Americans' Addiciton to Weight Loss

1104 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Causes of obesity and their effects

Americans, today, face an enormous issue concerning health: eating. People around the world have found a healthy way of eating, but many Americans cannot seem to eat a proper diet. Between the media, the false studies, and the large portion distortion, numerous Americans have a false view on how to eat healthy. Countless people are even willing to take diet pills and supplements just to rid themselves of unwanted weight and to avoid exercise. The solution to being overweight is basic, balanced eating and exercise. Dieting may be successful in weight loss, but it can lead to lower self-esteem, dehydration, bad eating habits, and deprivation of the necessary energy resources required. Healthy dieting requires a proper perspective, which includes exercise. A major problem in weight gain is caused by distorted views on portion size. Serving size today is three times as large as the recommended portion size. When people see an 8 oz. soda pop for $1 and a 32 oz. for $1.50, they often desire the largest size possible. According to Cheryl Havens, a registered dietitian in Oregon, “Every time [we] eat out, portions of food are three times more than what we should be eating - yet this is training us that this portion is the right amount.” (Havens). People often feel the need to upgrade their size, simply because everyone else buys the largest available size, distorting the view of proper proportions. Today’s young generation is susceptible to the need to diet because of distorted portion size and prevalence of fast food. A survey conducted by NEDA found that 91% of people on a college campus had tried dieting and 22% diet often. They also found that children between 1st and 3rd grade already want to be thinner and half of them have tried d... ... middle of paper ... ...fter all." Maclean's 1 Oct. 2012: 59. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 11 Apr. 2014.Whitney, Conner. Middelmann. "A High-Protein, Low-Carb Diet Is Healthier than the Standard Western Diet." Is the Western Diet Making the World Sick? Ed. Susan C. Hunnicutt. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. At Issue. Rpt. from "Low-carb, high-protein eating may curb cancer risk." Psychology Today (23 June 2011).Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 9 Apr. 2014. Sommerfeld, Julia. "Dieting Prolongs the Adult Lifespan." Can Diets Be Harmful? Ed. Ron Lankford. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2007. At Issue. Rpt. from "The Challenge of a Lifetime: Aging Well—Slashing Calories: Can It Really Lengthen Your Life?" Seattle Times 12 Nov. 2003: A1+. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 21 Apr. 2014. “Statistics on Dieting and Eating Disorders”. Montenido.com. Monte Nido. 2011. Web. 6 May 2014.

Show More
Related

  • Problems with Obesity in America

    603 Words  | 2 Pages

    Having to eat so much is problem and the authors have great ideas to help prevent over eating. Americans around the world need to stop eating so much because they play as a role model to the youth and young adolescents. Healthy eating is the most beneficial despite how it sometimes taste.

    Read More

  • Obesity In Michael Moss's Escape From The Western Diet

    1217 Words  | 3 Pages

    American health, specifically our obesity epidemic, has grown into a trending media topic. A quick Google search will bring up thousands of results containing a multitude of opinions and suggested solutions to our nation’s weight gain, authored by anyone ranging from expert food scientists to common, concerned citizens. Amongst the sea of public opinion on obesity, you can find two articles: Escape from the Western Diet by Michael Pollan and The Extraordinary Science of Addictive Junk Food by Michael Moss. Each article presents a different view on where the blame lies in this public health crisis and what we should do to amend the issue. Pollan’s attempt to provide an explanation pales in comparison to Moss’s reasonable discussion and viable

    Read More

  • Portion Distortion Persuasive Speech

    806 Words  | 2 Pages

    This dramatic quote from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare states the appalling: we are getting fatter and fatter every day. One of the main reasons for this is the giant increase in portion sizes, or “portion distortion”.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Michael Pollan's Escape From The Western Diet

    1159 Words  | 3 Pages

    As the Western world experiences increasing occurrences of certain diseases, society is focusing not only on finding the source of this phenomena but also on finding a solution to the problem. In his essay “Escape from the Western Diet”, Michael Pollan places the blame on the Western diet, arguing that people need only to change their eating habits in order to prevent many chronic diseases. While the author makes a compelling argument, his usage of logical fallacies, his questionable credibility, and his apparent bias weaken his point; nonetheless, I agree with his overall surmise that the western diet should be improved.

    Read More

  • rough draft

    1267 Words  | 3 Pages

    While growing up we learn that the best way to stay healthy and look great is through proper dieting and regular exercise. As we get older and feel the pressure of obtaining perfect looks, the sensationalism of fad dieting can seem like a dream come true. With the desire of a tiny waist plaguing America, it can be difficult to decide between healthy dieting an exercise, or extreme fad diets promising fast results. When choosing which method will work best for you can be stressful, it is important to think about what is really best for your body. Each form of dieting has different long term results, can affect your overall health, and can have an effect on the rest of your appearance.

    Read More

  • Mary Maxfield Food As Thought Analysis

    1035 Words  | 3 Pages

    Western diet causes many diseases; increases people’s medical need for supplements and vitamins. However one writer disagrees with him and suggests “Eat foods that are less processed” (Denis Burkitt) which is easy to say but hard to apply on. Future more Pollen’s purpose of writing this article was to show how bad the effects of eating Western dieting can be, and to introduce a way to escape and in order to create a healthier country. Pollan also mentions the fact that livestock is being raised on a Western diet too, which means they are raised genetically too which means nothing is healthy like it used to be. In order to strengthen his statement he shows the percent of income spent on food in countries where the diseases percent is smaller to prove indeed “Western diet” is unhealthy, this matters a lot because currently most of the people living in this country are suffering from chronic diseases caused by wrong diet. Michael

    Read More

  • Obesity in America

    1106 Words  | 3 Pages

    Obesity in America is a very serious problem affecting many Americans currently and is a problem that continues to grow each year. “Over the past 40 years, the prevalence of obesity has more than doubled in the United States” (Wimalawansa). This issue is known to many but believed not be an issue to care much about but this is not true. Obesity in America affects everyone regardless if they are obese or not. In order to resolve the problem, we can slaughter all the adults that are currently obese in America.

