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Problems Causing Obesity
Obesity is a disorder that human beings suffer from due to excess storage of fat in their body system. It is a problem that many are undergoing, and is caused by foods that are high in fat. When fatty foods are made easily available to people, the more they accumulate in their bodies and cause a high probability of suffering from obesity. Although this may be so, we cannot entirely put the blame on fatty foods ignoring the fact that there are other more concrete reasons causing obesity. They include lacking self-awareness, psychological stress and attitude on individual responsibility (Kelly, 2006). If these factors are also explained and understood, they might change the perspective of pointing the cause of obesity at only one direction.
Obesity in the United States is mainly blamed on the government because it is known to offer subsidies to farmers that plant ingredients used in the processing of fatty foods, making them sell at a cheaper price than other healthy foods. As a result, consumers will choose to buy food that is cheaper to enable them save cost. This reason looks convincing but ignores other issues causing obesity. For example, people who buy these products may not be aware of the health risks associated with obesity and instead live in ignorance, and are not accepting of personal blame due to becoming overweight (Kelly, 2006). One may think that they are saving costs by depending on fast food, but fail to remember that if suffering from obesity, life will demand more expenses through hospital bills.
It is also said to be easier to prepare processed food because it takes lesser time to cook and prepare before consumption. Healthy foods such as vegetables have to be washed and cut before being cooked while fatty foods like sausages are cooked instantly without being washed and are ready within a short time. People opt for the option that will take less of their time due to their busy schedules but this does not qualify as a good reason to being overweight. If one forms an optimistic attitude towards responsibility of maintaining healthy weight, he should be willing to devote some of the time on his schedule to work towards that goal (Kelly, 2006). Many people, especially those who come from work in the evening, may find it challenging to devote some time to physical activity or prepare healthy meals.
Most would prefer to relax from a long day of work and order fast food that tastes much better and is less time consuming in preparation. If one is fully aware of the benefits of maintaining a healthy weight including reducing the risk of suffering from deadly diseases such as diabetes or heart disease, he will do everything in his power to get it done. People should also understand their relationship with different kinds of food in order to know if the direction of their eating habits requires change or not.
There are also other ways of discouraging obesity even if fatty foods are made easily available and tempting to the consumers. One of these ways is known as behavior therapy and involves forming strategies that require being in control when faced with such a situation (Kelly, 2006). For example, if one goes to a food court that has many sections including fast food and vegetarian, and sees people queuing hungrily on the fast food area, he should condition himself to buy healthy food and therefore queue in the vegetarian section. If one is watching a television program that encourages consumption of unhealthy foods, he should switch to another channel that is does not do so but is still entertaining.
Obesity has many causes and more will continue to be revealed in the future as research is being carried out. However, a large part is determined by individual responsibility. This is evident from the fact that one is accountable for choosing to eat unhealthily and failing to exercise, or choosing to eat healthily and engaging in exercise. Indeed, as much as the major blame is directed towards the American government, the individual decisions made about one’s lifestyle should be fully considered.
Reference
Kelly, E. B. (2006). Obesity. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.
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