Peyton Mach
Obesity in America
Volume 1, Newsletter
Inside this issue:
Introduction Into Obesity
Introduction
I.
Content
II.
Content
III.
Picture Content
IV.
Conclusion
V.
Pictures
VI.
Bibliography
VII.
Obesity has become a serious epidemic in America these days. (1) On an average these days 63% of Americans are obese. This is not only young children but older people as well. (2) The increase in obese people has gone from 25% to 30%. How do we stop this plague of obesity from continuing to spread throughout America? It is a tough question that cannot be easily answered, although I will give some possibilities of stopping obesity as the report goes on. Another important fact to know is why do we care if obesity continues to increase? Every normal Ameri-
can knows that food tastes good, and that’s what satisfies us. How can Americans get to the point were that satisfaction must be regulated? How must the foods we eat be regulated? All these important
questions are common amongst most Americans. This article will try to best answer these questions appropriately and honestly, to help Americans fight the obesity problem currently taking place.
What is Obesity? What is obesity? (1) Obesity by definition is: The state of being well above one’s normal weight. For example consider a 5 feet 11 person to be 180 pounds. That person is most likely in good shape. Now consider a 5 feet 11 person that weighs 280 pounds. Most likely that person is obese. Obesity does not happen over night. It is a slow process, of which a person gains more and more weight, and maintains that weight by an eating disorder or lack of exercise. One pound of fat equals 3,500 calories. Gaining five pounds could come from either gaining muscle, which can be good, increasing in height (increase in bone structure), or could simply come from gaining fat, which is bad. Gaining five pounds or more in fat in less than a week is not necessarily good at all. This means you would have
to eat 17,500 calories in one week to gain those 5 pounds. Those 17,500 are the least amount calories a person would consume, because you still have to factor in the tiny amount of exercise, and metabolism the person uses to burn up some calories. That is a lot of calories in one week, and I guarantee, many obese people gain that many pounds in one week in the U.S. today. Some obese people might consume lots of food, and weigh 300 pounds. Some obese people might consume tiny amounts of food, and weigh 300 pounds. It doesn’t matter if you consume lots of food or tiny amounts of food; it is the kinds of food you are eating that decides whether or not you can gain or loose weight. Food selection, of
course, plays a gigantic role in obesity. Especially fast food. Fast food is cheap, plentiful, and of course delicious. If fast food was not extremely high in calories and fat then it would be a wonderful meal to have everyday. Unfortunately it is not; therefore Americans have to live with the urge to eat fast food. The number of fast food restaurants around America is ridiculous. If I gave the reader a pencil and paper, I guarantee you the reader could not name all the fast food restaurants in America, or even the city or town the reader lives in. That is how out of control fast food in America has got. New restaurants seem to be popping up and the same restaurants are continuing to expand.
Questions About Obesity How can we stop this from happening? I do not think the government or anyone could or will eventually tell fast foods restaurants to shut down. I do believe however if enough, I mean enough people went on strike against fast food restaurants and refused to eat at them, that eventually they would go out of business and fast food in America would completely disambiguate Personally I am not an avid fan of fast food, but I do not think that fast food will ever go away. The 2
best way to stop obesity in America, I believe is to limit and concentrate on eating tiny amounts of unhealthy foods and greater amounts of healthy food choices. There are many healthy food choices out there but most people say that almost all of them are not tasteful enough. This is mostly true although there are alternatives for healthy tasty foods. The best way to stop obesity like I said is to limit what we eat, and how eat it.
Obesity in America
V o l um e 1 , I s s ue 1
Page 3
Obesity Chart Explanation Picture b, is a chart showing
obesity percent. The map is
a map of America, and the percent of people obese in each state. On the bottom of the map of America, it also gives you a timeline of obesity in America starting from 1985 to 2005. This map can be very interesting, and can help you get a better understanding of what the state you live in
Concluding Facts on Obesity After reading my brief article, you can get a good understanding that obesity is a dangerous disease lurking throughout America. Obesity has gotten worse over the years; it may continue to keep this up if Americans do not change something. Whether it is our eating habits, exercise routines, or mental capabilities we have to train our bodies to stay healthy and fit somehow. Sure life is a little better with some tasty fast foods everyday, but honestly what is this doing for your life? Is eating unhealthy your whole life and consistently being obese worth not living an extra ten years. Maybe or maybe
not, everyone has their own opinions. Something to ponder about as I conclude my article is what can you do to change your personal eating habits? Because if we take one person at time, a
not all the way up to date as
Bibliography Website #1: www.obesityinamerica.org (1) and (2) Definition #1: www.medterms.com Picture a: www.exergmefitness.com Picture b: www.transact.up.seesaa.net Picture c: www.s3.amazonaws.com Picture d: www.momlogic.com Picture e: www.1.bp.blogspot.com
Picture f: www.4.bp.blogspot.com Picture g: www.obesityindia.in Picture h: www.images.obesityhelp.com Sources: Name: The Obesity Society Phone Number: (301) 563-6526 Address: 8630 Fenton St., Suite 814 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Description: When I called this source I talked with a person named Lauren Davis. She gave me a brief background on what the organization does, and what achievements the organization has made. The organization mainly focuses on educated and helping young people and obese people so that they do not fall in the category of being obese. The organization has currently been prized with about eight different awards, and is continuing working to help better educate people on obesity. I found some excellent information from this source, and learned a lot.
Name: MFH (Missouri Foundation for Health) Phone Number: 314.345.5500 Address: 1000 St. Louis Union Station Ste. 400 St. Louis, MO 63103 Description: This program helps regulate health education and services throughout the state. It is a very successful program and has many sponsors.
Contact U Mis Name: Fat Boy Swim by Catherine Forde Description: Fat Boy Swim provides the reader some good facts on obesity. It also teaches the reader good lessons and Ideas on and about obesity that the reader may have not known before.