Why do people gain weight? This important question has many easy
and not-so-easy answers. According to recent statistics, over one-third
of the United States population is obese. An even higher percentage of
the population is overweight, without being considered obese.
The American population has been gaining weight at an alarming pace over the past few decades. The rate of obesity in the United States has already surpassed epidemic proportions, and there is no sign that it will slow
or decline.x x
For most people, weight gain or loss follows a pretty simple formula. It is easy to understand and is similar in concept to budgeting money. For example, when you make a budget, if you spend more money than you make, you are losing money. This is similar to losing weight. When you spend more calories than you take in, you lose weight. Conversely, when you spend less money than you take in, you save money and when you spend less calories than you eat, you gain weight.
Obesity has become a major problem for one-third of the American population because as a nation, we have stopped being active and tend to overeat. Of course, there are a few people who have other health issues that directly affect their weight. This argument may not apply to them. But it applies to the majority of the population who is overweight.
Obesity is a health problem that carries risks for the entire country and not just those who are obese. Consider the costs of health care for example. You might be an individual of normal weight, but your health insurance premiums will continue to rise as the country struggles to pay for the healthcare costs of those who are obese. There are plenty of costs and additional health problems that arise because of a person's obesity. This may include heart disease, diabetes and a host of other issues. Who pays for the costs taking care of obese individuals? Everyone does!
The answers to the obesity epidemic may not be clear. But it should be clear to everyone that if something does not happen to stop and reverse the epidemic, the health of our nation as a whole will deteriorate very very quickly.
The American population has been gaining weight at an alarming pace over the past few decades. The rate of obesity in the United States has already surpassed epidemic proportions, and there is no sign that it will slow
or decline.x x
For most people, weight gain or loss follows a pretty simple formula. It is easy to understand and is similar in concept to budgeting money. For example, when you make a budget, if you spend more money than you make, you are losing money. This is similar to losing weight. When you spend more calories than you take in, you lose weight. Conversely, when you spend less money than you take in, you save money and when you spend less calories than you eat, you gain weight.
Obesity has become a major problem for one-third of the American population because as a nation, we have stopped being active and tend to overeat. Of course, there are a few people who have other health issues that directly affect their weight. This argument may not apply to them. But it applies to the majority of the population who is overweight.
x
x
If
it is really that easy to explain, why do people gain weight? Why are
so many Americans obese and why are the answers to solving the obesity
epidemic so difficult to find?Obesity is a health problem that carries risks for the entire country and not just those who are obese. Consider the costs of health care for example. You might be an individual of normal weight, but your health insurance premiums will continue to rise as the country struggles to pay for the healthcare costs of those who are obese. There are plenty of costs and additional health problems that arise because of a person's obesity. This may include heart disease, diabetes and a host of other issues. Who pays for the costs taking care of obese individuals? Everyone does!
The answers to the obesity epidemic may not be clear. But it should be clear to everyone that if something does not happen to stop and reverse the epidemic, the health of our nation as a whole will deteriorate very very quickly.
Chad is a writer/blogger and a teacher of English as a foreign
language. He also loves to travel and focus on health related issues. He
enjoys motivating and helping others with weight loss and wellness
goals as well as helping others to make travel, living or retirement
plans in other countries. You can follow him on Twitter @HealthyTreks or
@MexiGuide and read his HealthyTreks blog.