An article on CNN.com reflects on the prevalence of obesity in America, focusing on the percent of the population that is obese by state (Mississippi and West Virginia being those with the highest percentage, and with Texas not far behind).
I think that obesity is a serious, yet preventable, health issue Americans face. Causing many deaths throughout the country, it is necessary to educate people about the basic nutrients our body needs. However, many people do not get these nutrients despite the amount of food we as Americans consume daily. It is interesting to see how disease impacts American history as well as modern society. It seems as though we have come so far in medical advances to fight disease, but even after all of that innovation, we voluntarily (in most cases) plague ourselves with what is intended to nourish our bodies.
Elaborating on the point of America's history of diseases, the voluntary qualities of obesity remind me of the supposed voluntary qualities of small pox. Imposed upon Native Americans by God, small pox and other diseases were thought by the Puritans to be a voluntary act of God himself in order to leave colonists not distracted in their settlement of the New World.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/21/health/obesity-state-by-state/index.html
I think that the government should have more programs that educate people on how to live a healthy life. I know that would not automatically fix the problem that is obesity, but I believe it would help to decrease the amount of people with obesity in America.
ReplyDelete-Claudia Anthony
I agree with Caludia because peopel should become aware that obesity is not just something that some one has, but also leads to health issues.
ReplyDeleteRelating to Claudia's comment, I believe that Americans do have the available option of choosing the right foods to eat or just what "tastes" good. It really comes down to budget and how quick and easy. Whether the store and spend $50 or the nearby fast food restaurant and spend $10. Americans have simply become careless because it's all just available to us now. - Cassidy Jones
ReplyDeleteI understand that sometimes people just cannot afford to buy good food, but i think that it really comes down to a question of how someone lives their life. If you just chose to live an active and healthy life, obesity is not such a problem.
ReplyDelete-Lincoln Anthony
Its really nice how you tided this into the Purtians thinking that small poxx was God's gift for them to settle the land. Interesting and relevant, I Like it. -marlee fleisher
ReplyDeleteI agree that Americans need to be better educated on food, nutrient, and the effect that they can have on your body in the short or long run. But agreeing with what others said, it is also important to keep in mind that people often buy the food they can afford.
ReplyDeleteI think that obesity and health problems related to obesity along with just the general amount of sugars etc. that we as Americans consume on a daily basis is such a prevalent issue that, in my opinion, we need to take drastic steps as a country to change things. I don't think, as this point, we should really be focusing on changing individuals--the problem is so much bigger than that. We need to take all kinds of factors in to account to change the kinds of foods that are cheaper and more easily available, as well as just the general food that the American population is eating.
ReplyDeleteI think people are well educated on how food affects their bodies, but do nothing about it. People are choosing this unhealthy lifestyle, and are ultimately choosing to shorten their lives. I don't know how America can knock some sense into their citizens, but whatever it is, it has to be drastic. We could probably start with some sort of counseling program, since many Americans are affected by stress eating and eating to cope with loss, failure, etc.
ReplyDelete