Will Thrower

Malcolm Campbell

UWRT 1104

5 April 2017

Gummy Bears- Obesity In America

With over 36% of adults being obese in the United States, our nation has become a poster

child for fast food, health problems, and excess weight becoming a normality. It leads some to

wonder why obesity is so prevalent, and what has been implemented to change it. The question

remains, where does obesity stem from, and what can we do to help prevent it?

The United States has one of the highest obesity rates in the world, in fact, rates are still

rising in the U.S., Canada, and Ireland. Why is the U.S. falling behind? In 2011, Denmark

introduced a tax on foods containing more than 2.3 percent saturated fats (meat, cheese, butter,

edible oils, margarine, spreads, snacks, etc.) (PBS). Denmark is a prime example of a country

that uses government involvement to make foods that are unhealthy, less attainable. Other

similar strategies are being used by some European countries. Hungary introduced a tax on

selected manufactured foods high in sugar, salt or caffeine. In Finland, a tax on confectionery

products did not include biscuits, buns, and pastries. And for the past year, France has been

taxing soft drinks (PBS). As a result of taxation, governments use revenue from unhealthy

foods to help increase public health benefits. Some of the benefits can include subsidizing health

education campaigns or lowering prices on healthy foods. America lacks public healthcare and a

system where money is recirculated to benefit people as a whole, rather than individual health.

America also is unlikely to tax food because of its opposition from the food industry. Legal
battles are expensive and money is used elsewhere. Citizens naturally do not like allowing their

government to influence what they do and do not eat.

It is important to note that obesity is often a product of socioeconomic status. The upper

middle class is rarely obese, and the middle class to an even lesser extent. Most obesity in the

United States rests in the lower class despite the misconception that more money equals more

food. (CDC) Since the lower class works jobs that pay low wages, the money is frequently spent

on fast food chains. The convenience of fast food is undeniable. In a bustling American

economy, people do not have time to cook healthier meals at home. People go to work and there

is always a commute involved. With all of the advertising and street side fast food joints, eating

out becomes unavoidable in a pinch. Going through a drive through does not require anyone to

get out of their cars. Single moms can feed all of their children with a card swipe and less than

five minutes of their time. Grocery shopping requires significantly more time that many people

cannot find a way to fit in their day. After grocery shopping, people have to prepare the food for

their families which requires even more time and knowledge.

Recently released research says, There is also a significant relationship between obesity

prevalence and occupation-based social class for women. The prevalence of obesity for women

in unskilled occupations is almost twice that of those in professional occupations (National

Obesity Observatory). In the data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, 10,000 people born

in 1939 had their health and social information collected throughout their lives. Girls from lower

class families typically had a higher body mass at age 18 than more wealthy females. When data

was collected from these women at 54 years old it was discovered that women who had come

from poorer families as children were more likely to be obese adults, and that women with

higher body mass index were likely to be more poor regardless of their childhood status
(Wisconsin Longitudinal Study). There are a few reasons that poverty has a correlation with

weight. The first reason is that having a job based around shifts, and working multiple jobs leads

to a lack of time to prepare healthy meals. Another reason is that not having enough money can

place extreme stress on individuals, a mother may be struggling with bills, children, housing,

commuting, or health problems. These painful problems can be somewhat masked with stress

eating, or a high calorie, fatty meal.

The problem with the fast food industry is that it has gotten far too powerful. There were

14,155 McDonalds restaurants in America in the year 2016. This number is increasing and does

not include all the other fast food restaurants. Fast food is notoriously unhealthy, and high in

fat/calories. Food proportions in fast food restaurants are oversized as well. The average person

does not need to be eating the amount of calories that is in something deep fried each day. If the

government were to regulate the quality of what is put into fast food and set restrictions on

calories, it would greatly benefit the health of people, and decrease obesity throughout the states.

The bad part is that it is extremely hard to advocate for improved quality of fast food and lower

portions. Fast food is cheap because it is made cheaply. Healthy ingredients could be

purchased, produced, and distributed without the use of low quality, high calorie ingredients.

