Writ 120

Group Name: Magical Fruit

Anna Smith
Mariah Hamm
Joshua Dudley


The Skinny On Whats Not Skinny: Obesity in America

The United States of America has a problem on its hands. Well, in fact, the U.S. has
probably too many problems to count, however, the one that will be addressed in the
upcoming essay is the ongoing obesity epidemic. The obesity rate amongst American adults has
increased from 25.5 percent in 2008 to 27.3 percent in 2012 (Sharpe). This epidemic has deep,
yet recent, roots in American culture and has occurred almost overnight. Obesity planted its
seed fairly recently in the soils of America and now its effects are in full bloom with tragic
repercussions.
In 1960 only about 13.3 percent of people in America were obese (Wiley). Looking at the
facts, years ago peoples everyday lives were relatively labor intense. People cooked the
majority of their food from scratch, walking most places was rather common, and doing most
things by hand was more common than using a machine to get the job done. Also, food was not
easy to get if a person was poor. Then, being the industrialized country that America is, the U.S.
went through dramatic changes, fast. Dramatic advances in technology and the introduction of
modern living was what this epidemic needed to flourish, and flourish it did indeed.
Although it is extremely hard to pinpoint the exact time frame when obesity started
rising, it seems as though the most common answer is around the late 1970s to mid-1980s
(Kenworthy). Eating out became cheaper, quicker, and more convenient, and technology was
continuing to grow. The first computer was developed in the 1970s as well as microwave ovens
and other inventions/household items that allowed Americans to become more sedentary than
ever before. Coincidentally, the total calories in the food supply spiked during the late 1970s
and early 1980s as well (Kenworthy). This is due to the production and revolution in
manufacturing goods. Technological innovations- including vacuum packing, improved
preservatives, deep freezing, artificial flavors, and as previously mentioned the microwave
enabled food manufacturers to cook food centrally and ship it to consumers for rapid
consumption (Cutler).
From the 1980s on, obesity has continued to steadily incline thanks to the
overconsumption of high caloric food and sedentary lifestyles, aka the result of modern living in
America. What does modern life entail exactly? Modern life entails many facets including work,
recreation, and eating to name the fundamentals. Modern work can be best described using
data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Researchers evaluated the relationship between
physical activity in the workplace and obesity over the past several decades. In 1960, nearly half
the jobs in the private sector required at least moderate physical activity, but in 2010, less than
20 percent demanded this much physical work. Advances in manufacturing and agriculture
explain the drop in human energy needed at work. That's good news for a man's back, but not
for his belly. In fact, the change in occupational energy expenditure means that the average
American man is now burning 142 fewer calories each day than he did in the 1960s. That may
not sound like much, but over the years, it adds up. Between 1960 and 1962, the average
American man weighed 169 pounds, but during the 20032006 time period, he weighed 202
pounds. A decreased energy output of 142 calories a day can account for 28 of those extra 33
pounds. Modern recreation has led to a decrease in physical activity at work and during
leisure-time. So what are Americans doing in their spare time you may ask? They are sitting.
The average American spends 55 percent of her or his waking hours sitting down (Harvard
Health Publications). And when the average Americans sit, they are often glued to some sort of
screen, whether it be a television or a computer. Sedentary work is an inevitable byproduct of
the Information Age, but watching TV is voluntary and optional and it often involves watching
seductive ads for junk foods just when snacks are close at hand (Harvard Health Publications).
Lastly, modern eating plays a large role as well. In the 1990s supersizing meals and snacks
became a new fad. However, sodas made the single largest contribution to the caloric surplus
amongst Americans. People also began eating more often as a result of modernization. Both
eating frequency and portion size accounted for the rise in caloric intake (Food Research and
Action Center).
Obesity may come at a low price to a persons wallet thanks to the spread of fast food,
but a persons health will be paying quite a high price if they are obese. Obesity has a plethora
of serious and deadly repercussions. Each year obesity related conditions cost over 150 billion
dollars and cause and estimated 300,000 premature deaths in the U.S (Stanford Hospitals and
Clinics). The main negative health effects are high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease.
High blood pressure comes from having an excess amount of fat tissue in the body. This tissue
needs extra oxygen and nutrients in order to thrive, thus creating a larger workload for the
heart because the heart must pump more blood through additional blood vessels. More
circulating blood also means more pressure on the artery walls which increases blood
pressure. Obesity is the major cause of type two diabetes. Type two diabetes has a tendency to
being in early adulthood but is not occurring in children too. Obesity can cause resistance to
insulin, which in turn causes ones blood sugar to become elevated. Heart disease is the leading
cause of death in the United States with 597,689 deaths in the year 2011 (Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention). There are many different effects of heart disease ranging from
narrowed arteries, reduced blood flow to the heart, fatty deposits building up in the arteries,
heart attacks, and blood clots. Blood clots that form in narrow arteries can also cause a stroke.
Other minor health issues related to obesity are joint problems, sleep apnea and respiratory
problems, cancer, metabolic syndrome, and psychosocial effects (Stanford Hospitals and
Clinics).
While obesity seems sometimes inevitable living in todays modern American culture, it
can be completely avoided by making a few simple choices every day. Put simply, these choices
are as follows: eat right, exercise more, sit less, and sleep well. Eating right can vary per person
because every human body is unique but a few rules can be generalized: eat less sugary foods,
eat less processed foods, prepare more food rather than going out to eat, and control portion
intake. Whole foods are always best and pair great with lean meats, nuts, and 2-3 servings of
fruits per day (over-eating fruits can lead to as much sugar intake as eating candy and other
sugar packed snacks). Physical activity can lead to the greatest and most varied benefits. Not
only does physical activity allow a person to burn extra calories, it releases endorphins in the
body, and reduces the chance of depression. Sleep is also a key factor when it comes to fighting
off the obesity demons. Sleeping too little or too much can lead to increased chances of weight
gain. Eight hours of sleep per night is the recommended amount. Americans also consume
large amounts of alcohol, cutting any amount of alcohol out of a persons diet will aid in the
road to a healthy lifestyle.
All in all, America has a gross epidemic on its hands. The best part about this epidemic is
that it is completely curable. As humans beings people need to understand that we only get one
life to live, and one single body to live it in. Why damage a body to the point of no return?
Especially when the steps to living a healthy lifestyle are relatively easy. Sure, being healthy
may require extra effort, but in the end, a little extra effort every day may lead to a longer
lasting life, and maybe even a better quality and happier life as well.