Summary:
There are several causes for obesity in America, including fast-food restaurants and their marketing, hereditary obesity, and people reacting to the stereotypes in the media that you must be beautiful to be accepted.
America today is based on media and the people involved. The marketing of fast food restaurants is constantly running through the average American's mind. In America many busy people usually choose to eat fast food, due to lack of time and energy instead of a healthier alternative. The problem is contributing to the demise of health in America.
With today's busy society and America's growing fast food marketing companies, people eat more fatty foods then every before. Companies spend an estimated $10 billion dollars marketing food, drinks, and meals to children and youth in 2004 ("Fast food and obesity" par. 4). Marketing to youth indicates some reasons that people become unhealthy from such a young age. Overall restaurant marketing is geared towards fatty foods opposed to healthy meals ("Fast food..." par. 7). The companies seem to promote unhealthy foods more than healthier alternatives. More people are eating fast food which usually has higher calories and fat (Frissel and Susan 11). Americans show lack of willpower toward choosing healthy meals which could be responsible for rising obesity. The growing obesity problems can easily be blamed upon companies like Philip Morris who is blamed for smoking related problems.
As fast food companies grow, so does America's rise in obesity. Fast food restaurants have more than doubled from 1972-1995 ("Fast food..." par. 5). Popularity contributes to a companies growth which shows that more and more people are eating unhealthy foods more often. An estimated 10% of America's energy intake is from fast foods in 2004, opposed to 2% in the 1970's ("Fast food..." par. 5). The calorie intake is one tenth of the daily food intake for the average American showing that unhealthy food is becoming a trend. Current food and beverage marketing puts kids at health risks (Frissel and Susan 12). The consumption of unhealthy food is corrupting America's youth. The growth of companies and unhealthy foods popularity is proving to be the demise of America's health.
Obesity in America also consumes many teens. 21% of teens (12-19) are overweight in America (Frissel and Susan 10). The future of America is in the youth of our nation and if we continue to have a higher percent in obesity, our future seems dim. Average American teens spend 22 hours a week watching T.V. and playing video games (Frissel and Susan 10). Laziness contributes to obesity, with more distracting things to do then exercise and eat healthy, teens usually choose the lazy way of doing things which is eating junk foods. Fast foods contribute 57 calories of the daily diet of the average child ("Fast food..." par. 4). Teens eat unhealthy not just every once in awhile but daily, which is a major factor that contributes to the health of our future leaders of America. If weight issues continue to form during early years, it makes it harder for children to be accepted, break bad habits, and lose weight.
Other reasons for obesity include hereditary obesity. 40% of children of one obese parent will also be obese (Frissel and Susan 9). Some of the reasons for choosing fast food are due to weight problems and the satisfactions of an unhealthy (good tasting) meal. 80% of children with two obese parents will be overweight (Frissel and Susan 9). With a higher percent of obese people the chances for creating an overweight offspring increase as well. 1 year old children weighed 50% more during the year 2000, then in 1990 (Cassel et al. 156). More overweight infants are being born due to the fact that there are more obese people having offspring causing the weight of America to increase as well.
The effects of obesity are not only physical, but can also be mentally challenging. Obese people tend to have a low self-esteem (Cassel et al. 160). Low self-esteem can cause stress and suicidal tendencies which contributes to the overall health of the human being. Many obese people loath themselves, and have problems with motivation to eat healthier because of societies outlook on "the perfect body" (Cassel et al. 160). The media constantly reminds us that fat people are bad people and that obesity should be frowned upon. Children that are obese tend to feel different from other children, inferior, made fun of, and tend to become outcasts (Frissel and Susan 55). Treating a human being in a inhumane way due to weight problems is a growing concern in America that is being used for entertainment. The concerns for the mental health of people suffering from obesity is just as much a concern as the physical aspects.
