What is the primary cause of the increase in obesity in the United States in the last 50 years?
346792
The simple answer is that we eat more and move less.  But why is that happening?\nAs someone else suggested, Fast Food Nation gives a wonderful profile on the rise of fast food in American and what changes have taken place at the same time that the author attributes to the fast food industry.\nBasically, in America, we have lots of food available and it's not very expensive.  Restaurants make it easy to super size--even non-fast food restaurants often offer a larger portion (like 16 oz steak rather than 10 or 12 oz steak) for only a small amount more.  Portion sizes in restaurants are much larger than they were 30 years ago.  Soda is the drink of choice--with 10 calories per sip, a couple of glasses have as much calories as a piece of cake (and the refills are FREE). And then we eat the cake too.  Schools now offer soda and junk food in vending machines in order to get promotional money from the companies placing the machines.  Physical education in schools has been scaled way back.\nBecause of the fear-based society we live in, mothers don't want their children playing outside where they can be snatched by child molesters so they stay inside and watch TV and play video games and eat junk food and learn to be inactive.  Kids don't walk to school anymore; they are driven both ways.  Buses stop at each driveway because kids don't/can't/won't walk to a central pick-up location.  When you are an inactive child, you grow up to be an inactive adult (spoken by one who knows).\nEverything has a drive-through--pharmacies, banks, restaurants (or they carry your food out to the car so you don't even have to walk to the door and back).  No one walks anywhere except those few people who walk for pleasure and exercise.\nPeople don't even walk their dogs anymore. They fence in the yard and let the animals run around.\nI could keep going, but you get the gist.
174153
I believe that Texas ranks in as having the highest ratio of obesity. Apparently their school lunches are all managed by soft drink and fast food companies too.
397268
In some cases, obesity. Some cases it's just inherited. Depends on the type of Diabetes.
150784
Despite what you have witnessed in other countries you may be comparing a small sample size relative to the entire population of the country you are visiting.  Americans clearly and statistically have the worst diet, are the most overweight and have the highest percentage of obese people in the world.  Ever been to Texas?\n\nThe progression is clear from decades past especially in young people which are a good representation of future health.\nhttp://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/hestats/overwght99.htm\n\nSorry my friend, but facts are facts and you can't refute them.
545389
In moderation no. It is like everything else, in moderation. Lots of things are bad for us in excess, even water. A little of a wide variety of foods everyday is fine.\nIt is only when people eat lots of a certain type of food that they strike trouble. A well balanced vegetarian diet is the answer to obesity, it is not brain surgery, just plain common sense. \nMeat eaters are the greatest at risk because meat is full of saturated fat, and they eat it every day. Hope that helps.
169659
I answered a question quite similar to this for someone else just a few days ago ... here is what I wrote ....\n\n\nObesity leads to diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, disk disease, heart disease, varicose veins, gall bladder problems, pancreatitis. It contributes to joint problems such as bad hips and knees. People who are obese lose muscle tone because they don't move much. Breathing problems are common, shortness of breath, as well as sleep apnea, which can be very serious, sometimes fatal. Obesity can lead to depression or a persistent sense of sadness and unhappiness. There is also research to suggest obesity increases risk of certain kinds of cancer.\n\nI don't think it actually affects intelligence or height, though disk disease can eventually make you shorter. However, obese people may be viewed by society as being less intelligent because people sometimes react that way to someone who is different.\n\nIf the person lost the weight his body could get back to normal in most ways. Certainly health would be much improved. However losing a lot of weight can lead ot lots of loose or excess skin in different areas of the body. \n\nI hope this helps.  Take care.
707875
I don't believe that genetics are the cause for "most" of the obesity problem.  Here's more information.  http://www.annecollins.com/lose_weight/weight-genetics.htm\n\nAnyway, both conditions are bad for your health.  I would say that anorexia is worse.  People can recover from obesity, although very difficult.  I have never seen a person who had anorexia not look like they are still on the verge of anorexia.  Once a stick, always a stick.
