Obesity in America

Hannah Faulkner

Lifetime Fitness

Extra Credit Essay

13 April 2012

Obesity in America

About one-third of adult Americans are obese in today’s society. Recently obesity has become a major issue in America and is still on the up rise. Obesity is a very serious problem that society needs to deal with immediately. Obesity and unhealthy lifestyle habits are the most critical public health problems of the 21st century. If we do not take action promptly more and more people will be on the path to obesity, which leads to decrease in life expectancy, quality of life, and increase in illness and disability. People are starting to think that our environment actually promotes obesity. We must take a more realistic view of the body and take control of the issue. In America obesity is a fast-growing epidemic among people due to many factors including a decrease in physical activity, lack of time and money, and changes in the environment.

In today’s society, America is setting physical activity on the back burner. Most people think that eating too much is the main reason why America has become mostly obese, but lack of physical activity is a large factor in obesity. According to Motluk, in her writing, “Supersized Me: It’s Time to Stop Blaming Fat People for Their Size”, she says, “The supersized diet is becoming the norm just as activity levels are dropping to an all-time low” (Motluk 563). In our schools, children are experiencing the disappearance in physical education and even recess breaks. It is important to establish physical exercise and health habits early to help adolescent students build and maintain healthy joints, muscles, and bones. Starting at the age of 25, people gain 1 to 2 pounds of weight per year. Technology is also a reason less physical activity is taking place in children’s lives. Children would much rather sit on the computer or on the couch playing video games, and parents are much more lenient in allowing them to do so. Before video games...