country. Consequently, the affected people cannot afford a healthy lifestyle, and end up consuming junk foods, which are affordable based on their pocket-friendly prices (National Institutes of Health, 2012). Consuming junk foods exposes the body to unbalanced diets that lead to fat deposits, which causes an overweight condition.
The lifestyle of individuals is also a crucial part that determines whether one will accumulate excess body fat or be in a position to shed it. An inactive lifestyle significantly contributes to the rampant occurrence of obesity. The life many Americans live denies them the opportunity to exercise or engage in vigorous physical activities. For example, some of the individuals go to an office job where they are seated the whole day while others just sit in front of the television (Marks, 2004). The inactivity highly increases the chances of the individuals’ adding weight because the body is not exposed to high activities that can burn the unwanted fats. Additionally, many people use vehicles to move around instead of running or walking. Consequently, the fats continue to accumulate because the body is not burning them to produce energy. The result is one becoming overweight or obese.
Research has also proved that genes can be a cause for the occurrence of obesity in the United States. Tests, which involved twins from a family with a history of obesity, but lived in different conditions, have been performed to establish the effects of genes. Results revealed that the twin exposed to conditions different from the obese family showed signs of becoming overweight. As such, it is clear that the genetic structure passed down from obese parents can have a similar effect on their children (Ogden, Carroll, Kit and Flegal, 2014). Although the subject and theory is to be sufficiently proven through additional tests, the current belief is that it is possible to transfer obesity from parents to the children.
Hormonal problems in an individual’s body can be a source of obesity. Underactive thyroid is a possible cause of obesity among individuals whose bodies are unable to conduct a normal digestion process. In turn, the body’s normal functionality is impaired, leading to the deposition of the excess fats causing one to become overweight. Cushing’s syndrome is also known to interrupt the functionality of the body, causing the upper body obesity characterized by a fat face or neck and thin arms (National Institutes of Health, 2012).
Pregnancy is also a possible cause of the overweight condition among women (National Institutes of Health, 2012). Research has revealed that women need to gain weight to support the development of the baby in the womb. In doing so, their body stores excess fats used to provide both the mother and the developing baby with the necessary nutrients. However, after giving birth, the weight remains, unless shed off via intense physical exercises. Many are the women who find it difficult to lose the weight after giving birth, which makes them overweight.
Effects of Obesity on Individuals
Obesity is a condition that has various effects on an individual, with most of them being negative in nature. Firstly, obese individuals are subject to social ridicule because of their size. An obese individual is overweight, and the condition is easily noticeable. Thus, several of such individuals are exposed to social scrutiny because they are viewed as abnormal. They end up being ridiculed, and sometimes physically abused because of their weight. The consequence of such an exposure is detrimental to the victims. Most of the obese victims suffer from depression because of the abomination they receive from the public. Sometimes, family members ridicule the obese victims, which is extremely stressful (Marks, 2004). Moreover, peer pressure is also dangerous and profoundly affects obese individuals in the society. They feel out of place when interacting with their peers who are not overweight. Some of the obese people end up seeking psychological help because of the sufferings they undergo in the hands of their critics.
Stigma is also a common problem obese people face while interacting with the society. As aforementioned, obese individuals are commonly viewed as abnormal, and people tend to segregate themselves from the victims. Loneliness can affect the obese people in a negative way that can either face depression or comfort themselves by turning to bad eating habits; consequently, they continue gaining weight. Additionally, obesity can lead to poor health conditions because of the impaired functionality. Such individuals are bound to face health problems, including difficulty in breathing and poor digestion processes. High blood pressure is also a common health problem among obese individuals in the society. Other health conditions include diabetes, muscular-skeletal diseases, and liver conditions. Obesity is also known to cause death to the victims. World Health Organization records that about 2.8 million obese individuals die per annum because of being overweight (WHO, 2014).
Obese people are limited by their weight when it comes to executing some of the duties in the society. For example, they cannot walk or run for long without experiencing extreme fatigue. Additionally, some of the obese people are inactive and can hardly handle work requiring heavy physical input. Thus, they are limite...