BODY MASS INDEX - Assignment Example

Body Mass Index BODY MASS INDEX Introduction The obesity dilemma in America is getting worse. The last few decades have seen an increase in the number of people being diagnosed with obesity. It is estimated that two-thirds of Americans are overweight. What is alarming about obesity is the rate at which people are becoming obese. The following is an investigation into the real reasons why the American society is becoming obese (Watson & Wu, 1996). Any American can attest to the fact that there is increased food availability all over the country.

Anywhere you go people are having snacks or having something to drink. Food is readily available at any time; however, what makes it dangerous to consume this food is because most of it is processed. It is this type of food that is found in vending machines, fast food restaurants, and snack shops that are high in sugar, fat, and calories. More and more Americans are eating out rather than consuming home meals that have fewer calories. The above explanation makes the number one reason for obesity (Ruskin & Schor, 2005).

There is also the fact that poor neighborhoods do not have access to high-end grocery stores that sell vegetables and other healthy foods. Residents of Philadelphia, for example, did not have a local grocery shop until one was put in place through the help of the local government. The lack of access to healthy food forces Americans to consume from snack stores, fast food restaurants and vending machines making it even harder to fight obesity (Ruskin & Schor, 2005). The lack of physical activity by many Americans can also contribute to the high number of obesity cases.

Most Americans own cars; they drive to work and come back from work the same way. When they get to their homes, they relax and watch TV spending the whole day without any physical exercise. The prevalence of obesity can be attributed to this because most people consume more calories than they burn in their daily activities. A study of the American schools revealed that many learning institutions revealed the following. Many learning institutions do not have any form of physical education in their curriculum.

The foods consumed at school are not checked for caloric intake at all. When young people and even adults do not burn most of the calories they consume they accumulate it in the form of fat. Most workplaces nowadays involve sitting down and working on a screen meaning very little physical activity (Ruskin & Schor, 2005). BMI is not a tool for diagnosis or check for illness but is an indicator on weight issue. My BMI falls at approximately 27.1. As indicated by the BMI ratio I am ranked as overweight.

BMI is related to a variety of diseases that include diabetes, cardiovascular disease, increased blood pressure and even hyperlipidemia. A normal BMI falls at an average of 18.5-24.9 with people falling in this category being termed as healthy. The group that falls in this range is less likely to suffer from chronic diseases that result from excessive body weight (Watson & Wu, 1996).Conclusion The American lifestyle makes it hard to have a healthy BMI. The factors described in the essay constitute the social life aspect of most Americans.

The demands of daily life and the economic capability of most people hinder consumption of healthy foods. Chronic illnesses may result from obesity and contribute to death at young ages.References Ruskin, G., & Schor, J. (2005). Junk Food Nation. (Cover story). Nation, 281(6), 15-17.Watson, T., & Wu, C. (1996). Are you too fat? (Cover story). U.S. News & World Report, 120(1), 52.