Lord of the Flies Book Talk

Informative Story

Rising Obesity

Obesity in the U.S. has been steadily increasing, posing many dangers and health risks. Some even life threatening. More than 300,000 people die a year from poor diet and lack of exercise alone. In just the past three decades, childhood obesity has already more than doubled for preschool children aged 2-5 and adolescents, aged 12-19. The obesity rate has also more than tripled for children aged 6-11. Approximately, already 9 million children aged six and up are considered obese.

One problem that is behind the climbing rate of obesity might be the lack of exercise. 31% percent of Americans are getting adequate amounts exercise which is moderate exercise for 30 minutes 5 days a week. A high 40% of Americans are not exercising at all. The last 29% get active but they are not getting active enough to get the right amount exercise they require. Only 31% percent of Americans are getting the right amount of exercise while 69% of Americans are not

There are many, many risks that can come from a lack of a good diet and a lack of exercise. If you are obese you have a higher chance of developing type 2-diabetes. Being obese also puts you at risk for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, triglycerides, coronary artery disease, stroke, sleep apnea, and many others.

Physical risks are not the only things threatening you. Being obese can also carry mental stress and discomfort. People who are obese are often the target of disapproval and lectures from family members and friends and they are also the target of insults from strangers. Continuous insults and disapproval like this, is only enhanced by what the average society believes and will have, in some degree, perpetuated. It is the general belief among people that someone who is obese is simply too weak or simply too undisciplined to control themselves. Negative attitudes such as these can carry over to the work world where someone’s employer can deny you a promotion or deny you a job purely because of your weight.

Hearing what others say can change your view of yourself. People might even begin to perceive themselves in a negative light. People might grow self conscious about their appearance and their weight and might think of themselves as physically unattractive. All the negativity that someone generated within them and all the negativity that they receive from others will build inside them over time. All these negative experiences can lead these people to depression, high anxiety, low self-esteem, and even suicide.

Their self consciousness can begin to affect how they interact with others. Children who are obese are 63% more likely to be bullied than children of normal weight. They might feel that people are talking behind their backs, or making jokes or insults about their weight. They might even begin to resent going outside because they don’t want to be seen in public. In some situations they might even feel discriminated against because of their weight, such as when they are applying for a job. They even feel disrespected when they are treated by their physician.

The lack of a healthy lifestyle might cause you to miss out on things you want and things you won’t be able to do. A healthy life style can give you many things you might have craved. Firstly, and the most important, you will live longer. Some people might feel bad about their appearances. Exercising and eating healthy might give someone new self-esteem and satisfaction about their complexion. All this is very beneficial and very important to your health and is decreasing your risk of developing health risking diseases. Your physical health will also improve allowing you to do things that might have been impossible before. Your entire outlook on life can change and you will not feel the same overwhelming sense of self consciousness.

If you’re a person who feels like or knows that they are not receiving an adequate amount of exercise and know that they are not eating in a healthy way, should try to readjust their life. If you can’t lead a healthy life style for yourself, then think of all the others that you care about and do it for them.

Sources:

            http://thinforlife.med.nyu.edu/surgical-weight-loss/obesity/psychological-effects-obesity

            http://www.aolnews.com/2010/03/17/cdc-americans-lack-exercise-sleep-and-weight-control

            http://targetlaw.com/student-bullying-statistics-and-effects