Our country has been having problems with obesity and has been changing many of American lives. At least 2.8 million adults die each year as a result of being overweight or obese, not counting those with type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancer cases that attribute to being overweight. Our nation is getting bigger and obesity day by day is getting more popular which is definitely not good for our healths. One out of three adults are overweight or obese in The United States the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and it is the nation’s top agency that works to prevent, and control disease which includes obesity. How to determine, overweight and obesity in adults? Its ranges are det
ermined by using one’s weight and height to calculate a number called the "body mass index" (BMI). A (BMI) of 27 or greater is classified as overweight and unhealthy. BMI is used to determine body fat based on an individual’s height and weight (Dietz W).
Obesity in children has also been growing especially in the United States. One out of three children is either overweight or obese childhood obesity can have harmful effects on the body in so many ways as well as in adults. Obese children are more likely to have health concerns including: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease. Children are also at risk of obtaining type 2 diabetes. This is common with those that are relatively overweight or obese because of high sugar intake. Furthermore obese children and adolescents are at a greater risk of social and psychological problems, such as discrimination and bullying by peers which carry poor self-esteem, and continue into adulthood. And those children and adolescents are more likely to stay obese when they are adults, and it even becomes more severe.
Michelle Obama has spoken as part of the Partnership for a Healthier America's Building a Healthier Future Summit; it was an event focusing on childhood obesity. She was the honorary chair of the nonprofit organization, which also works with Wal-Mart, the YMCA, and the U.S. Olympic Committee. This organization is trying to get rid of the statistics for obese children in our nation. For example some statistics: One in three kids in the United States is obese, and another third is overweight.
Michelle has also been in talks with media companies to think about their product placement, like the popular TV characters and what they are eating and drinking. Research shows that children are considerably more likely to demand food based on what they watch on their preferred programs (Angela Haupt ). Michelle Obama has been known to be working with Disney on raising awareness to that channel. I personally have seen her in commercials with a TV character talking about eating healthy she also talks about the need to exercise. She is quite convincing when she speaks to lot of kids, and can associate that she is an authority considering that she is the president’s wife. And Disney for instance is cutting all advertisements for unhealthy foods from its children's marketing which ought to make a difference. Since advertisements are huge and billions of dollars are spent on it each year.
Fast food industries are highly processed foods that contain too much sodium, sugar and preservatives; these ingredients help with a speedy preparation and are meant to be served immediately. When speed counts the most which it does in fast food restaurants, the cooks don’t take the time to prep and cook foods that take long or even include fresh vegetables or fruit. Fast food does mean convenience and these foods are often cheaper