American Obesity: A Consequence of Exploitation

We are a fat country. Americans are continuing to contribute to the rising rates of obesity. Still, even after knowing about the problematic disease, we choose to spend thousands every year on “weight loss solutions.” Weight loss pills, gym memberships, surgeries, expensive equipment, and personal trainers are encouraged now more than ever. People are constantly exposed to the algorithms and expectations of having a healthy lifestyle, where social media displays the enticing lifestyles of thin, active, and healthy celebrities. Taking advantage of this, weight loss programs conspire to addict us to an endless cycle of gaining and losing the same weight over and over again. The real solution is to eat healthier.

The lack of knowledge about diet contributes more significantly to the obesity epidemic in America than the lack of exercise. While physical activity is an important factor in maintaining a healthy weight, the overwhelming commonness of misinformation on nutrition pushed on us by exploiters who want our money plays a crucial role in the rising rates of obesity. 

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, “1 in 3 adults are overweight” and “more than 2 in 5 adults have obesity.” Obesity described by the World Health Organization is “a chronic complex disease defined by excessive fat deposits that can impair health.” Obesity is said to likely lead to higher risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancers, and bone health and reproduction issues. The diagnosis for obesity is done by dividing a person’s weight by their height to get their BMI, body mass index. Body mass index is a surrogate marker of fatness and additional measurements that help indicate whether or not a person has obesity.

The number one cause of this obesity epidemic is said to be the consumption of processed foods. Processed foods are a significant contributor to the obesity epidemic and it doesn’t help that these options are addictive, easily accessible, and cheaper in price. While this issue exists, it’s essential to consider the broader context, including lifestyle, socioeconomic status, and education about nutrition. 

A person’s food choices are often influenced by cultural, behavioral, environmental, and socioeconomic influences. Today, there is less concern of what Americans necessarily put into their mouths, but instead if you go to the gym, or participate in a physical activity or not. We are programmed to this lifestyle by societal costumes, influenced heavily by the media. It is normal to see people online participating in mukbangs, or food reviews. The common pattern in these videos however, is that the food being consumed is almost always fast food, or processed foods and excessive amounts of it. 

Processed foods today are all around Americans, everywhere we go. It is portrayed as something not necessarily healthy, but not completely bad for US either. Everyday we are met with ads, videos, images that promote processed foods, which subtly promotes obesity and unhealthy consumption. Based on the WebMD article, What Are Processed Foods, “Processed foods refers to any food that’s changed from its natural state. This can include food that was simply cut, washed, heated, pasteurized, canned, cooked, frozen, dried, dehydrated, mixed, or packaged. It also can include food that has added preservatives, nutrients, flavors, salts, sugars, or fats.” 

The cause of obesity goes back to a person’s insulin resistance and how well their body is able to control it. Insulin is a peptide hormone that is released in the body every time a person consumes food, according the Cleveland Clinic article, Insulin Resistance, “Insulin resistance is a complex condition in which your body does not respond as it should to insulin, a hormone your pancreas makes that’s essential for regulating blood sugar levels.” The American diet however, has no respect for insulin control and has neglected their bodies. The truth is society and world rulers want us in a cycle to exploit and control humans. The cycle of consuming unhealthy foods, gaining weight, wanting to lose it or become healthy, and then going to the gym and paying more money when the temporary results don’t last.

The popular, new culture, created by humans is to look good, and feel good. How is this attained? They tell you to get surgeries, go to the gym, take certain medications, or get on weight loss plans. America is very quick to look at the outer appearance to want to start making changes when they don’t meet the stereotypical expectation of a healthy lifestyle. Exercise is often the first recommendation for those looking to lose weight. Many are advised that the most effective strategy for rapid weight loss is the “calories in, calories out” approach. While experts typically advocate for incorporating some form of physical activity, the question remains: how should one go about it? According to the Weight Loss Resources article, What is Exercise?, exercise is “any movement that works your body at a greater intensity than your usual level of daily activity. Exercise raises your heart rate and works your muscles and is most commonly undertaken to achieve the aim of physical fitness.” 

These easy and simple approaches to fitness often provide only temporary solutions, addressing the symptoms rather than the underlying issues. A more effective way to tackle the obesity epidemic is to change the food industry and how we consume food. Embracing a diet that prioritizes whole, unprocessed foods, where what we eat is as close to its natural state as possible and offers a healthier, more sustainable solution. To do this we have to better understand what a whole foods diet entails. According to the Mayo Clinic article, Choose a whole-foods diet for a healthier you, “A whole-foods diet simply means choosing foods that are minimally processed. Think fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, oils, and whole grains. Meat and dairy are perfectly acceptable, but the idea is to choose those foods in moderation (a few times a week as opposed to every meal) and focus instead on fueling up with unprocessed plant foods for most of your meals.” 

In conclusion, we should start to think more and have a mind of our own. It is very easy to get drawn in and submit to the controls of the world. Addressing the obesity epidemic requires a comprehensive approach centered around improved dietary plans. We must limit our exposure to processed foods and prioritize whole, natural options that nourish our bodies. The human body thrives on natural nutrients, and it’s essential that we return to these foundational choices. Additionally, we should reduce the advertising of processed foods and raise awareness about their negative impacts on health. By making these changes, we can foster a healthier future for everyone.

References

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight World Health Organization

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-statistics/overweight-obesity#:~:text=Adults,-Age%2Dadjusted%20percentage&text=the%20above%20table-,Nearly%201%20in%203%20adults%20(30.7%25)%20are%20overweight.,obesity%20(including%20severe%20obesity).National Institute of Diabetes and digestive and Kidney Diseases

https://www.webmd.com/diet/what-are-processed-foods WebMD What Are Processed Foods?

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22206-insulin-resistance Cleveland Clinic Insulin Resistance

https://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/exercise/questions-answers/what-is-exercise.htm Weight Loss Resources, What is Exercise?

https://communityhealth.mayoclinic.org/featured-stories/whole-foods-diet-030421Mayo Clinic, Choose a whole-foods diet for a healthier you