Up to 60 percent of Americans are overweight or obese, according to the University of Virginia Health System. If you have a body mass index higher than 30 you're medically classified as obese.
Many of the reasons for obesity in America match those in other developed counties. However, several factors combine to make obesity a particular problem for the USA.
Sedentary Lifestyles
Like many Western nations, Americans generally spend lots of leisure time watching TV or using the computer. Similarly, many people have jobs that require them to sit down for most of the day. This type of inactivity means you're burning fewer calories and run the risk of gaining weight. And time spent watching TV means less time exercising. As technology makes it easier for people to avoid physical exercise and perform most of their work from their desk, obesity levels may rise in line with these changes.
Food Choices
For many Americans fast food is easier to find than healthier alternatives. The low cost of frozen TV dinners and convenience food leads many families to choose these items for main meals. The problem is that many of these options contain large amounts of calories. And it's not just food to blame for rising obesity. The average American drinks around 50 gallons of sugary soda every year, according to the California Center for Public Health Advocacy. Other eating trends that contribute to obesity levels include skipping breakfast and having large meals late in the evening.
Portion Sizes
Many restaurants and fast food joints in America have developed a culture of super size me portions. This often leads people to eat larger portions than they need. The average restaurant meal portions in the USA are now two to three times larger than in the 1980s, according to the NHLBI. That means that a day's food consisting of a bagel and coffee for breakfast, a pizza and soda lunch and a chicken Caesar salad and soda for dinner could include 1,595 more calories today compared to 20 years ago. These larger portions contribute to the increase in obesity figures.
Environment
A person's environment can influence their behavior. For example, you may not want to exercise outdoors if you have no clean local park or sports center nearby. If you go to the mall you may find it easier to buy a hamburger than an apple. You just need to choose one of America's 300,000 fast food restaurants. That's one per thousand people. In addition to the prevalence of junk food, Americans are also exposed to lots of advertising for snacks, beer and fast food. These cultural and environmental factors help lead people into making poor nutritional and health choices.
References
- University of Virginia Health System: Obesity in America
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: What Causes Overweight and Obesity?
- Mayo Clinic: Obesity Causes
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: Larger Portion Sizes Contribute to U.S. Obesity Problem
- University of Massachusetts: Happy Healthy Families
- California Center for Public Health Advocacy: Sugar Sweetened Beverages: Extra Sugar, Extra Calories, and Extra Weight
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