Obesity

“Obesity”

I. Introduction

A: More than a third of U.S. adults are obese. Figures from the National Center for Health Statistics showed 34% of Americans aged 20 and older were obese in 2007-2008, according to a study of CDC data published in The Journal of the American Medical Association. Add in the people who are overweight and the rate goes to 68% (White, 2010).

B: It is true that not one factor can be directly blamed on obesity; rather that obesity can strike any person at any given age in their life. With all the reasons that obesity can attack a person, environmental, psychological and genetics are the main factors.

C: In the next few minutes, I am going to explain how the environment, the mental health and genetics of a person can contribute to obesity. I am sure that all of us know someone who is obese and is worried about the health risks. It is a personal interest of mine because most of my family is obese and overweight. I would like to share my knowledge of what I learned about obesity to others and hope that it can be a useful tool in the fight against obesity.

(So I encourage you to listen and learn about the effects of obesity that I am going to explain.)

II. Body

A: There are a growing number of concerns that the environment plays a role in obesity (Hynes, 2006).

1. Much of the focus on obesity in the environment is the lack of physical activity available.

a. Physical education classes cut by the government due to budgets and lack of funding.

b. Our leisure time is consumed by technology; video games, movies, and social communities that do not require engaging in physical activity.

2. Convenient inexpensive food options available to people make it to easy to eat.

a. Prepackaged food or fast food is more convenient but is...