Summary:
Sixty percent of the nation faces obesity. A heated debate is now taking place as to what process is the best to curb this affliction. The questions are really who is responsible for this nation's obesity problem, and how can it be fixed.
Phillip Robinson
Professor Will "The Thrill" Kovach
English W131
August 1, 2004
A Fattening Lifestyle
American's today are plagued with a deadly situation. Sixty percent of the nation faces a rapidly growing and serious crisis. Obesity is a problem that the American nation must deal with, and deal with it quickly. A heated debate is now taking place as to what process is the best to curb this catastrophe afflicting America. This debate encompasses everything from portion size, different diet types, and what lifestyle one leads. There is no doubt that a growing affection for less active lifestyles leads to a gain in weight; it seems America has adopted the motto "eat more, play less, get fatter."
A hot topic in today's dieting news is the debate over low fat vs. low carb. Scientific research is on an intense up rise to uncover the intricate ways in which the body breaks down foods and the different parts of the body that have to do with releasing energy and burning fat. Through this research, faults have been discovered in both dieting techniques, and it has led scientists to look deeper into the make up of the body, which appears to have much more to do with what is eaten than used to be thought. "Already, however, a series of fascinating insights into the biology of obesity has emerged. Behind our broadening behinds and widening waistlines, scientists say, lies a complex array of genes that directly and indirectly, links our gut to our brain. These genes, honed by millions of years of evolution, appear to have betrayed many of us in the 21st century world" (Nash). Though these genes are linked with keeping the caloric intake balanced, people eating too much and gaining weight force these genes too be produced too often and soon the body's system for burning excess calories is reset to the new levels, which deceives the body into thinking proper levels are established and that person will keep gaining weight.
With individuals not being able to rely solely on the body's makeup to regulate weight gain, the question arises again on how to defeat obesity. The matter seems exceedingly complex, but the answer is simple. Stated in the article "America's "supersize" diet is fattier and sweeter - and deadlier" by Amanda Spike "Obesity has been linked to everything from the decline of the family dinner to the popularity of computers and video games to supersize portions of fast food. But it all comes down to a simple calculations, says Colorado's Hill: "The primary reason America is fat is that we eat too much compared to our activity level" (42). If people would eat a balanced diet and keep active, they would be nearly insusceptible to obesity.
With the growing evidence of how genes coexist with the food intake of people, it is also thought that the way parents feed children can have a dramatic effect on their fight with obesity. "Adults are free agents. They can overeat and gain weight if they want to. But perhaps what is most disturbing about their overeating is that they are unwittingly, and in myriad ways, passing on that tendency to children. It is not just that children pick up their parents' bad habits. There is growing evidence that what you eat early in life can permanently boost your body's desire for food" (Nash).
The question now becomes, who is responsible for this nation's obesity problem, and how can it be fixed. Many place blame on the fast food industry, television, and portion size, but with all the current research, the facts show that it is in the hands of the parents to combat this issue. By keeping children active, eating balanced diets, and giving children good eating habits, parents can end this deadly obesity issue. Granted, as a nation, America is unhealthier in food choices and availability, however, it is each individual's choice how much they eat and what they eat. Therefore blaming "supersized" french fries for obesity is ludicrous. All that needs to be done is have people take responsibility for themselves by being active, eating balanced meals, and passing on healthy eating habits to children and perhaps then, the war on obesity will be won.
This is the complete article, containing 702 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page).
