“America has a pandemic obesity problem. Although a widespread overweight condition is present in all industrial countries, the United States now has the highest occurrence, with estimates of more than one half of its population currently overweight or obese” (Tillotson, 2004, p. 617). The trend of obesity in America first came to my attention when the book and movie Supersize Me came out a few years back. Though it was not a book or movie that I actually read I did listen to the pundits as they discussed the substance of the author and film makers’ story. It caused me to pause the next time I had a craving for a Big Mac and some greasy McDonald’s fries. However, the pause was short lived and I like many other Americans have since gone on to gain more weight and eat more junk food with less exercise. Recently I listened in shock as the airline industry announced a plan to possibly consider charging passengers by their individual weight rather than just the single seat they purchased.
When I was a young child we had television and later in my adolescences the emergence of video games came with Atari. I distinctly remember being told by my mother to turn off the television and go outside and play. I also recall being forced to come back inside when the Sun began to set and Mom called my brothers and me in for dinner. About 20 years ago, and some years after my Mom called me in for dinner, I recall babysitting for my nephews and when I told them to turn off the TV and go outside they simply elected to go in their rooms and play computer games. Both of my nephews have struggled with obesity and this struggle continues today. They are in my opinion examples of a growing trend among America’s youth. “A constellation of social changes, including the rise in the use of pre-prepared and fast food as well as soft drinks, the decline in everyday activity such as walking to school, the extensive availability of computers and videogames, and increased amount of television viewing, has been linked to the increase in obesity among children and youth” (Belsky, Bradley, Friedman, Houts, Nader, O’Brien, & Susman, 2007, p.1469).
In 2001 the U.S surgeon general David Satcher claimed that obesity was a major problem and could lead to as many at 300,000 deaths per year and even cause more preventable disease than cigarette smoking(Oliver, 2007). Although the numbers seem to be larger than can actually be possible, it would seem that obesity has increased health risk to Americans. Part of this problem lies in Americans choice of a more sedentary life style and part reflects the growing pattern of eating food prepared outside the home. Fast food was not the only item noted to cause obesity to increase; the authors also drew parallels to the prepared foods bought and then eaten at home after being heated. “Currently, nearly half of Americans’ total annual food purchases are for food that is fully prepared and consumed either outside the home or brought to the home for consumption”(Tillotson, 2004, p. 618).In addition to selecting poor diet the articles also noted that physical activity had notably declined in America. “The decline in physical activity levels of young children seems to be combined with a high prevalence of obesity and overweight and a reduction in the number of young people wanting to take part in organized sport”(Al-Nakeeb, Duncan, Lyons, & Woodfield, 2007, p. 2). As a coach I have noticed a reduction in the number of kids willing to even try out for a team. My first year as a high school coach we created a middle school team to allow more participation among students interested in playing, just a few short years later we were forced to cut the junior varsity squad because the numbers of willing participants had dwindled to such a small group. When I asked students why they elected to no longer participate the responses ranged from not having enough time to not having any interest in sports; regardless of the reason it was clear that athletics were no longer a priority.
One study looked at the link between community parks and the activity level of residents residing within one mile. What was concluded was that the amount of activity depended on whether there were organized sporting events or whether it was merely an open park with any number of sedentary activities such as chess or picnic tables(Cohen, Golinelli, Lurie, McKenzie, Sehgal, & Williamson, 2007). Increased physical activity was a key in keeping me healthy and in shape as a young person and an adult. It appeared in the articles I researched that this aspect of life still holds true but that fewer children are electing to become active. “The increasingly robust evidence that emerges from recent research findings indicate that physical activity is an important preventive measure for avoiding unhealthy weight gain”(Al-Nakeeb, et. al, 2007, p. 3).
One really does not need to read lengthy studies completed on the obesity epidemic to find evidence that American children and adults are growing to an unhealthy weight. All that would be required would be a look around in the mall or the local restaurant to see that our waist bands have expanded beyond a healthy measure. The question at hand would be how to deal with the problem of obesity. “Considering the prevalence of the overweight condition today in the United States and its predicted future social and economic costs, obesity can no longer be considered as just the individual’s problem, but rather should be seen as a broad population problem requiring attention by government”(Tillotson, 2004, P. 638). It appears that once again Americans may find that their salvation will come at the hands of the federal government or can we for once take responsibility for our own actions and shake off the excess pounds?
Al-Nakeeb, Y., Duncan, J., Lyons, M., & Woodfield, L. (2007). Body fatness and physicalActivity levels of young children. Annals of Human Biology, 34, 1, p. 1-12.
Belsky, J., Bradley, R., Friedman, S., Houts, R., Nader, P., O’Brien, M., & Susman, E. (2007).The ecology of childhood overweight: a 12-year longitudinal analysis. International Journal of Obesity, 31, p. 1469-1478.
Cohen, D., Golinelli, D., Lurie, N., McKenzie, T., Sehgal, A., & Williamson, S. (2007). Contribution of Public Parks to Physical Activity. American Journal of Public Health, 97, 3, p. 509-514.
Oliver, E. (2007). Fat politics: the real story behind America’s obesity epidemic. Journal ofHealth Politics, Policy and Law, 32, 1, p. 132-138.
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