Blog 12: Obesity on the Rise

 There is a problem that has been on the rise for decades, especially in the society we live in, that has caused countless health problems amongst Americans. This problem is referred to as obesity, which is an avoidable disease that we just can't seem to dodge. This is not an inherited trait, but a disease strongly related to lifestyle choices, such as eating habits and activity level, that is slowly taking over the lives of many. According to the CDC, approximately 42.5% of adults are obese in America, and a whopping 73.6% of adults are at the very lease considered overweight (1). These numbers are staggering, showing that a vast majority of us are above a healthy weight. 

Obesity Rates 1988-2018 (2)

As seen in the chart above, obesity has not always been at this level. Although still a relatively high percentage had diabetes, this rate has nearly doubled since 1988, and is continuing to trend upward. Sadly, this rate is on a similar pace of increasing in children as well. A lifestyle alteration that may have led to this could be the introduction and increase of new technologies. The rapid innovation of televisions, gaming systems, cell phones, and streaming services has allowed for more stationary entertainment. This has taken away from other forms of pass-times, largely including the outdoors and physical activity, 

Fast food sales growth 1999-2013 (3)

Fast food sales have been rapidly growing in the United States, with a new restaurant seemingly popping up on every street corner each week. While getting food from these stores rather than making food at home may be more convenient, these foods typically have a higher content of fats, salts, and sugars than our bodies are meant to consume in a meal. This has undoubtedly contributed to the rise of obesity in America, and is a trend that needs to see a rapid decrease if we want our health to increase. 

Sources Used:

(1) https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/obesity-overweight.htm

(2) https://joshuaspodek.com/american-obesity-42-4-percent

(3) https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/A-Review-of-the-Growth-of-the-Fast-Food-Industry-in-Wang-Wang/25e0f8f2f7275b8eff23e18940506ad739c2da3d