    Read More

  • Obesity in America

    1216 Words  | 3 Pages

    Obesity in the United States continues growing alarmingly. Approximately 66 % of adults and 33 % of children and teenagers in the US are overweight. Obesity is the result of fat accumulated over time due to the lack of a balanced diet and exercise. An adult with a BMI (body mass index) higher than thirty percent is considered obese (Whitney & Rolfes, 2011, pg. 271).

    Read More

  • Childhood Obesity

    1465 Words  | 3 Pages

    Overeating plays an enormous role in today’s obesity epidemic. Most Americans do not know or understand proper proportion sizes their bodies should intake (Schoenstadt).

    Read More

  • Climate Change In Australia

    1013 Words  | 3 Pages

    philosaphy. ED.J.Baird Callicott and robert Fdrodeman usa, 2009, 458-463. opposing view points in context. web.12 feb.2014

    Read More

  • An Analysis Of Michael Pollan's Escape From The Western Diet

    2499 Words  | 5 Pages

    Pollan believes that Americans rely on nutrition science, the study of individual nutrients like carbohydrates, fats, and antioxidants, to fix the Western diet because it is the best source that exists. However, scientists have developed conflicting theories that confuse people to conclude as to how the Western diet causes disease, such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Pollan disagrees with any type theory and instead blames the food and health industries who take advantage of new theories but do not to fix the problem of the Western diet. In turn, not only does he suggest people spending more time and money on better food choices, but he also proposes many tips to eat better, as well as a rule that will allow Americans climb out of the Western diet: Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants (Pollan,

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Obesity

    744 Words  | 2 Pages

    2. Obesity dramatically increased in the 70’s due to a number of factors. After World War 2, lawmakers, big business and labor leaders, along with many ordinary Americans put mass consumption at the center of their plans for a successful post-war nation. The availability of frozen dinners and a variety and surplus of different foods skyrocketed. In 1977, the US dietary guidelines changed drastically, promoting our diets as mainly carbohydrate based. Over the years, the sizes of certain foods and our portions have blown up. Twenty years ago, an average bagel was 3 inches in diameter and only 140 calories. Today, the size of the average bagel has doubled, now 6 inches in diameter and over 350 calories. The health problems that stem from being overweight go way beyond the ones we usually hear about, like diabetes and heart disease. Being overweight can also affect a person's joints, breathing, sleep, mood, and energy levels. In the U.S. 68.5% of adults are overweight or obese, 34.9% falling under the obese category and 31.8% of children and adolescents are overweight or obese with 16.9% being obese (Overweight and Obesity in the U.S.). Figuratively and literarily, the obesity rate is a growing problem. The total economic cost of overweight and obese persons in the United States and Canada caused by medical costs, excess mortality and disability is approximately $300 billion per year. $80 billion of this portion is due to overweight, and approximately $220 billion is due to obesity. Approximately 90 percent of the total $300 billon comes from the United States. The Trust for America's Healt...

    Read More

  • Harriet Hall Food Myths Summary

    141 Words  | 1 Pages

    In “Food Myths: What Science Knows (and Does Not Know) About Diet and Nutrition,” Harriet Hall differentiates between the myths and the reality of food and dieting, and answers the question of what food people should eat. She dispels myths with compelling results from scientific research, and incorporates an evolutionary stand point to explain how humans are “remarkably adaptable” when it comes to food. She also exposes the dietary industry and establishes the truth behind diets; they are basically a method to make people “tolerate a lower calorie intake.” More than anything, Hall makes it a point to clarify that no food is neither good or bad, in fact, different diets work for different people, but the bottom line is, the best plan to follow

    Read More

  • Schools Can Reduce Childhood Obesity

    2217 Words  | 5 Pages

    Childhood obesity is a health problem that is becoming increasingly prevalent in society’s youth. For a number of years, children across the nation have become accustomed to occasionally participating in physical activities and regularly snacking on sugary treats. In result of these tendencies, approximately one third of American children are currently overweight or obese (Goodwin). These grim statistics effectively represent all the lack of adult interference, in regards to health, has done to the youth of America. The habits of over consuming foods and under participating in physical activities are all too common in the children of today. Children cannot solve this issue alone, though. These young people need to essentially be given the opportunities to make positive health decisions and learn about good, nutritional values.

    Read More

  • Obesity and How to Solve it

    1160 Words  | 3 Pages

    One way the population of America can overcome the issue of obesity is by simply eating healthier. Further explained, people can start making healthier decisions on what they decide to eat. An example would be choosing to eat an apple over a bowl of ice cream. This is often easier said than done. Sugars and sodium counts are very high inside the foods that can only satisfy a sweet tooth. The ingestion of carbohydrates, saturated fat, and trans fat are very easy to overlook. The food pyramid is a great visual of what people should be eating daily in order to maintain a healthful way of life. Whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and protein should become the main focus at every meal. Another way to eat healthier is to follow the suggested serving size by eating smaller portions. By law it is required for food-producing companies to place a label on their products with a listing of the serving size and ...

    Read More

More about Americans' Addiciton to Weight Loss

Open Document