Obesity in America

Sustained Argument Final Paper

The Issue and Cause of Obesity

Did you stop and think about the soda and bag of chips you just ate? A primary cause of obesity is due to the dangerous dietary changes in society, which favors ultra-processed foods, high levels of sugar, saturated fats, and sodium. Obesity involves excessive body fat that increases the risk of health problems and continues to be a global issue today, especially in the United States of America. According to the Public Health Reports Data Line, it shares the history and the current outcomes of obesity, that “About one-third of adults and one-fifth of adolescents in the United States are overweight” (NCHS Data Line). These Results represent increases in the prevalence of overweight Americans since the 1970s. Hruby and Frank, authors of “The Epidemiology of Obesity: A Big Picture”, also mention “Fueled by economic growth, industrialization, mechanized transport, urbanization, an increasingly sedentary lifestyle, and a nutritional transition to processed foods and high calorie diets over the last 30 years, many countries have witnessed the prevalence of obesity in its citizens double, and even quadruple” (Hruby, Frank). As much information we can provide about the issue of overweight Americans, it remains as an unbeatable problem since their are so many factors that play into the cause of obesity.

In the article, “The Toll of America’s Obesity” written by authors Ludwig and Rogoff, they support the idea of obesity being an issue in adults as well stating, “In adults, obesity substantially increases the risk for some of the most feared illnesses, like heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer’s” (Ludwig, Rogoff). The article talks about why most Americans pay attention to the issue now more than ever because of the linked effects it can have on our bodies. Ana Martins author of “Obesity Must Be Treated As a Public Health Issue”, claims that obesity is now a public health issue that affects an increasingly significant part of the population. “Nevertheless it is still largely associated with individual behavior/ This view on obesity─and obese people is wrong and needs to change” (Martins, 337). Although the cause of obesity is mostly looked upon the consumer to place the entire blame, the author uses the rhetorical appeal of logos to support her claim by listing facts from the World Health Organization stating, “Currently, 40% of the world’s population is overweight─three times more than 40 years ago” (World Health Organization [WHO], 2018). She continues by talking about the issue of Children targeted advertisements that promote unhealthy junk food and she shares how nutritional labels being placed on the front of foods can help beat the causes of obesity. Lastly she mentions about how foods and snacks provided to kids in school can be one of the reasons to practicing bad eating habits and not surprisingly─obesity.

Doing this, the author offers sufficient evidence to support her claim that obesity has taken over a majority amount of the world and cannot be blamed wholly on the obese individual, but instead the increase in unhealthy dietary changes available in America. Ana Martins explains how there is growing evidence linking unhealthy food consumption to obesity and that advertising directed to children and children being overweight, go hand in hand. Martins even extends her claim about nutrition labels that should be manufactured as being placed in the front of packages by comparing it to the tobacco-free environment laws and warning signs caused by smoking in which both categories are associated with deadly diseases. She expresses that the school environment contributes in a systematic way to the adoption of food practices considered unhealthy, and therefore has an important role in obesity rates. Although obesity is seen as a problem that affects individuals who cannot resist “temptations” or unable to establish a balanced diet, the primary causes of obesity is due to the children targeted advertisements of ultra-processed foods that have high levels of sugars, saturated fats and sodium, the lack of unhealthy dietary ingredients being emphasized on nutrition labels, and the unhealthy foods that are prepared in schools.

Children Ads Focused on Junk

Remember that piece of junk you ate a while ago? You had to be sold on buying it somehow. Junk food has been advertised heavily whether through social media, television commercials, magazines, billboards and most evidently directed to children. Authors Ludwig and Rogoff state, “Direct exposure to certain types of food, such as processed and snack foods high in fat and sugars, generally energy dense, may contribute to the development of child obesity” (Ludwig, Rogoff). One of the primary causes of obesity is due to children directed advertisements of ultra-processed foods, that have high levels of sugar, saturated fats and sodium.

Ana Martins uses the rhetorical appeal of logos to support her claim by stating “According to the American Dietetic Association (ADA), exposing children for only 30 seconds to food commercials can influence their food choices” (Martins, 339). Doing this, the author offers sufficient evidence to support her claim that obesity has taken over a majority amount of the world and cannot be blamed wholly on the obese individual, but instead the increase in unhealthy dietary changes available in America. Ana Martins explains how the link of children advertisements and obesity, is not surprising and must be solved.