It is not only difficult for obese people physically, but they are constantly told they are ugly by the media. Body images are engraved into peoples mind by media, T.V., movies and advertisements (Frissel and Susan 38). The brainwashing media convinces people that physical aspects of a human body are more important then the mental characteristics. Many people that are not obese (thing), are envied in the media and community (Frissel and Susan 39). Having thin physical aspects makes you sexy in this nation, this is due mostly to media propaganda. There is evidence that obese people are denied education opportunities, jobs, promotions, and houses because of their weight ("Fast food..." par. 5). Obesity is handled just like a prejudice situation in America, they are often singled out and scrutinized. We should not judge others based on their physical attributes. The media attempts to gain America's attention with the glamorous stars to be envied which is the contrary to what America is about "Freedom of persecution." We should not judge others based on their physical attributes. The addiction of fast food and it's misleading advertisements is to blame for America's rapid growth in weight. The industries market heavily to children with the goal of creating a fast food habit that will persist into adulthood ("Fast food..." par. 6). The addiction usually persists throughout the child's life creating an involuntary reaction to unhealthy eating habits. Cartoon characters are proof of the companies marketing specifically to children ("Fast food..." par. 7). Characters are simply marketing tools used to drag in more children to create an addiction to their fast food. Due to limited studies proof can't be found that T.V. advertisement is the direct cause of obesity (Frissel and Susan 48). More studies should be conducted to find the relationship between obesity and television. Addiction is the goal of the fast food companies, and they have easily surpassed their goals with America's lack of willpower to eat smart.
There are other reasons people could be overweight, such as overeating which may be caused by personal problems such as; tension, anger, being upset, loneliness, or boredom. Overeating can be just another habit from stress such as, nail biting, and laughing (Cassel et al. 156). Children are encouraged to overeat by their parents "eat everything on your plate." Overeating can be due to an addiction to food (Cassel et al. 156). High calore foods can sometimes lure you in with the great flavors, cheap prices, and deals. The irony of this situation is that overweight people are pressured to be thin in our society, and it causes them stress which leads to them overeating (Frissel and Susan 37). Stress is very high in obese people which is a very good reason for obesity in America. Overeating is another great reason for our rise in obesity, the fast food businesses only contribute to this problem.
Some solutions for this growing epidemic could easily solve some issues in our society. Industries should work with health officials and consumer groups to develop a rating and labeling system that conveys the nutritional quality of foods effectively to better the health of America ("Fast food..." par. 12). The labeling on foods usually never gets looked at by the consumer. Media and entertainment could easily market healthy nutrition through T.V., films, cartoons, even video games, yet they fail to ("Fast food..." par. 10). Children and people use these forms of entertainment everyday which could help people to make wiser and healthier choices. Some restaurants have recently taken steps to promote healthier offerings, but overall marketing continues to be spent more towards high fat foods (Frissel and Susan 29). Attempts have been made, but the overall attempts by the fast food industries have failed. Money seems to be a major issue over health concerns of the free world. The fast food industries have failed to create a healthier world, they are simply polluting our nations health.
Obesity is a growing problem in America due to continuous and aggressive marketing by fast food corporations. It will continue to be a problem as long as there is no one fighting for a solution to help America lose it's reputation as the fattest nation in the world. With today's busy society and America's growing marketing for fast food companies, people eat more fatty foods then ever before. If fast food industries continue to treat American people as a source to gain the "all mighty" dollar, then our nation is being treated poorly and strong action should be taken. As fast food companies grow, so does America's rise in obesity, the signs all point to unhealthy restaurants. The addiction of these foods contribute to the intake, and how often people consume these unhealthy products. The marketing of fast food restaurants is constantly running through the average American's mind. America's obese are quickly becoming the media's joke to society causing a prejudice reaction around the world. America can overcome this great devastation with some simple problem solving and will power. It is time we take responsibility for our actions, our health and even more so, our children. The future leaders of our nation depend on us to teach them the way. With our current responsibilities being abused our future seems to be decaying. For the hope of future mankind responsibilities must be enforced throughout our nation for the betterment of our nation.
Works Cited
Cassel, Dana, K. "Camels." The World Book Encyclopedia. 1996 ed.
