Alliance Against the Atrocity

As any problem grows in severity and occurrence, both science and society work to bring it into the public eye in hopes of conquering it. Obesity has come to prove that it is no exception to this common practice. With obesity on the rise in the United States, this is a problem that is not to be taken lightly. There is a clear problem that is affecting millions of Americans and can only be stopped through research efforts and organization that effectively spread solution methods and raise support for those that currently have the condition.

One such organization that is taking a step towards pummeling the pounds is The Obesity Society. While the name may make it sound like an "Alcoholics Anonymous" for the obese, it does more than just provide a statement of a problem. The Obesity Society provides information on scientific breakthroughs, nutrition, therapy, and ways to raise awareness for obesity. With a website abundant with information, there is no excuse to be ignorant of the problem. The web address is plain and simple so that no confusion about its purpose can arise: http://www.obesity.org/.

While the Center for Disease Control (CDC) is often associated with other health topics, it has come to bring information about obesity to its ranks. With easy to comprehend information that can grip readers, obese or not, the CDC is contributing to obesity awareness. Even though the main focus of the CDC is not obesity study, its general information helps to further one's understanding of the problem in hopes of solution through the most necessary and effective means. The web address for the obesity section of the CDC's website is as follows: http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/.

Even though searching for information on Google can be useful, internet users need to beware of the scams and misinformation that lie just beyond a click of the mouse. Not all information on obesity is credible and well-researched. Usually, websites ending in ".org", ".edu", and ".gov" are the most credible sources of information. If any doubt arises on a piece of information's validity, simply asking a doctor can put any doubt to rest. Use common sense when looking for help with the battle against obesity. If a solution seems too good to be true then it usually is.

Plenty of help and advice exists in the realm outside of the internet. By simply checking the local bookstores and libraries, books with information, nutrition and fitness tips, and medical advice can be found with a stroke of the hand.

Works Cited:

The Center for Disease Control. 2006. Web. 18 October 2010. http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/.

The Obesity Society. 2008. Web. 18 October 2010. http://www.obesity.org/.

The Guardian. 2010. Web. 18 October 2010.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/may/11/obesity-epidemic-uk-poorest.

How to be a Beast...Not Obese.

Contrary to those ads that consume the last quarter of fitness/health magazines, there is still no "miracle cure" for obesity. There is not a single pill, herb, or simple machine out there that dissipates the junk in the front with no outside effort required. Short of a surgical procedure to remove the fat, there is no immediately gratifying procedure to eliminate fat. Only through dedicated prevention, self-motivation, and perseverance can obesity be conquered.

Obesity can prevented by following a few simple guidelines. The first guideline: exercise regularly. Daily walks that start slow and work up to fast walking followed quickly by simmering back down to a normal walk are proven to be extremely effective. The second guideline: eat healthy foods. Eat a variety of low-calorie yet nutrient-dense foods in the place of foods rich in saturated fat and sugar. Eat foods that promote good health and weight more often than those that don't. The third guideline: frequently monitor weight. Simply stepping on that scale helps to track and encourage progress. The fourth and final guideline: be consistent. What good is an obesity prevention plan if it isn't followed? Keep the daily walks going on a daily basis and stick to those healthy foods even as temptation creeps closer and closer.

All is not lost if obesity has become a condition that is all too familiar. Weight loss often follows the same guidelines as basic prevention. It just happens that losing the weight takes more effort than keeping it off to begin with. Exercises have to be more rigorous and followed closely. This is where a large amount of self-motivation comes in handy. Dedication to a healthy diet becomes a absolute necessity if the excess weight will ever be evicted. Weight loss will always be a tougher task than preventing it from happening in the first place. A pricier and more painful alternative to exercise and dietary management is surgery. The surgical removal of fat is an option that should be not looked to at first. Its cost and permanent scarring can offset the immediate loss of fat it brings. However, it continues to grow as a safe procedure that continues to yield immediate results.

Obesity is a condition best fought through outright prevention. Through simple exercise and a strict diet, obesity can become a less daunting outcome. A strong sense of self-discipline and motivation are all one needs to keep the pounds off and the muscle on.

Works Cited:

Health. 2010. Web. 19 October 2010.

http://www.health.com/health/weight-loss.

The Mayo Clinic. 2010. Web. 19 October 2010.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/obesity/.

