Argument EssayDuring the time it took me to write this essay I have found many things that made me think about the way I eat and what i do to keep myself in shape. I have never been one to count calories and will never be that kind of person, but this essay has made me realize the severe illness that obesity has had on the people of the world and especially the children! I am grateful for the opportunity I had to learn about his topic and write this paper. Obesity is a problem in the Untied States and through out the world. Please don't under estimate the growing problem of obesity.
|
Tyler Newland
English 1010/Argument Essay
Lisa Packer
16 November 2015
Growing Problem in the World
In the world as of November 16, 2015 there are just over seven billion people that live on the earth. Of those seven billion there are 326 million people that live in the United States. In the world there is a growing problem and a problem very relevant in the United States. What is the problem that is on the rise you may ask? We see problems like murder. Statistics show that there are 1.6 million deaths every year due to violence. (”Statistics on violence”) There is rape. According to the Rape Treatment Center of Santa Monica one in every six women experience either an attempted rape or a completed rape. (“facts and quotes”) These along with many other problems we face are very serious and life changing, among these serious crimes and problems we face in this world is obesity.
What is obesity? Obesity is “the condition of being very fat or overweight”. Obesity occurs when you take in more calories than your body burns (Staff). As you continue eating more than your body can burn the excess calories are stored as fat and over time can lead to being obese. In the article “Teachers’ Understanding of Students’ Attitudes and Values Toward Physical Activity in Physical Education Dropout Rates and Adolescent Obesity” by Emilio Landolfi he informs us that “Child and youth obesity rates are outrageously high and continue to increase at a frightening rate. “…. Approximately one third of American adolescents are overweight, and the International Journal of Paediatric Obesity predicts that this number will rise to 50% among North American teens by 2020” (“Home”). With each and every one of us having kids, will have kids, or have relatives in this age range these statistics are a little nerve wracking.
What causes obesity then? There are many out there that will say to you that it is the cause of fast food restaurants. In the article written in the New York Times named “Don’t blame the eater” by David Zinczenko he argues “…..[teenagers have] crossed under the golden arches to a likely fate of lifetime obesity.” (Zinckzenko) Although too much fast food can cause obesity, is it really the cause of obesity? I argue that it isn’t. I believe that there is much more to obesity than just eating fast food. There are a few different things I believe underlie obesity and fast food consumption.
First is genetics. In the study “Screening for genetic variants in BDNF that
contribute to childhood obesity” by D. Zegers et. Al. they found that the protein BDNF plays a role in food regulation and the control of body weight. After many experiments and analyzing they have made this connection, “….results show evidence for variants within the BDNF gene to be associated with an increased susceptibility for the development of eating disorders and obesity (25,26)”(Zegers). In other words there is a variation of the protein that has been found to increase the likelihood of obesity.
Second is poverty. When making choices about where to eat do we choose the expensive healthy restaurant, or do you pick the cheap McDonalds, Wendy’s, Taco Bell, etc.? According to Alliance for a healthier generation funded by the American Heart Association and the Clinton Foundation out of the ten states with the highest obesity rates, nine of them are ranked among the nation’s poorest.
Last is a lack of education. When I was in my teens and my mom or dad was gone I had no idea how to cook or even what to cook with the ingredients that we have in the house. By default I would hop in my car and head to the nearest Burger King and order off of the dollar menu because you get more food that way. How many of us do the same thing today? How many of our kids do not know how to cook or even what to cook with the food in the house? Is this the fast foods fault for our lack of knowledge? How many of us know what our body needs each day when it comes to vitamins, minerals, carbs, proteins, sodium, etc.? I know that before I began trying to lose weight and get in shape that I didn’t. This leads to an increase problem when we eat out. If we knew would we get the large fries? Would you get the large drink if you knew that you were already over your intake of calories for the day? I would argue that most of us when we go to the fast food restaurants order what we want without thought or knowledge of where our daily intake is, or what we are putting into our body.
Each of us live in this world where there is an increase in a deadly problem of obesity. There are many people that are affected by this disease and you and I know at least one person that is suffering from this growing epidemic. While many people argue that fast food is the cause of obesity in the world we would do well to remember that there are many underlying causes to the excessive intake of food. I suggest we all take better care of our bodies and become more active in the prevention of obesity in our kids and relatives.
Work Cited
"Facts & Quotes." Statistics | Rape Treatment Center. 2015. Web. 15 Nov. 2015.
"Home." Home. 2015. Web. 17 Nov. 2015. <https://www.healthiergeneration.org/>.
Staff, Mayo. "Obesity." Causes. 2015. Web. 17 Nov. 2015.
"Statistics on Violence & Peace." The Peace Alliance. 2015. Web. 15 Nov. 2015.
Zegers, D., et al. "Screening For Genetic Variants In BDNF That Contribute To Childhood Obesity." Pediatric Obesity 9.1 (2014): 36-42 7p. CINAHL Complete. Web. 16 Nov. 2015.