Nutritional Labels & Warning Labels

Nutritional labels being placed in front of unhealthy junk foods should be manufactured to inform Americans more abruptly. Such items on a nutritional label are fundamental in guiding healthier choices but are not always seen or understood. Author Martins states, “The international recommendation is that relevant information be displayed on the front of the pack so that it can be easily found and assimilated” (Branca, Nikogosian, & Lobstein, 2007). The author compares the idea of labels to the tobacco industry.

Martins explains, “Tobacco-free environment laws (such as for bars and restaurants), raising the price of cigarettes, and warnings printed on packs caused a drastic drop in cigarette consumption and a huge gain in health and well-being for the whole of society” (Martins). The author’s use of statistics and valid sources are very persuading logo appeals. Similar to a pack of cigarettes, the warning labels placed with the major effects of smoking on the human body, must have such signs on fatty foods and junk packaging that are full of high levels of sugar, sodium and saturated fats. The author does a great job comparing the issue of smoking cigarettes and obesity by emphasizing the effect labels with warnings on them can diminish the problem of use in society as a whole.

Bad FOODS in Schools

Another primary cause of obesity in America are the use of unhealthy foods being prepared and distributed to children in school. Although obesity is most obvious in adults today, such habits of bad eating and overweight practices of eating a higher caloric intake in junk with high levels of sugar, sodium and saturated fats, such habits can start at a young age. The book, “Healthy Children : How Parents, Teachers and Community Can Help To Prevent Obesity in Children” by Guha, the author talks about strategies to work collaboratively to prevent an obesity epidemic. In chapter seven Guha states, “It is a simpler task to instill healthy practices in children when they are young than when they mature into adults” (Guhan). Young children are still learning while adults can be set in their ways. Although it is not impossible for adults to create healthier habits, schools must implement healthier food choices to enhance eating habits to carry into adulthood.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), they state “More of the foods we should encourage: Promoting availability of healthy snack foods with whole grains, low fat dairy, fruits, vegetables or protein foods as their main ingredients” (USDA), to expose the not so healthy foods that are continuously promoted in cafeterias and school campuses. Even vending machines on school campuses are filled with sugary, high processed junk that kids spend most of their time their for school hours, they turn to the food available. Martins shares, “Most snacks sold and/ or prepared at school canteens are low in nutrients and high in sugar, fat, and sodium” (Ministerio da Saude, 2007). The schools can implement healthier eating habits by first providing healthy meals to the students, especially since children spend most of their time at school.

Conclusion

In conclusion, despite growing recognition of the problem, the obesity epidemic continues in the United States of America, and obesity rates are increasing around the world. As Mitchell states in “Obesity: overview of an epidemic” article, “Substantial public health efforts are being directed toward addressing obesity, but there is not yet clear evidence of success. Because of the complexity of obesity, it is likely to be one of the most difficult public health issues our society has faced” (Mitchell). Although obesity is a very complex issue, actions can still be taken preventing overweight in Americans. Although obesity is seen as a problem that affects individuals who cannot resist “temptations” or unable to establish a balanced diet, the primary causes of obesity is due to the children targeted advertisements of ultra-processed foods that have high levels of sugars, saturated fats and sodium, the lack of unhealthy dietary ingredients being emphasized on nutrition labels, and the unhealthy foods that are prepared in schools.

Works Cited

Guha, Smita. Healthy Children : How Parents, Teachers and Community Can Help To Prevent Obesity in Children, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2017. ProQuest Ebook Central.

Halford, Jason, et al. “Effect of Television Advertisements for Foods on Food Consumption in Children.” NeuroImage, Academic Press, 14 Jan. 2004.

Hruby, Adela and Frank B Hu. “The Epidemiology of Obesity: A Big Picture” PharmacoEconomics vol. 33,7 (2015): 673–89.

Ludwig, David, and Kenneth Rogoff. “The Toll of America’s Obesity” The New York Times, New York Times Opinion, 9 Aug. 2018.

Martins, A. P. B. (2018). OBESITY MUST BE TREATED AS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.Revista De Administração De Empresas, 58(3).

Mitchell, Nia S et al. “Obesity: overview of an epidemic” Psychiatric clinics of North America vol. 34,4 (2011): 717–32.

“NCHS Data Line.” Public Health Reports (1974-), vol. 111, no. 2, 1996, pp. 179–181. JSTOR, JSTOR.

USDA. “USDA Proposes Standards to Provide Healthy Food Options in Schools.” Food and Nutrition Service, USDA Office of Communications , Mar. 2017.