There is an Obesity Epidemic In America, What Factors Are Involved?

There is an “Obesity Epidemic” in this country, and it has a price tag, Obesity costs our country about 150 billion a year.

This cost amounts to 10% of the national medical budget. One out of three adults and one out of six children are obese.  The obesity epidemic is one of the leading causes of death in America. Obesity is a factor in heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

There  are many underlying factors contributing to the obesity epidemic in America. There are global drivers that have resulted in changes in the environment.  You can find food on any street corner, while finding the time for exercising can be difficult.

Societal, economic, and cultural conditions have all led to a rise in obesity. The way Americans eat has changed over the years. We now eat more processed foods. Americans are eating out more than they ever have at any point in our country’s history. Foods offered in restaurants, snack shops, and vending machines are higher in sugar, calories, and fat.

The American public is surrounded by food on a daily basis; if not on the streets or at work, then in our homes on the boob tube. There has been extensive research showing that Americans are consuming larger portions sizes per meal. People who are poor and live in rural communities lack access to quality grocery stores. This problem leads to less healthy options.

There are other factors that contribute to the “Obesity Epidemic” in America as well.

Technology and the way we construct our communities both play a role in the obesity epidemic. We have become a sedentary nation. Families drive to school and work as opposed to walking or riding a bike because it’s too far and not practicable to do so.

In many of our communities it’s become physically unsafe to be physically active. Getting to exercise faculties may be difficult, and there may not be a public transit option available. Also, we spend an enormous amount of time sitting in front of our screens at work and home. There is a large problem with childhood obesity. Much of this is due to children playing video games. As we reported in Liberal America back in May of this year, First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move to combat the childhood obesity epidemic seems to be working.

Watch Our First Lady Dance At The Fifth Year Anniversary Of Let’s Move Project

Another issue that factors into the obesity epidemic in this country is the problem of widespread depression and people not being happy with their lives. There are vast amounts of overweight people who have indicated their lack of self-esteem has contributed to their being overweight. According to research, when someone is suffering from depression and low self-esteem, the body is looking for something to cling to, for lack of a better term. Food provides us with a relief, hence the term “comfort food.”

When we are infants, and we start to cry what do a lot of Mom’s and Dad’s do? They shove a bottle in our mouth to stop the crying. What results is that certain types of people get addicted to food. Also, there are some people who have physical conditions that make them obese.

There are families who genetically passed down the “overweight gene.” from one generation to the next. The reality is certain people have to make allowances in their diet to counteract these physical conditions. What research has born out that people who can muster the self-discipline can overcome these physical conditions, and their weight will go down?

Unfortunately, staggering amounts of people lack this self-discipline and what has resulted is an ” Obesity Epidemic” in America.