Why Obesity is a Big Issue in the United States?
There are 2 main reasons for the growing problem of obesity in US today: sedentary lifestyle and the availability of processed foods.
It is not that people in the US have become lazy, but people are not motivated to get out and exercise. Our lives have become more and more hectic. Many people work long hours at their job. That might be at a desk in front of a computer or standing at a cash register. Whatever their job maybe, the majority of the jobs do not provide adequate time for exercise. While people are hard at work, their children are spending equal amounts of time in school, sitting all day. There is less time for recess and gym. It would seem that when adults leave work and the children leave school, there would be more time for exercise. However, many do not. The adults are tired. After putting in a full day at work, most people are too tired to go exercise. Then are things that people need to do when they get home, like make sure the children eat and get ready for the next day. Likewise, the children have things they need to do, like homework. And when they finish that, many times they are watching television, playing video games, or surfing on the Internet. None of which require much physical activity.
Another reason for obesity in US is that processed and fat filled foods are cheaper and served in bigger portions than the healthy options. Take for example the dollar menus at several fast food restaurants. Wendy's has the best options because they offer Caesar and side salad, but they also offer the frosty and fries. Burger King has a breakfast dollar menu which offers French toast sticks (fried food), a hamlette (a ham and cheese sandwich with honey butter) and Cini-minis (little cinnamon white bread rolls). At McDonalds, they offer French fries, apple pies, large iced tea, and fried Chicken sandwich. While all these snack options are only $1, they are not nutritious enough to justify the high caloric intake. If you want to eat healthy, you can spend $4-6 on a salad. And that is not a guarantee that you will be eating healthy because your choice of salad dressing might nullify all the benefits of eating the salad. When going to a restaurant and ordering a hamburger and fries, the size is in actuality enough for 2 or 3 people. But one person might eat all that food and consume a day's worth of calories with one meal. And since a lot of people are so busy, they rather buy food than take the time to cook.
It requires self discipline to exercise. Some people join a gym to stay motivated. Others have an exercise buddy. Whatever It takes time and effort to find low cost healthy food options. Sometimes it means eating out at restaurants less and cooking more. If people are more active and watch their food portions, they can reduce weight gain and avoid obesity.
It is not that people in the US have become lazy, but people are not motivated to get out and exercise. Our lives have become more and more hectic. Many people work long hours at their job. That might be at a desk in front of a computer or standing at a cash register. Whatever their job maybe, the majority of the jobs do not provide adequate time for exercise. While people are hard at work, their children are spending equal amounts of time in school, sitting all day. There is less time for recess and gym. It would seem that when adults leave work and the children leave school, there would be more time for exercise. However, many do not. The adults are tired. After putting in a full day at work, most people are too tired to go exercise. Then are things that people need to do when they get home, like make sure the children eat and get ready for the next day. Likewise, the children have things they need to do, like homework. And when they finish that, many times they are watching television, playing video games, or surfing on the Internet. None of which require much physical activity.
Another reason for obesity in US is that processed and fat filled foods are cheaper and served in bigger portions than the healthy options. Take for example the dollar menus at several fast food restaurants. Wendy's has the best options because they offer Caesar and side salad, but they also offer the frosty and fries. Burger King has a breakfast dollar menu which offers French toast sticks (fried food), a hamlette (a ham and cheese sandwich with honey butter) and Cini-minis (little cinnamon white bread rolls). At McDonalds, they offer French fries, apple pies, large iced tea, and fried Chicken sandwich. While all these snack options are only $1, they are not nutritious enough to justify the high caloric intake. If you want to eat healthy, you can spend $4-6 on a salad. And that is not a guarantee that you will be eating healthy because your choice of salad dressing might nullify all the benefits of eating the salad. When going to a restaurant and ordering a hamburger and fries, the size is in actuality enough for 2 or 3 people. But one person might eat all that food and consume a day's worth of calories with one meal. And since a lot of people are so busy, they rather buy food than take the time to cook.
It requires self discipline to exercise. Some people join a gym to stay motivated. Others have an exercise buddy. Whatever It takes time and effort to find low cost healthy food options. Sometimes it means eating out at restaurants less and cooking more. If people are more active and watch their food portions, they can reduce weight gain and avoid obesity.
Comments
Post a Comment