Obesity And The United States - 1265 Words

Obesity in the United States has been a serious problem affecting Americans and has been continually growing higher in numbers each year. American obesity has nearly doubled within the last 40 years and is now considered to be an epidemic that is affecting millions of people around the nation. According to the National institute of Diabetes and digestive and kidney Diseases, 31% of men and 35% of women are considered seriously overweight, along with 15% of children between the ages of six and nineteen are also overweight. The lack of physical inactivity and extreme poor dieting are catching up to almost the same threat as cigarettes and tobacco smoking. We as a nation are considered to be the fattest country in the world. Obesity is a†¦show more content†¦But now it is found and occurring in many children. At a young age moderate obesity can dramatically increase the risk of getting diabetes. Because of the excess amount of stress put on the knees and hips, obesity can affect the joints in a serious way. Most obese persons cannot receive joint replacement surgery. The additional fat tissue that is formed in the body need oxygen and nutrients in order to live. This causes high blood pressure because the blood vessels cannot circulate more blood to the fat tissue and increases the workload of the heart. The heart now has to pump more blood through the blood vessels. All the extra weight raises the rate of your heart and reduces the body’s ability to transport the blood to where it is needed. The risk of cancer increases tremendously as well. Men that are overweight get a higher risk of colon cancer and prostate cancer. Women that are overweight have a higher chance of breast cancer, colo n, uterus, and gallbladder. Our social culture is defined on the idea of physical attractiveness. When it comes to psychosocial effects, being overweight plays a major role in the health of an individual. Culture believes in the perfect ideal person to be thin and in shape. This is considered the â€Å"sexy† and norm of our society. The people that are overweight and obese are often blamed for their weight and are automatically considered lazy and weak minded. This ultimately results in these people having fewer love lives and being placed in