The Effects Of Obesity On American Adults And Children

The Effects of Obesity Obesity is on the rise in American adults and children. Over 78.6 million Americans are considered obese (CDC, 2014). Health experts believe the obesity crisis has become an epidemic that needs to be controlled. Today many efforts are being made by Federal and state governments and some major companies to combat obesity in adults and children. For example, some major companies are rewarding employees with cash incentives for exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight. The federal government has even considered imposing a â€Å"fat tax† on unhealthy food and beverages to help in the fight against obesity. In this paper I will discuss if the argument that obesity is an epidemic is sound, if a person’s weight should be a topic of public discussion, and my own personal view of how obesity should be addressed. Is obesity an epidemic? An epidemic is defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary as â€Å"affecting or tending to affect a disproportionately large number of individuals within a population, community, or region at the same time (Merriam-Webster Dictionary, 2014). Obesity has been labeled as an epidemic because of the shocking increase in obesity cases; especially among young children. Adult obesity rates have doubled since 1980, from 15 to 30 percent, while childhood obesity rates have more than tripled. The spike in obesity cases has been seen in developed as well as developing countries. The fact that people spend more time doing sedentaryShow MoreRelatedFast Food and Obesity in Adults990 Words   |  4 Pages English 11 13 May 2013 Fast Food and Obesity in Adults In Aprils addition of Men’s Health magazine there is a picture of salted golden French fries inside a white cup. This advertisement invokes hunger for unhealthy and cheap fast food to consumers. 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