There is growing epidemic that is occurring in midst of people living longer lives in U.S.A. and other places around the world. It is clearly visible, known, but not readily acknowledged and would require Herculean efforts by many to stop this increasing phenomenon. You can see it around you at shopping malls, fast-food restaurants, public places and maybe right in your own home. Well, if you guessed it, you are conscious of this problem. Yes, it's the increasing weight gain seen in majority or adult U.S. population Can it be true that we are growing as nation by the waistline and not by economical activities and are not the envy of the world when weight is front and center?. On the contrary, America's obsession with health and fitness seems paradoxical to foreigners when they come to U.S.A. and see the many overweight or obese people in this country. It's definitely not what they see in their own countries, namely, majority of adults and rising number of children and teenagers with unhealthy weights. The growth in number of overweight or obese people is not random observation or finding, but has been progressive occurring for the past 50 years since real data has been collected on adult population by the private sector and U.S. government.
The epidemiological data obtained by Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. from 1950's and various government agencies such as U.S.D.A., Social Security Administration, Medicare, National Institutes of Health among others for providing services and actuary purposes reveal the plain facts about observed weight gain problem facing U.S.A. The actual information indicates that U.S.A. population has been steadily gaining weight since 1950's due to many reasons, but the veracity of the facts is quite stark and evident of major health crisis. As many past and present health epidemics that has affected many people, being overweight or obese is present among people of all walks of life. However, it affects certain minorities and people of lower socio-economical standing more than other groups of people. Some basic causes that are more evident of societal structure in U.S.A. effecting this ongoing epidemic is the lack of adequate nutritional or well being knowledge or ignorance of it, diminished access to healthcare (Obamacare will hinder this access), lack of monetary resources to properly deal with medical issues that can arise from being overweight or obese, and certain socio-economical conditions that do not favor the priorities of staying fit and healthy. For example, an adult living in an inner city in USA at or near poverty level who is struggling for daily existence, the long-term goals of being fit and active are not their primary concerns; they are focused on survival and not taking steps towards leading healthy lifestyle. The inequitable socio-economical factors partly contribute to disparities in rates of obesity.
The major reasons for the large of number of people afflicted with being overweight and obese are controlled by individual's behavior and their responses to external cues like family traditions, culture, availability of foods or types of foods, daily living habits, personality traits, and marketing of foods that can influence person's food choices. Despite the complexities of this epidemic, there are proven, practical, beneficial, and evidence-based solutions that can help those individuals interested in losing weight get the relief they are seeking for themselves and their families. It is possible to have weight loss through health living and enjoy the full benefits of life; just see for yourself.
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