When the Pounds Keep Piling

Long after an obese person's meal has been digested and their couch has been warmed up, their body begins to suffer the consequences.  Because a large percent of the American population is obese, the threat of this disease is very alarming.  Not only are there effects that are seen on the outside of the body, such as excess fat, but there are also problems on the inside of the body such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and the risk of a stroke.  

The first health effect of obesity that can be seen with the naked eye is the extra fat that lingers on the body.  After an obese person has eaten more calories than they need for a certain period of time, their body begins to expand and more fat is added onto the exterior.  This health effect is by far the most damaging emotionally to a person who is obese.  Because the American society looks down upon obesity, obese people often feel different socially and have a bad image of themselves, leaving them depressed and feeling out of place.  With the media bombarding the nation with images of "acceptable" and "skinny" people,  people with an obesity problem are looked down upon and stereotyped.   

The other health effects of obesity do not emotionally damage a person but physically harm their body.  The most common physical effects of obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes, both come from the extra weight carried around by obese people.  The additional fat tissue that requires the blood vessels to circulate more blood to the fat tissue increases the workload of the heart because it needs to pump more blood through additional blood vessels, resulting in high blood pressure.  This high blood pressure raises the heart rate significantly and reduces the body's ability to transport blood through the vessels.  Type 2 diabetes is commonly caused from obesity as well as high blood pressure.  When the hormone that regulates blood sugar, insulin,  is resisted, the blood sugar becomes elevated, increasing the risk of diabetes.  

Although there are many psychological as well as physical risks that come with being obese, there is a chance of lowering these health risks by simply losing as little as 10 to 20 pounds.  By working out, eating nutritiously, and watching the portions on your plate, you can reduce your risk of being obese and suffering the consequences that coincide with having extra weight.    

Sources:

"Google Image Result for http://www.lowdensitylifestyle.com/media/uploads.jpg".  Google.  Web.  12 Oct. 2010.

"Health Effects of Obesity".  eMed TV.  Web. 12 Oct. 2010.

"Health Effects of Obesity".  Stanford Hospital & Clinics.  Web. 12 Oct. 2010. 

   

Causes of the Craving

As Americans, we are well aquainted with the concept of obesity.  Our relatives are obese, our friends are obese, even most of our teachers are overweight.  With one-third of American adults suffering from this disease, citizens in this country need to stop and wonder where the pounds are coming from; or maybe even take the fries away from their own mouths. 

The simplest way that obesity can strike a body is in the person's calorie intake.  With hundreds of fast food restaurants surrounding communities in America and the increasing availability of junk food, people with a sweet tooth are out of luck.  As more people chow down on McDonald's happy meals and get the best for their buck at Arby's, they are only hurting themselves.  The excess calories that come from having bad eating habits are stored as body fat and lead to weight gain and obesity. 

Another reason for obesity in America is lack of exercise.  While professionals suggest that 30 minutes of exercise a day will keep people healthy, few people take them up on that offer.  Although almost every large gym is filled with citizens trying to stay fit, most people get bored fast and quit working out after a few months.  Because keeping fit takes alot of time and effort, lazy people don't want anything to do with it.  The french fries might not be the tempting factor in an obese person's life, but the new World of WarCraft game is calling their name.

While calorie intake and exercise can contribute to a person's obesity, the pressures of everyday life can also take a tole on the tummy.  With the stress of homework, money, and raising kids, popping into a restaurant for a refreshing milkshake often takes the pain away.  As a nation obsessed with the goal of becoming wealthy and working until retirement, these pressures need to be released somehow.  The most convinient way for Americans to release their stress is to stock up on some good brownies and cake on the calories.

The availability of fatty foods, the laziness of the nation, and the need to be perfect and succeed in life are just a few of the many factors contributing to the obesity problem in America.  With a healthier diet, a willingness to exercise, and an acceptance of one's self, any citizen can have the fit body that they have been dreaming of for the past 20 years.     

Sources:
Obesity Condition.  Mandarine Consulting, 2009.  Web. 10 Oct. 2010.

Obesity in America: What Causes Obesity?  Health Tree, 2010.  Web.  10 Oct. 2010.

The Main Causes of Obesity in America Include Poor Diet and Limited Exercise. Google, N.p.  Web. 10 Oct. 2010.       

