Only until 2013 was The United States no longer leading as number one on the charts for the most obese nation. Still in second place now (following Mexico), the obesity rates are growing with daunting statistics. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 35.7% of adults and 17% of American children are obese, as of 2010. (Obesity in the Unites States)
Holding the stereotype and status as the "fattest country" for so long now, has being overweight become normal to us? With over two thirds of the US population being obese, the average weight is leaning toward the overweight range. Our new perception on what is considered "normal" is gradually shifting towards what is considered obese. Obviously, being knows as the fat country is not a title that our nation should be proud to hold. So, is it our fault? Is it really a problem worth fixing? (Rauh)
Some may consider obesity a serious problem and issue to fix. But, others may have chosen to give it some sort of embrace. This comes to question what people consider healthy all together. Plenty of people have higher standards for healthy lifestyles. Some may think of running for three miles as a daily basis routine, or methodical; however, others may believe being able to wake up, walk, and breathe, alone, is healthy enough.
In order to solve this problem, there are endless ways to get started. An approach the three - mile runners may say would be to just run. Exercise and a well balanced diet should get results. But, those whom are actually over weight may not see their obesity as that great of an issue. Lots of obese people are perfectly capable of functioning somewhat normally. Others who don't embrace their size may go to extremities like gastric bypass to lose their weight. Is this what we've come to? Invasive surgery to become healthy again? (Newman)
Holding the stereotype and status as the "fattest country" for so long now, has being overweight become normal to us? With over two thirds of the US population being obese, the average weight is leaning toward the overweight range. Our new perception on what is considered "normal" is gradually shifting towards what is considered obese. Obviously, being knows as the fat country is not a title that our nation should be proud to hold. So, is it our fault? Is it really a problem worth fixing? (Rauh)
Some may consider obesity a serious problem and issue to fix. But, others may have chosen to give it some sort of embrace. This comes to question what people consider healthy all together. Plenty of people have higher standards for healthy lifestyles. Some may think of running for three miles as a daily basis routine, or methodical; however, others may believe being able to wake up, walk, and breathe, alone, is healthy enough.
In order to solve this problem, there are endless ways to get started. An approach the three - mile runners may say would be to just run. Exercise and a well balanced diet should get results. But, those whom are actually over weight may not see their obesity as that great of an issue. Lots of obese people are perfectly capable of functioning somewhat normally. Others who don't embrace their size may go to extremities like gastric bypass to lose their weight. Is this what we've come to? Invasive surgery to become healthy again? (Newman)
Bibliography
- Wikipedia. "Obesity." Obesity in the Unites States. Feb. 12, 2014. Web. Feb. 20, 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity_in_the_United_States>.
- Rauh, Sherry. "Obesity." Is Fat the New Normal? Web. Feb. 20, 2014. <http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/is-fat-the-new-normal>.
- Newman, Cathy. "Obesity." Why Are We So Fat? Web. Feb. 20, 2014. <http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/health-and-human-body/human-body/fat-costs/#page=5>.