Zinczenko, David. "Don't Blame the Eater." The New York Times. The New York Times, 22 Nov. 2002. Web. 15 Nov. 2015.
English 1010/Argument Essay
Lisa Packer
16 November 2015
Growing Problem in the World
In the world as of November 16, 2015 there are just over seven billion people that live on the earth. Of those seven billion there are 326 million people that live in the United States. In the world there is a growing problem and a problem very relevant in the United States. What is the problem that is on the rise you may ask? We see problems like murder. Statistics show that there are 1.6 million deaths every year due to violence. (”Statistics on violence”) There is rape. According to the Rape Treatment Center of Santa Monica one in every six women experience either an attempted rape or a completed rape. (“facts and quotes”) These along with many other problems we face are very serious and life changing, among these serious crimes and problems we face in this world is obesity.
What is obesity? Obesity is “the condition of being very fat or overweight”. Obesity occurs when you take in more calories than your body burns (Staff). As you continue eating more than your body can burn the excess calories are stored as fat and over time can lead to being obese. In the article “Teachers’ Understanding of Students’ Attitudes and Values Toward Physical Activity in Physical Education Dropout Rates and Adolescent Obesity” by Emilio Landolfi he informs us that “Child and youth obesity rates are outrageously high and continue to increase at a frightening rate. “…. Approximately one third of American adolescents are overweight, and the International Journal of Paediatric Obesity predicts that this number will rise to 50% among North American teens by 2020” (“Home”). With each and every one of us having kids, will have kids, or have relatives in this age range these statistics are a little nerve wracking.
What causes obesity then? There are many out there that will say to you that it is the cause of fast food restaurants. In the article written in the New York Times named “Don’t blame the eater” by David Zinczenko he argues “…..[teenagers have] crossed under the golden arches to a likely fate of lifetime obesity.” (Zinckzenko) Although too much fast food can cause obesity, is it really the cause of obesity? I argue that it isn’t. I believe that there is much more to obesity than just eating fast food. There are a few different things I believe underlie obesity and fast food consumption.
First is genetics. In the study “Screening for genetic variants in BDNF that
contribute to childhood obesity” by D. Zegers et. Al. they found that the protein BDNF plays a role in food regulation and the control of body weight. After many experiments and analyzing they have made this connection, “….results show evidence for variants within the BDNF gene to be associated with an increased susceptibility for the development of eating disorders and obesity (25,26)”(Zegers). In other words there is a variation of the protein that has been found to increase the likelihood of obesity.
Second is poverty. When making choices about where to eat do we choose the expensive healthy restaurant, or do you pick the cheap McDonalds, Wendy’s, Taco Bell, etc.? According to Alliance for a healthier generation funded by the American Heart Association and the Clinton Foundation out of the ten states with the highest obesity rates, nine of them are ranked among the nation’s poorest.
Last is a lack of education. When I was in my teens and my mom or dad was gone I had no idea how to cook or even what to cook with the ingredients that we have in the house. By default I would hop in my car and head to the nearest Burger King and order off of the dollar menu because you get more food that way. How many of us do the same thing today? How many of our kids do not know how to cook or even what to cook with the food in the house? Is this the fast foods fault for our lack of knowledge? How many of us know what our body needs each day when it comes to vitamins, minerals, carbs, proteins, sodium, etc.? I know that before I began trying to lose weight and get in shape that I didn’t. This leads to an increase problem when we eat out. If we knew would we get the large fries? Would you get the large drink if you knew that you were already over your intake of calories for the day? I would argue that most of us when we go to the fast food restaurants order what we want without thought or knowledge of where our daily intake is, or what we are putting into our body.
Each of us live in this world where there is an increase in a deadly problem of obesity. There are many people that are affected by this disease and you and I know at least one person that is suffering from this growing epidemic. While many people argue that fast food is the cause of obesity in the world we would do well to remember that there are many underlying causes to the excessive intake of food. I suggest we all take better care of our bodies and become more active in the prevention of obesity in our kids and relatives.
Work Cited
"Facts & Quotes." Statistics | Rape Treatment Center. 2015. Web. 15 Nov. 2015.
"Home." Home. 2015. Web. 17 Nov. 2015. <https://www.healthiergeneration.org/>.
Staff, Mayo. "Obesity." Causes. 2015. Web. 17 Nov. 2015.
"Statistics on Violence & Peace." The Peace Alliance. 2015. Web. 15 Nov. 2015.
Zegers, D., et al. "Screening For Genetic Variants In BDNF That Contribute To Childhood Obesity." Pediatric Obesity 9.1 (2014): 36-42 7p. CINAHL Complete. Web. 16 Nov. 2015.
Zinczenko, David. "Don't Blame the Eater." The New York Times. The New York Times, 22 Nov. 2002. Web. 15 Nov. 2015.