Obesity
Uploaded by Pinkbirthdaycake on Dec 02, 2004
Obesity
Introduction
In America, being fat and having it be acknowledged by others, it is very shameful. It’s like getting caught having sex in your neighbor’s swimming pool by your parents. Or getting caught by security trying to steal a bra from K-mart when you’re nine. It’s like living your worst nightmare. ‘Fatso’ ‘Huge’ there’s nothing more embarrassing then being called a name which is meant to be an insult which is true about you. 61 % of Americans are overweight. About 30% of those percentages are obese. Most of the time, it’s not factually the added pounds and the disabilities it brings that are the predicament in the obese persons mentality. It is the social and physical humiliation that their disorder has brought along.
Definition/Description of problem
Being obese means having enough fat to pose a medical risk. People can be defined as obese if they have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or more. The 30 stands for the percentage of body fat you have. For example if your BMI is twenty-seven, then your body is probably made up of approximately twenty-seven percent body fat. Having a high BMI puts you at risk for certain diseases and cancers linked to obesity.
Another sign of obesity is hypertension. Also known as high blood pressure, obesity is a cause of hypertension. Hypertension occurs in obese people when so much fat clogs the arteries that little blood can get through the arteries, which leads to pressure of the blood building up in the arteries, which could possibly lead to a bursting of the artery which could lead to fatality.
History
The large amount of obese people has increased drastically over the past few years causing what doctors call the obesity epidemic. (See available chart courtesy of CDC) An event to promote active lifestyles to prevent obesity is National PE day which is May 1st. Another event to promote health and prevent obesity is the opening of Cascade Middle School’s new fitness gym.
Causes and Effects of Problem
There are many causes of obesity. Some people are obese because they overeat. Sometimes, when people are under stress they eat more than their body needs. Food is like a way to get away from it all.
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