Suicide in America - The Effects of Obesity

As the citizens of this country eat more, and exercise less, they are killing themselves in record numbers. Eating fast foods, and not get enough exercise, is a major cause of weight gain among Americans of all ages. That weight gain is linked to several preventable diseases, and disorders that disable and kill thousands of Americans each year. If we incorporate exercise, and eating a healthy diet into our daily lives, we can expect to live a longer, a healthier, and a happier life.

When a person is greatly overweight the medical term is obese. Obesity is a disorder categorized by being 20% or more over your ideal body weight. The body uses a certain amount of calories to stay alive, and perform bodily processes. People become obese when they eat more calories than they use each day, for those processes. There are approximately 60 million over weight adults in America today. Obesity is associated with an increased risk for several diseases such as, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, high blood cholesterol, heart disease, stroke, cancer, gallbladder diseases, asthma, osteoarthritis, depression, complications in pregnancy, and sleep apnea. Each year, obesity causes more than 300,000 deaths.

How can we fight this killer? The two main ways are eating a healthy diet, and getting enough exercise. Healthful food choices provide more nutrition, and fewer calories than fast food, and junk food. Most people know that fruits and vegetables are good for you. What most people don't know is that we should chose foods from all 5 of the food groups, and that fast food, and sweets are O.K. some of the time. The problems start to occur as people eat more, and more fast food, and junk foods, and eat less homemade meals and fresh foods. Instead of cooking a cheeseburger at home, they would prefer to go out to a fast food restaurant to eat. A typical fast food cheeseburger can contain as much as 520 calories, and 42% more fat than a home cooked cheeseburger made from lean ground beef, and at least 100 more calories. Making lower fat choices at fast food restaurants can help to avoid excessive calorie consumption. When you go to a restaurant to eat, they don't tell you that a normal serving size of food is about a half cup, or the size of the palm of your hand. Instead they bring you a plate with enough food to feed two, and sometimes three people. Most restaurants today publish nutritional pamphlets. Reading the nutritional pamphlets of the restaurant is a good way to find out how many calories are in the food before you eat it. Controlling what you eat can go a long way in the war against obesity.

The second way to fight obesity is exercise. Our bodies were not made to sit around all day. When we don't move around for hours at a time, we allow our bodies to become soft, and flabby. Our health is also negatively affected. Exercise can greatly improve our over all health, and it can also help to regulate some diseases. Studies show that people who exercise on a regular basis have lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, lower incidence of cardiovascular disease, less depression, better control of their diabetes, and of course better weight control. Most people say that the reason they don't exercise is that they don't have the time. Here are some ways to incorporate exercise into your daily routine: take the stairs instead of the elevator; do your chores, sweeping, mopping and other chores are a good way to get some exercise. Yard work, walking the dog, or going out dancing are also excellent ways to be more active. The USDA recommends physical activity for at least 30 minutes most days of the week. And about 60 minutes a day may be needed to prevent weight gain. If you have any concerns or questions you should check with your doctor.

The bottom line is, eating too much fast foods, and junk food, and not exercising can lead to obesity. Obesity is connected to diseases that kill people everyday. By eating a proper diet, Americans can become healthier individuals. By exercising regularly, they will lose weight, become more fit, and avoid numerous illnesses. But, if Americans continue to abuse their bodies, and disregard their health, they are, in essence committing suicide.

Kelli Casey is a student of nutrition, and heart health. She is also a website administrator, and a mother of 2.

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