For what’s criticized as a self-image-obsessed society, America is saturated with people suffering from obesity. For years, obesity has been a growing problem in our society and has even altered our ways of life and perceptions of our peers. As a result of recent technological developments, growing social networks and heightened peer pressure, American society has become more obsessed than ever with maintaining the perfect image, and yet Americans are experiencing an unprecedented rate of obesity.
Between the years 1994 and 2004 Americans collectively gained, according to the New Yorker, over a billion pounds–a clear indication of the epidemic infecting our generation and fostering the next one. One may wonder, what are the reasons for the growth of society’s collective waistline? Some blame genetics; others blame companies that market the fatty foods to young children. However, the main reason is clear: Americans eat too much.
The main problem is that people are willing to take shortcuts to get a meal on the table. Why bother going to the grocery store, washing and preparing all the ingredients and taking the time to cook a healthy meal when McDonald’s will hand you your food for a fraction of the price in less than ten minutes?
The problem with rationalizations such as this is that the people who make these choices on a daily basis–often parents–then pass on not just the happy meals to their children, but their ways of thinking, too.
“I think it is the responsibility of parents to feed their children healthy, home-cooked meals. Even though fast food is convenient parents should make sure their children only have it every once in awhile because it is so fattening and unhealthy,” senior Teresa Martusciello explained. Children that grow-up eating fast food regularly are more likely to continue to eat fast food in excessive amounts for the rest of their lives, as suggested in the article “15 Ways to Get Your Kids to Eat Better” found in Parents magazine.
Children who grow up with poor eating habits are also at risk for developing eating disorders, as research by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders proves, that can be detrimental to their health and are sometimes fatal. School nurse Mrs. Nolan also added that “students should ask themselves, ‘how does this benefit my body?’ as well as minimize portions instead of supersizing them.”
Even children who are given healthy meals develop these disorders because of the pressures of society and the media. “I think media definitely has a big effect on how people feel like they should look and what they should eat,” senior Andrew Giustino said.
However, technology has begun to shift to a more health-minded path with the creation of the iPod Shuffle, the Nike Runner app, and numerous exercise machines for home gyms and living rooms. Senior Brianna Saba, describing a smartphone app that she uses to assist in her workout and health regime, said, “The app is called MyFitnessPal and it tracks what food and how many calories you consume. It also takes into account how much exercise you perform each day and is designed to help keep you on track when losing weight.”
Although the technology is there and some have the determination to use it, the proportion of Americans eating more than what’s necessary and thus becoming obese seems to be increasing, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention studies, obesity among children and adolescents has nearly tripled since 1980, and that is why drastic action must be taken.
In order to alter the decisions of the future generation and prevent the cycle from continuing, we must start with the most influential factor: the parents. The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health published an article called “Parenthood — A Contributing Factor to Childhood Obesity.” The article states that a lack of exercise, consumption of fatty and unhealthy foods and inattention to a healthy diet, excessive lounging and television viewing and continuous snacking during daily activities are all modifiable factors which can be prevented by the swift discipline of a parent.
Parents must become accountable for providing children with and allowing them to eat unhealthy food and thus endangering their health. However, not all the blame can be tossed onto the parents for this one. Mrs. Nolan suggests that “students should educate themselves on eating choices by taking an extra health or nutrition class.” We are young adults and have begun driving, working and possibly cooking for ourselves. As young adults we have the ability to choose a small fry over a supersized fry, or a salad over a bacon cheeseburger. We must begin to take control of our bad habits now and change our ways; otherwise the cycle will only repeat.
We must alter the thinking from restricting young adults and children from certain foods, to introducing them to new and healthy foods. We must portray the message to both the parents and the children that there are alternatives to an unhealthy diet. Encourage good habits; do not simply discourage the bad ones.