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There always seems to be something in the news about how there is currently an obesity crisis, and how worrying this is, but most ordinary obese people are not necessarily concerned about the implications of their weight for society. Indeed, they are probably more worried about their own personal experiences of being classed as fat'. Not only do overweight and obese individuals face greater health risks, as their heart and other organs are placed under greater strain than a person of a healthy weight, they also have to contend with their own body image issues and the negative perceptions surrounding people classed as obese. The media seems to have made the issue of obesity solely about weight, when really it ought to be about getting people to adopt healthier lifestyles.

America is not the only Western nation facing problems with obesity, but with about two-thirds of the population classed as overweight or obese it is clearly a world leader. America pioneered the production of automobiles and unleashed fast food on to the world, and thus helped sow the seeds of its own obesity problem. Individuals have become ever-more reliant on their cars, preferring to drive everywhere rather than walk or cycle, and in their spare time they prefer to watch television or spend time at the computer rather than exercise.

Work and family life have become more unpredictable and less structured, so that individuals often end up working irregular hours, which means they do not always eat at set times, preferring to grab a bite to eat whenever they can. That usually means they turn to junk or fast food which is ready in minutes and which tastes good. It is also usually highly calorific and full of salt and fat. Portion sizes have also become larger over the years so that now individuals regard what used to be considered a large portion to be small. This has clearly had an impact on people's waistlines as they consume more calories than they perhaps even realise.

A noticeable feature of obesity in America
is that it predominantly strikes those who live in poverty-stricken neighbourhoods. Often these communities are saturated with fast food restaurants that are all selling tasty, fattening foods at seemingly low prices. Individuals who live in these communities are perhaps not as educated about the health risks of eating too much junk food. Perhaps a lack of job security and the fact that these individuals are in poorly paid jobs increases the likelihood that they will choose to spend their money on junk food, since it something they enjoy and it is relatively cheap. Plus, if they work long hours the last thing they will want to do when they get home is cook.

It would appear that not only are there increasing numbers of people falling into the obese category, more and more people are starting to find themselves classed as morbidly obese. Obesity seems to have become normalised in American society, which only helps obesity to spread further because individuals perceive themselves as normal, and do not necessarily think about the health risks of obesity, but whether they fit in with their peers. It is this aspect of the obesity epidemic which makes it particularly difficult to get through to people about the severity of obesity, and to make them want to change their lifestyles.

Learn more about this author, Michelle Wilkinson.
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