This change would require different food preparation equipment, the way meals are produced,

and revised worker training. Fast food chains are very unlikely to appease any sort of dietary

changes to keep profits maximized. The customer dictates what the food will be, and the

customer does not seem to care whether food is of good quality or not if it remains cheap. The

main way of intervening in fast food is government regulation, which I would advocate for, yet it

is not something deemed to be important enough to change right now by government. However,

If the state of fast food remains the same I see government regulation happening in the future.
 Some of Americas favorite soda companies like Coca-Cola have been caught paying off

sugar research companies to manipulate research data on the effects of sugar. In 2015, the New

York Times obtained emails revealing Coca Colas cozy relationships with sponsored

researchers who were conducting studies aimed at minimizing the effects of sugary drinks on

obesity (NPR). The candy trade association funded studies saying essentially that children who

eat candy have healthier body weights than those who do not. American food companies will do

whatever it takes to sell their products in a competitive marketplace, even if it means

manipulating the consumer with falsified information. So much money is wrapped up in these

large companies that they can pay off whatever legal battles ensue, in order to keep true

information withheld from the public.

Parents are frequently the reason that their children become overweight. As children

grow, they learn based on what they see their parents do, from political affiliation, to favorite

college teams, eating habits are not exempt from this list. More than one third of adults who

earn less than $15,000 a year were obese when compared to 25% who earn more than $50,000 a

year (Blumenthal). These numbers trickle down to children, raising obesity rates, and if they

stay present in their economic status, the obesity often continues to the next generation. School

systems often do not reach the lower classes in providing nutritional education. When lack of

knowledge, money, and fast food come into play, children have a recipe for obesity. Lower

income families sometimes live in areas where it is unsafe to play outside, making exercise and

weight loss much more difficult. Eating habits are developed subconsciously through time and

what the body adjusts to. In order to change these habits, it starts with parents. If people do not

want the next generation to be overweight, it will have to start with eating habits implemented by
parents and exercise for overall health. While there are some programs like the Healthy Hunger

Free Kids Act that are implemented, there is not enough right now to prevent obesity.

A new movement called body positivity is sweeping the nation, especially in younger

women. It is expected that people will treat each other with respect regardless of weight, shape,

or looks. It is an entirely different issue to demand that society accepts a health condition as

being normal. Being overweight is a real health concern with real negative effects. Many

overweight people have become social justice celebrities by posting pictures of themselves in

plus size clothing on the internet. Social media platforms and shock value websites like

Buzzfeed and Twitter get ahold of these pictures and perpetuate acceptance. These pictures gain

thousands of likes. Fat acceptance and body positivity overlooks the risks associated with being

overweight in favor of loving your body. Obese people need help instead of acceptance to

overcome their weight problem. It would be far more rewarding to work hard and lose extra

weight rather than relying on others to affirm personal beauty. The dangers of being overweight

are real and do not go away when being fat is considered a normality or beautiful. Doctors

and experts do not recommend body acceptance as a measure for combatting obesity. With 18%

of children being obese (CDC), movements like this pose a threat to what future generations

consider to be healthy. Even if fat acceptance is appealing when used to minimize childhood

bullying, the ultimate way to prevent harassment is unchanged; diet and exercise.

Many will argue that diet and exercise are still the most crucial aspects to reducing and

preventing obesity despite the excuses for being obese like socioeconomic status and education.

Regardless of any reason behind being overweight, science tells us what humans need in order to

lose, gain and retain weight. Everyone has a certain caloric intake that they need to consume per

day to retain their weight. Depending on factors like exercise level, age, metabolism, and size,
the caloric intake varies. It would be an easy task for Americans to figure out what they need per

day and keep a mental note of it. If one is not cutting around 200-500 calories below this level

each day, they will not lose weight. Also, if one is consuming more than the daily intake, they

will gain weight.

People can exercise to combat being overweight. It is a common misconception that

eating healthy foods will make you lose weight. Weight loss will only happen when measured

by calories. If someone exceeds their caloric intake by eating healthy food like grilled salmon

and asparagus all week, they will still gain weight in the form of fat if they do not exercise.

Exercising burns calories. If daily calories are in excess, fat will slowly be put on regardless of

food quality. Another common misconception is that lifting weights will promote muscle growth

and fat loss. Lifting weights expends very few calories in comparison to cardio and will not

promote a healthier looking physique if the person exercising is already overweight. Cardio is

the most efficient way of burning calories and in turn, burning fat. Running is one of the most

simple ways to burn excess calories. Controlled diet and exercise does not work for everyone

because they are inconsistent. In order to notice results, it takes weeks, months, and even years.

Again, many people do not have the time to workout and diet while working or taking care of

children. Americans also live by the philosophy of instant gratification and speed. People do not

want to work very hard for something, they would rather take a magic pill, and if the results do

not come quickly, they give up. Many people will not stick to one plan either because they do

not see the results fast enough so they change to another plan that may not be suited to them.

