About Obesity in America
The United States is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. In spite of this, and maybe as a result of this, according to a report on the BBC, the United States is home to the most obese people in the world.
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Statistics
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According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over the past 20 years, obesity has increased by 60 percent in the United States. A third of American adults are considered obese, or have a body mass index (BMI) over 30. People are considered overweight when their BMI is between 25 and 30.
Causes
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A number of factors contribute to obesity, including diet and lifestyle.
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Dietary Contributors
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The American diet is very high in calories from refined, processed foods that tend to have more calories without additional nutrients and natural contents. American lifestyle considerations also tend to favor commercially produced food products over lower-calorie, natural alternatives.
Lifestyle Contributors
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Lifestyle contributors to obesity in America include constant exposure to advertising for food products and a tendency to "eat on the go," relying on prepared or commercially produced convenience foods instead of the more simple, natural diets common in other parts of the world. Americans also tend to be more sedentary than other cultures, and thus have fewer opportunities to burn off the excess calories. American culture also embraces eating until full, versus a place like Japan where gorging oneself is considered impolite.
Ways to Change
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The simplest way to lower obesity in the United States is to persuade people to eat simple, natural foods like fresh fruits and vegetables while limiting caloric intake from fats and refined sugars and grains. Persuading people to exercise regularly while maintaining a healthier diet is a powerful combination that could have a positive impact on obesity statistics in America.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Photo: Asif Akbar, stock.xchng
