Asher Streater
Comp II
Professor Hammett
7 March 2025
The Epidemic of Obesity:
42.4% of adults are considered obese, marking the condition of obesity as a major cause of preventable casualty throughout the U.S. Obesity contributes to negative conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and over 12 other debilitating conditions(Overweight and Obesity Statistics). Without the epidemic of obesity being halted it has been predicted to rise to an over 60% obesity rate for both genders by the year 2050. The solution to obesity is simple, however the sedentary lifestyle of Americans has found the solution sore of implementation in many facets of life.
To first find a solution to obesity we first must understand what obesity is. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases obesity is considered any individual who has a body mass index, or BMI of 30 or greater. BMI is discovered by the individual's weight in kilograms divided by the height in meters squared, taking into account age. It is important to note that obesity is separate from being considered medically, “overweight.” Obesity is notably 10 higher according to BMI than being overweight. The National Library of Medicine also states: “Around 55% of obese children go on to be obese in adolescence, around 80% of obese adolescents will still be obese in adulthood and around 70% will be obese over age 30”(Simmonds, M et al.). This epidemic finds itself disproportionately affecting low-income communities resulting in “food deserts” with limits to fresh, and inexpensive produce. These food deserts also find themselves lacking safe space for exercise resulting in a systematic inequality with obesity being the result of sedentary lifestyles.
It is clear that obesity plagues not just adults but also children, but what is the solution? Sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy diet contribute heavily to weight especially when introducing technology finding easier and “lazier” ways to finish tasks which unintentionally contributed to Americans health in the past. The solution is simple. Balance between caloric intake and the resting metabolic rate. Paired with exercise it is medically concrete that fat will be lost, and muscle will be gained. Outside of outliers in conditions regarding the prevalence of obesity this is the solution to most of the weight problems in America. While the answer is simple the application is not quite the same. With many barriers to exercise, challenges become prevalent such as time, equipment, and even money. There have been many solutions proposed such as, baking physical exercise into education, and promotion of fitness through avenues such as running, biking, or lifting with friends and family, and even changing prices of foods that contribute to unhealthy lifestyles. With many solutions obesity finds itself in the middle of the battle for the health and wellbeing of Americans.
A comprehensive approach to the epidemic of obesity would contribute greatly to its solution. Public health campaigns resulting in the broadening of community impact could see a greater emphasis on the 5-2-1-0 rule. Doernbecher Children’s Hospital further goes on to clarify that the 5-2-1-0 rule is 5 or more servings of fruit and vegetables per day, 2 hours of screen time or less per day, 1 hour or more of physical activity per day, and 0 sugar sweetened beverages per day(Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.). This is a simple, marketable solution to the giant of obesity. The implementation of this rule into education would find students developing lifelong habits translating to positive future health throughout adulthood.
Working out has shown to reduce all of the over 16 debilitating health conditions arising from obesity. In spite of this Americans find themselves avoiding physical exercise for the largest reason, time. While this case can be made as an excuse for obesity it is prevalent to point out per a CDC study reviewed in 2024 that: “Teenagers ages 15–17 (55.0%) were more likely than those ages 12–14 (45.6%) to have 4 hours or more of daily screen time”(Zablotsky, Arockiaraj, Haile). This removes the excuse for lack of time showing that adults are wasting over 40% of their time awake glued to a screen. While it is easier to market exercise it would be detrimental to society if the battle against screen time was not waged as well.
Another solution to obesity lies heavily in the food we consume as Americans. The labeling for such food remains important as it is detrimental to Americans to not know what they are fueling their body with. The National Library of Medicine notes that in early 2014 there were changes to the display of the nutrition facts on the back of food and drinks, seeing the emphasis placed on serving size, total calories, and clarity in regards to sugar content. This reform of policy puts the health of Americans over the greed of the companies producing food. While this was a step in the right direction it is imperative that more steps are taken in regards to policy and funding towards the regulation of food labeling, and consumption. “In 2014, Mexico implemented a tax of one Mexican peso per liter on sugar-sweetened beverages(SSB) as a public health policy to tackle the high prevalence of overweight and obesity, which reached 35% of children and teenagers and 71% for adults. One year after the tax implementation, evaluation studies showed reductions in taxed beverage purchases by 4% in rural areas and 6.3% in both urban areas and at the country level.” (J.C. Salgado Hernandez, S. W. Ng, ad M.A. Colchero, 2023) This evidence further supports the claim that action, if taken correctly in regards to taxes on unhealthy food or drink, results in less consumption of unhealthy food or drinks. Although it has not been long enough to show the overall effects of this legislative change it is heavily considered by many to be a large step in the right direction for the positive health of the citizens of Mexico.
Food deserts being addressed through programs such as SNAP(Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) would see the incentivization of fresh produce, making sure that healthy food options are made available regardless of location throughout the U.S. Many sources show that neighborhoods with access to resources such as parks, bike lanes, and recreational facilities report higher rates of happiness as well as lower rates of obesity. The implementation of additional resources to areas struggling with obesity could also see the introduction of added healthcare and nutritional guidance. This approach highlights the importance of equity, acknowledging that the fight against obesity is a community wide battle that must be taken seriously and addressed urgently.
The epidemic of obesity remains a multifaceted crisis demanding attention and solution. By addressing obesity at its core via educational adaptation, policy change, and adjustment to resource accessibility, society can manage the giant of obesity and its negative effects. The health of Americans needs to be placed at the forefront of priorities as the minds and bodies of our future, and present Americans depend on it. The health and well being of the nation is reliant on the immediate efforts combating obesity and the sedentary lifestyle that comes along with it.
Works Cited
N;, Simmonds M;Llewellyn A;Owen CG;Woolacott. “Predicting Adult Obesity from Childhood Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Obesity Reviews : An Official Journal of the International Association for the
Study of Obesity, U.S. National Library of Medicine, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26696565/. Accessed 7 May 2025.
“Overweight & Obesity Statistics - Niddk.” National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health- statistics/overweight-obesity. Accessed 7 Mar. 2025.
Mitchell, Nia S et al. “Obesity: overview of an epidemic.” The Psychiatric clinics of North America vol. 34,4 (2011): 717- 32. doi:10.1016/j.psc.2011.08.005
“Health Risks of Overweight & Obesity - Niddk.” National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight- management/adult-overweight-obesity/health-risks. Accessed 7 Mar. 2025.
N. Simmonds, M. Llewellyn, A. Owen, CG. Woolacott. “Predicting Adult Obesity from Childhood Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Obesity Reviews : An Official Journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity, U.S. National Library of Medicine, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26696565/. Accessed 7 Mar. 2025.
“Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.” OHSU, www.ohsu.edu/doernbecher/healthy-lifestyles-5-2-1-0-rule. Accessed 7 Mar. 2025.
Sharma, Ashish, et al. “Exercise for Mental Health.” Primary Care Companion to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2006, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1470658/.
Dumoitier, Alice, et al. “A Review of Nutrition Labeling and Food Choice in the United States.” Obesity Science & Practice, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 14 Nov. 2019, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6934427/.
Zablotsky B, Arockiaraj B, Haile G, Ng AE. Daily screen time among teenagers: United States, July 2021–December 2023. NCHS Data Brief, no 513. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2024. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc/168509.
Salgado Hernández, J C et al. “Changes in sugar-sweetened beverage purchases across the price distribution after the implementation of a tax in Mexico: a before-and-after analysis.” BMC public health vol. 23,1 265. 7 Feb. 2023, doi:10.1186/s12889-023-15041-y
