197.6 pounds. That is the average weight of a healthy American male. However, obesity rates are rising rapidly among the states. These rising rates are leading to more and more obesity-related deaths.
“It is concerning that about 21 percent of US children are considered obese. About 36 percent of adults are considered obese,” Brian Williams said.
There has been a steady increase in obesity in children because of a rise in technological advancements. Children grow up almost addicted to technology, resulting in a lazy mentality. When kids grow up invested in technology, they have no interest in exercise or physical activity, causing obesity in children to become more and more apparent.
Another alarming reason for the rise in child obesity is parents. If a child is born into a family that has issues with weight, the child is more likely to develop the same habits as their role models.
Children often take after their parents or guardians, and if they acquire these bad habits from their role models, they are more likely to stick with them not only in their childhood but also into their adult years.
300,000 deaths per year occur because of obesity, and the number keeps rising. American health needs to be put under control, or the death rates will only continue to increase. Obesity can be controlled with the right help and environment, but it can only be eliminated if people believe they can lose weight.
There are over 1,200 different weight loss programs across the US. These programs are effective for some time but must be more helpful in the long run. According to an article in the National Library of Medicine, over 90 percent of people who lose a significant amount of weight regain the weight.
People cannot keep this weight off mainly because their metabolism slows down. When someone’s metabolism slows down, their appetite grows, resulting in a constant feeling of hunger.
People then find themselves consuming an even more significant amount of food than before they lost the weight, leading to a regain in the pounds they have already dropped.
A way to avoid these problems is to find the right foods to eat. After losing weight and the hunger kicks in, people eat the wrong types of food. They binge on snacks and junk foods, causing the weight to come back. The right foods to eat after losing excessive weight are foods with high iron, including red meats and fish.
“The food industry now focuses on making foods people like,” Tim Kiefer said.” They sell things that taste good and that you’ll eat a lot of. People then have a hard time controlling eating certain things. This is the best thing for making money, but not for the people eating the food.”
Red meats include beef, lamb, pork and venison. While these foods are considered healthy, the same results may occur if eaten in more significant amounts. People can only lose weight if they acquire the right eating habits. This means people need to learn to eat not only the right foods but also the right proportions.
This means eating less junk food and more good foods overall.
A lower metabolism also means a reduction in energy levels. People who lose weight often feel better, yet lazier. This causes people to fall back into old habits. Exercise is needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle and weight. However, this does not mean extensive exercise, but even a short walk or run. This helps build back a person’s metabolism.
Public school systems are also partially to blame for the rise in obesity rates. In some schools, kids and teens are no longer required to take weight training or physical activity classes. These classes are arguably one of the most important classes to take because of their many benefits.
Not only do they help students stay in shape, but they also teach students good habits and keep people motivated. They promote a healthy lifestyle and can also help people who struggle with body image. Schools need to work on a plan to make some sort of physical education mandatory within their programs.
“We are heading down an interesting path, and it is going to need to be addressed in public education and people outside lives in general,” Kiefer said.
American citizens need to acknowledge the path we are headed down and strive to change how we decide to live. By accomplishing this, it will positively affect the lives of people all throughout the states. This creates a more positive and healthy lifestyle for people of all ages.