Facing the Fat

Childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years, with no signs of decreasing. Several factors have contributed to the rapid increase of childhood obesity over the past few decades. Today's society is becoming more and more focused on convenience and speed than ever before. Fast food chains are booming, even in this though economy. Technology is at the fore front of global operations and has begun to take over everyday American life. If a change in children’s habits is not made quickly, obesity will soon be normal.

Obesity is not only physically unhealthy, but it is also not mentally healthy. It is obviously not physically healthy because serious health problems could arise and the child may be in great danger for their life in the future. It is mentally unhealthy because children cannot live their life normally. Studies show that in school, these obese children get bullied and made fun of. They also cannot play sports like normal students. All these effects of obesity put children’s self esteem extremely low. Studies have shown that obese children are four times more likely to suffer from depression than their classmates of normal weight.

Another shocking statistic is that thirty percent of children today eat fast food at least once a day, if not more. This fact is astonishing and unbelievable to think about considering fast food industries were first introduced in the 1960s. Whatever happened to eating a good home cooked meal? The cause of eating such unhealthy food is because of the convenience of fast food restaurants. They are popping up on every corner of every street. This shows that it is not just the child that takes initiative, but the parental figure as well. Parents have the main opinion in their child’s life. If they do not guide their children in the right direction, then who is to do so?

Technology has been a growing factor of obesity throughout the world. It is amazing how rapid technology has spread over the past few years. Although it is a great for many reasons, there are also a few downsides to technology too. With Playstation, Nintendo, the internet, television, etc., there are many more options to choose from other than just playing kickball or riding your bike outside. With this said, children are not seen playing outside hardly at all. The typical place where you would find children today is in their room with their eyes glued to the television. Whether they are playing the newest video game or watching their favorite show, they aren't getting the amount of exercise needed daily.

With obesity sweeping the nation, we have seen an increase in health problems among children. Today’s society is to blame for the increase. Technology is more prevalent than ever before and is therefore causing increased waist lines. Fast food is taking over "mom's home cooking" and is also another major factor contributing to childhood obesity. America needs to realize the dangerous environment we are putting in place for our youth and start making some drastic changes.

Sources:
Works Cited
"Childhood Obesity - DASH/HealthyYouth." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web. 06 Oct. 2010. .
GHOSH, JAYATI. "The Fast Food Boom." The Hindu : Front Page News : Wednesday, October 06, 2010. Web. 06 Oct. 2010. .
"Google Image Result for Http://neo-paleolithic-diet.com/paleo/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/obesity-statistics-children3.jpg." Google. Web. 05 Oct. 2010. .
Skye, Thomas. "Statistics on Obesity in Children - 3 Very Shocking and Surprising Statistics!" EzineArticles Submission - Submit Your Best Quality Original Articles For Massive Exposure, Ezine Publishers Get 25 Free Article Reprints. Web. 06 Oct. 2010. .

Is Society to Blame for the Gain?

Do children in America seem to be packing the pounds these days? A growing amount of children are above the ninety-fifth percentile with their weight, qualifying them as obese. Well, childhood obesity is growing at a rapid rate across the country, with no signs of slowing down. How long is it going to take for us to realize that we need to put a stop to childhood obesity?

Childhood obesity is causing health problems for everyone with the disease. The overall health of Americans has decreased significantly over the past few years because of weight related issues. What is causing the fast growing childhood obesity rate? In most cases, the technology driven fast pace society that we live in today is to blame. Instead of a nice home cooked meal after an adventurous day at play, children grab a bite to eat at McDonald’s between video games because it is easy and convenient. Without exercise and healthy meals, children in America will begin to gain weight and maintain an unhealthy life.

Due to these health issues, schools across the country have begun to take steps toward obesity prevention. School districts are implementing a healthier lunch menu including whole grains and less sugary snacks. Vending machines have discontinued “regular” sodas, selling only light and diet drinks. Also, many schools have required activity programs for children to make physical activity mandatory every day.

Our society has changed rapidly over the past few decades. Children are showing the effects of a technology based society. Even though schools are trying to take initiative to prevent obesity, it is not enough. A greater effort needs to be put forth in order to save our future generations.

Work Cited:
"Google Image Result for Http://www.epharmacies.com/online-pharmacy-medicine-blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/childhood-obesity.jpg." Google. Web. 27 Sept. 2010. .