The Most Overweight Society in the World

The Most Overweight Society in the World

America today is one of the most overweight and more obese societies in the world. Obesity is an increase of fat cells in the body. In other words, a person with the triple amount of a normal weight is considered obese. Frane M. Berg defines obesity as excessive storage of energy in the form of fat. If a child weighs over the 95th percentile he is considered over-weight. A factor for obesity is a lack of physical activity and the food we choose. Obesity is not caused by lack of willpower when it comes to food and not laziness when it comes to exercise. However, food industry and peoples lifestyles can be the blame for obesity. Although the basis of obesity is not only fully understood, the condition has been recognized since 1984 as a chronic disease caused by a complex set of factors.
Americans are more overweight than any other country’s citizens in the world. More than 65.7% of Americans are overweight and more 30.6% of Americans are obese. The rate of overweight and obese children has tripled since the 1980s. As per Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 9 million young people are considered overweight. Today three out of every 10 American children are overweight, according to the American Obesity Association. Obesity is now considered an “American epidemic.” More men are over-weight than women. Ethnicity can also impact weight. Hispanics and African Americans tend to have a higher weight than Caucasians.
Have Americans been predisposed when it comes to obesity? Most overweight and obese people have an overweight or obese parent. If a child has two parents that are overweight the child has 80% chance to become overweight as well. Obesity is often a family disease. Studies show that obesity has a strong genetic component. Scientist’s pointed out 250 genes in humans determine how much we weigh. Part of these genes control metabolism and they influence our appetite. Sharon Dalton, states that “Genes determines whether a person is likely to...

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