Effects of Overconsumption and Extreme Consumerism

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In recent decades, overweight population in US has risen to unprecedented levels. According to 2010 census by Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 69.2% of adults age 20 and above are considered overweight or obese. This is two thirds of the population (CDC). Obesity is often linked to overconsumption. Many studies conclude that high rates of obesity in the modern society result from the behavioral model created by the food industry of eating cheapest, but most profitable foods. These foods are high in calorie count and most often are unhealthy, and, thus, are major contributors to the rising levels of overweight population (CDC). The initial management of overweight and obesity is lifestyle intervention, which is a combination of diet, exercise, and behavioral modification. The major goal of behavioral modification is to help patients make long-term changes in their eating habits by monitoring and modifying their food intake (amount and quality), as well as controlling the stimuli in the environment that trigger such eating behaviors (Bray).

Solutions must be researched and implemented before the problem of increasing rates of obesity becomes an epidemic. This research will try to convey the reader by including studies and similar methods used by the government to modify consumers’ habits through behavioral science. In order to fight obesity, overconsumption of unhealthy foods should be limited. One strategy to overcome overconsumption with the goal of reducing the risks of obesity is an implementation of high taxes on high calorie unhealthy foods such as snacks and sodas.

Price changes affect demand for various foods. According to the economic theory, consumption of a certain product falls as the price of that item rises...

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...on. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 10/26/2011. Web. 01/30/2014.

Boonn, Ann. “Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.” http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/research/factsheets/pdf/0146.pdf 10/11/2012. Web. 1/16/2014

Powell LM, Chaloupka FJ. Food prices and obesity: evidence and policy implications for taxes and subsidies. Milbank Q. March 2009. Web. 03/04/2014 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19298422/

Ogden, Cynthia. Lamb, Molly. Carroll, Margaret. Flegal, Katherine. Obesity and Socioeconomic Status in Children and Adolescents: United States, 2005-2008. NCHS Data Brief No.51. 12/2010. PDF. 01/16/2014 http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db51.pdf

Bray, George. Behavioral strategies in the treatment of obesity. UpToDate. 04/18/2013. Web. 03/03/2014

Kudin, Aleksandra. Personal Interview. Burlington, MA 01/16/2014

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