400477
yeah i would say its a high number, probably something like your guess of 65 or 70%. America has such a high population of obese people... its really sad, and very unhealthy.
363571
There are lots of theories, the last I heard was a genetic problem, there may be merit in some of the ideas but the reality is lack of activity and incorrect diet are the key causes for obesity and only hard work and proper diet will fix it.
1159474
more excuses from all who answered this question some people do have disorders however according to the CDC (center for disease Control) most obesity is a result of a lack exercise and poor eating habits.
451060
Mcdonalds\nBurger King\nKentucky Fried Chicken\nOreo Cookies\nWendy's\nBojangles(Fried Chicken)\nChips Ahoy chocolate chip cookies\nCookies\nDorito totilla chips\nIs your dissertation about Americans being obese??
919828
probably cause your fat
260233
No.\n\nType 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease, like some kinds of arthritis or lupus. It requires an inherited susceptibility (traced to certain kinds of HLA antigens), and a trigger. the trigger is usually infection from any of several things, commonly viruses. German measles is one, as are several members of the Coxsackie virus family. During such an infection, the immune system 'learns' to attack cells with certain surface markers, and beta cells have such markers. At least that's the current best idea of what ususally happens. The beta cells get killed (having the wrong markers) and that ends your internal insulin production. Food has nothing to do with it. \n\nType 2 diabetes is more complex. It is strongly inherited, but is also influenced by environment. Those carrying more weight than they should, and the elderly, are more likely to get it. Hence its older names: obesity-related and adult-onset diabetes. It has recently been discovered that fat tissue, especially fat tissue around the abdominal organs (but not on thighs or hips or chins or ...) produce several hormones, just like the endocrine glands. Some of those hormones affect other cells, and one of them makes them  more resistant to insulin. That is, when insulin is present, it's harder for those cells to take up glucose from the blood. This is insulin resistance and it's at the heart of Type 2 diabetes. Some can be treated with diet, exercise, and supervision; some require all that and oral medications as well; some require insulin, perhaps in addition to an oral medication. \n\nObiously, it's not only sugar which can cause fat like this. Overeating anything, perhaps especially fats, can cause weight gain. Ther's nothing special about weight gain from sugar as opposed to weight from the fat in meats. \nAnyone who eats enough to become a little thick here and there has increased their chance of getting Type 2. Lack of exercise seems to be significant as well. So, whether it's sugar or anything else that you eat too much of, you can increase your chance of getting Type 2. \n\nThe only direct effect of sugar is a speculative one. In the extreme pure sugar (or sugar in solution, like a soft drink) will go into the bloodstream very quickly. This will cause a rapid rise in blood glucose level, and perhaps to a high spike in that level. There is some speculation that too many cases of such rapid spikes causes damage to beta cells in the pancreas or to other cells, in such a way as to increase the chance of developing Type 2 diabetes. Thus far, there only suspicions along this line as an experimental study to test this prediction would be difficult to design and carry out. Not to mention expensive. No drug company will finance such a study as there is no prospect of a salable drug resulting. \n\nIt's probably best to avoid 'empty calories' in any case. The classic examples are soft drinks which are basically nothing but flavored sugar water. Check the nutrient label the next time you see a soft drink bottle.
750380
Summarizing each paragraph as a simple sentence:\n\nPeople in America are fatter today than they have ever been.\n\nPundits keep trying to tie this phenomenom to a ressurgence in historical interest in the reign of King Henry VIII, who was VERY fat, but just wanted to live life to the fullest.\n\nThe author doesn't believe in the Plantagenet/obesity connection.\n\nNeither should you.
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http://www.obesity.org/discrimination/employment.shtml\n\nThis site should have everything you need including related articles.\n\nGood Luck!
374642
it causes over weight problem.instant energy that is too much than what is required.so avoid junk food as much as possible
327397
Watching ANYTHING on TV while eating unhealthy food leads to weight gain. Americans simply don't move enough and it's too easy to overeat.