Consistency is key in losing weight.

School systems do not place enough importance on nutritional knowledge and personal

fitness. Rather than playing sports that involve short bursts of energy, more time should be spent
on personal fitness and energy expenditure. If more classes requiring physical activity like

running were implemented into elementary education, it would change the priority of personal

health and consumption. Teachers would be able to inform children of the dangers of eating too

much fast food, supporting the industry, not eating healthier home cooked meals, and the

downsides of not exercising and being sedentary. Electronics and exercise alike release

dopamine into the brain satisfying the hunger for happiness, however the electronic rush is much

easier to attain in a world saturated with cell phones, computers, and gaming devices.

The health complications of obesity are unprecedented. Now that Children have adopted

these new eating habits with a lack of exercise, the health issues come much earlier as a side

effect. People under the age of 23 with type 2 diabetes has doubled between 2011 and

2015. During the same four years, obesity diagnosis jumped 94% in toddlers and infants, and

154% among people aged 19-22 (Appleby). The personal complications stemming from obesity

are monstrous with type 2 diabetes, stroke, heart disease, and cancer all being common side

effects. According to the CDC these are some of the leading causes of preventable death. The

CDC also reports that non-Hispanic blacks have the highest obesity rates at 42.5% (CDC). This

is partially due to socioeconomic status, as it is statistically proven that those with higher

incomes are less likely to be obese than those with lower incomes. A large card played into

obesity is the fast food industry since it often appeals to lower income families who feed it to

their children. Children develop eating habits at a young age based on what their parents taught

them. When the drive through becomes a part of everyday life rather than healthy home cooked

meals, it takes a toll on personal health and strengthens the industry. The value of consuming

less and eating healthier appears to be more clear than ever with the statistics coming from the

CDC.
 In conclusion, obesity is a huge inherent problem in the United States. For some time,

the economy has altered the minds of Americans to believe that people are born to consume. We

consume in all forms whether it be in retail stores, in real estate, or in food. There must be

something done to stop it. Firstly the government needs to get involved. Stricter regulations on

what can go in fast food restaurants and how many fast food restaurants there can be need to be

put in place. Secondly, school systems need to be reformed nationwide. Adding physical

exercise and nutritional class requirements throughout elementary school to high school will fix

these issues. This will ingrain the positives of exercise, nutrition, and dieting, and ensure the

negatives of being obese are not overlooked. Lastly, it is within the control of people to change

their childrens lives as well as their own lives. If people are not willing to fix the problem at the

source, it will only get worse, this is why it is so incredibly important to start with changing the

youth. If the youth is changed, generations after will flourish and be healthier because of it.

Over time, socioeconomic status will change and weight will most likely fluctuate as a result.

Obesity is not an issue that will just work itself out, it requires personal dedication and possibly

governmental involvement. Overall, the United States will head in the right direction since it is

in a current trend of health consciousness and body appearance. Only time will tell what

happens on a grand scale, but personal change is always up to you.

 Works Cited

Appleby, Julie. Obesity-Linked Diagnoses On The Rise Among Kids And Teens. NPR, NPR,

12 Jan. 2017, www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/01/12/509374443/obesity-linked-

diagnoses-on-the-rise-among-kids-and-teens. Accessed 4 Apr. 2017.

Blumenthal, M.D. Susan. Poverty And Obesity: Breaking The Link. The Huffington Post,

TheHuffingtonPost.com, 11 Apr. 2012, www.huffingtonpost.com/susan-

blumenthal/poverty-obesity_b_1417417.html. Accessed 4 Apr. 2017.

Obesity and Socioeconomic Status. Encyclopedia of Obesity,

doi:10.4135/9781412963862.n341. Accessed 28 Apr. 2017.

Overweight & Obesity. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention, 17 Nov. 2016, www.cdc.gov/obesity/. Accessed 29 Apr. 2017.

Sassi, Franco. How U.S. Obesity Compares With Other Countries. PBS, Public Broadcasting

Service, 11 Apr. 2013, www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/how-us-obesity-compares-with-

other-countries/. Accessed 28 Apr. 2017.

Savona-Ventura, Charles, and Stephanie Savona-Ventura. The Inheritance of Obesity. YBEOG

Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology, vol. 29, no. 3, 2015, pp.

300308. Accessed 4 Apr. 2017.

UW-Madison. Wisconsin Longitudinal Study Homepage, www.ssc.wisc.edu/wlsresearch/.

Accessed 29 Apr. 2017.