The Obesity Epidemic in the United States: The Causes and the Solutions

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Sunday, January 18th, 2009 by admin Subscribe To Our Feed

Thanks to the prevalence of sedentary lifestyles and the fast food culture, the obesity epidemic in the United States is infamous around the world. Unfortunately, other countries in the world are following the American example and incorporating these unhealthy lifestyle practices into their cultures.
The fast food obesity epidemic is only one facet of the obesity problem in the US however. Many factors stemming from economic growth, urbanization, and modernization contribute to the obesity epidemic in the United States.
Convenience Kills
If you take a walk down the aisles of a supermarket in the US, it’s clear to see why so many Americans are obese. If you handed some fresh vegetables, spices, and meat to your average American, he probably wouldn’t even be able to improvise a meal. Most Americans get their meals from packages. In fact, it’s actually more expensive to buy fresh ingredients than prepackaged convenience food in the US, which is unheard of in developing countries.
These processed, packaged foods are often in high in calories, preservatives, fat, and sugar, yet low in essential nutrients. It may be convenient to eat these foods but the health consequences are numerous. People of lower socio-economic status are more likely to bear the brunt of the obesity epidemic in the United States which isn’t surprising given that these processed foods are far more affordable than healthy, fresh foods.
Less people are actually sitting down to slowly savor and enjoy a meal these days. People prefer densely caloric convenience foods that they can scarf down in a matter of minutes in order to continue going about their productive day. Productivity is idealized in our society so the faster you can eat and the faster you can get from one place to another, the better.
Transportation is another aspect of the obesity epidemic in the United States. Some communities do not even have sidewalks! Everyone uses cars to get from place to place and anyone walking or riding a bicycle is considered an odd bird in some small towns. Outside of big cities, few people rely on public transportation, if a system even exists.
On the other hand, in Japan, which has a low obesity rate, there is a very good infrastructure for public transportation and you can get around with buses and trains even in remote areas of the country. In the United States, the system has been built so that people who don’t own cars are out of luck, to say the least.
In developing countries, more people walk and ride bikes to get from place to place so it’s easier to keep weight off and lead a healthier lifestyle. Americans have to take part in recreational activities or join the gym in order to incorporate physical activity into their lifestyles whereas in other countries, physical activity is just a normal part of the day.
In conclusion, the obesity epidemic in the United States is largely a problem that stems from the results of economic growth and modernization. Modern lifestyle brings convenience but it also brings health problems because it makes it more difficult to follow a healthy diet based on fresh fruits and vegetables and to get enough exercise each day.

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