Introduction
Obesity is having high amounts of fat in your body that acts as a floodgate to a number of diseases. With your 300+ pounds, you are highly exposed to heart diseases, sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes, stroke and many other diseases (Knutson and Van Cauter). Statistics points out that the obesity rate among the U.S. children has doubled since 1980 (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2004). In the same period, the adolescence obesity incidence has trebled, and more than 15% of U.S. children aged between 6 and 19 are termed overweight today (SCHNEIDER). Adults are not spared either as Over 60% of the U.S. adult population falls in the overweight bracket. Over the decades, the low-income neighborhoods have been experiencing higher obesity rates than the middle and first-class populations. The research conducted by the National Academic of Sciences (PNAS) shows that obesity rates are decreasing among adolescents from well-off families, but increasing among teens from poor families. Lack of healthy foods in poor neighborhoods and difference in exercise habits have been termed as the largest contributor to this disparity according to the report.
Conclusion
Despite the disparaging rates of obesity, not all is lost as there are various ways to counter the astronomical obesity rates not only in poor neighborhoods, but also in the entire American society. One is by adopting a healthy eating strategy; replace junk food with healthy home cooked meals. When is the last time you cooked a meal together as a family? Aforementioned can be a fun and great bonding time for the family. It is time for families to tone down the amount of daily calories they take. Striking an equilibrium between energy intake and energy output is the way to go. Go out and play together as a family, that hopscotch or dodge ball is not just fun but healthy too. Exercise is the key to fighting the unnecessary pounds on the U.S masses.
References
Knutson, Kristen L., and Eve Van Cauter. 'Associations Between Sleep Loss And Increased Risk Of Obesity And Diabetes'. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1129.1 (2008): 287-304. Web.
SCHNEIDER, MARY ELLEN. 'HHS Issues New Physical Activity Guidelines For Kids'. Pediatric News 42.11 (2008): 29. Web.
