Seventy ­eight million adults already have this disease. Almost thirteen million children under the age of twenty have contracted it. What’s worse is that it is contagious—anyone can be diagnosed with this horrid thing. Some are genetically predisposed to it while others are infected by it through manipulative practices. Nonetheless, this infection can not be eliminated. However, it can be prevented. The journey to healthiness may seem long and dreary but it is obtainable.
The growing epidemic of obesity needs to be controlled by individuals living an overall healthy lifestyle as well as having an increased involvement from food industries in order to help consumers make better food choices.
Obesity is a major health concern that many are aware of; however, many do not know how much of a concern it actually is. To understand the significance of the problem, identifying whether or not an individual is classified as overweight or obese is the first step. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an adult who has a body mass index (BMI) between 25.0 and 29.9 is considered overweight, while an adult with a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese. The overweight/obese population makes up 65% of Americans, 35.1% of whom are considered obese. Obesity is correlated with multiple medical conditions such as type
2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure and even some types of cancers. Not only that, but the increase in the amount of obese people has grown 13% since 2010. If dramatic actions are not taken soon, these numbers will only keep increasing. Based on these facts, writers from The Washington Times suggest that today’s children may be the first generation to live shorter lives than their predecessors. How this issue needs to be addressed is the overlaying question. The most common solution people think of when addressing weight issues is exercise; however, many are uninformed as to exactly how much exercise is needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Because of this unawareness, quality physical education is crucial to battling childhood obesity. Every elementary school child needs at least 150 minutes per week of physical education, and middle and high school students need 225 minutes per week. In order to achieve this amount of exercise, Congress is already developing a solution to increase daily exercise through the Fitness Integrated with Teaching (FIT) Kids Act. This act would require schools to report how much exercise is given as well as the kinds of exercise they provide to their students.
In addition, the FIT Kids Act provides grants to give schools more opportunities to increase physical activity and learning. By informing the younger generations on the necessity of daily exercise, we can ensure that our kids will lead healthy and active lives. Not only will this solution help to combat childhood obesity but children and adolescents alike will also be more focused in the classroom, get better sleep, and have a lower life­ long risk of developing chronic diseases. Since obesity can affect everyone, equal attention must be paid to adults. More than half of U.S. adults don’t engage in regular physical activity. Fitting in just thirty minutes of exercise a day can lower the risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and various other problems.
To help people avoid sedentary lifestyles, creating and increasing community settings can encourage more walking and bicycling. Instead of taking the elevator, taking the stairs every once in a while can be beneficial. Research has shown that some people may live up to two additional hours for every hour of moderate physical activity. Simple daily activities like these can improve the overall health of a person— the reason why exercise is essential to anyone, regardless of age.
In order to increase the efficiency of exercising, diet must also be addressed so that an individual can gain the healthy lifestyle they so desire. A diet doesn't simply mean to eat less and inflict hunger on one’s self. A balanced diet is one that provides an adequate intake of energy and nutrients for maintenance of the body and therefore good health. An ideal human diet contains fat, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, water and fiber all in correct proportions.
Because each person is unique, these proportions vary due to differences in metabolic rates and levels of activity. In order to find the appropriate dieting habits, it is recommended to consult a certified dietitian for help. They will help you develop a nutrition program that specifically meets your needs— whether that’s a health and fitness goal, weight loss, health optimization, or medical condition treatment. In addition, a dietitian can help with motivation to reach that healthy lifestyle while providing a safe approach to it.
Because the problem of obesity is multidimensional, the solution will require a collaborative approach involving the cooperation of the food industry as well as the government.
The consumer is an important player in the solution to obesity because the consumer makes healthy lifestyle choices at the individual level. The food industry is committed to providing the consumer with healthy food options and reliable nutrition information.
Restaurants, for example, can play a leading role in fighting obesity by putting nutrition information on menus, cooking with healthier ingredients and offering more reasonable portion sizes. Governments have been supporting these efforts— Four states and at least eleven local districts have passed legislation requiring restaurants to include calorie counts on menus, and the measure has been introduced in twenty ­six more states and in Congress.
As a result of the industry requirements to give out nutritional facts, the food industry helps the consumer make healthy food choices. In general, food manufacturers are sensitive to consumer tastes and expectations. Nevertheless, food industries should have obligations to giving clear, consistent, and honest product claims, as well as working with retailers and restaurants to offer consumers relevant information about the products they purchase. This would help to promote nutrition education at all levels, enhancing nutritional awareness for consumers.
Food industries could also encourage healthy decision making by creating new products that meet individual nutritional needs. This can be done by reconstructing existing products with healthier ingredients, and providing controlled portion sizes. This benefits both parties as it allows consumers to make healthier selections, and food industries can give back more to the community without lowering consumer expectations.
Despite the blame put on food industries for high calorie foods with low nutritional values, their involvement in helping consumers make healthier choices can help solve the issue of high obesity rates. These actions, accompanied with a higher knowledge of exercise and dietetics, are necessary to live a healthy lifestyle. Much of the American population is already infected with this disease; it is crucial that these individuals, with the help of others, can educate themselves to make better life choices.