Ethical Issues Essay #3

Knowledge Without Discipline

America's obesity rate is ever increasing. Thirty-three percent of adults and an increasing percentage of children are now labeled obese. What can be done about this epidemic? Is it even a problem?

Health officials have repeatedly announced the harmful effects of obesity. The possible effects are as follows: "a shortened life span, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, depression, osteoarthritis, impaired immune response, impaired respiratory function, infections, giving birth to children with defects, breast cancer, cancers of the esophagus and gastric cardia, liver disease, pain, lower back pain, colorectal cancer, endometrial cancer, renal cell cancer, carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic venous insufficiency, daytime sleepiness, deep vein thrombosis, end stage renal disease, gallbladder disease, gout, infertility, heat disorders, pancreatitis, sleep apnea, strokes, obstetric and gynecologic complications, surgical complications, urinary stress incontinence, abdominal hernias, acanthosis nigricans, endocrine abnormalities, chronic hypoxia and hypercapnia, dermatological effects, elephantitis, gastroesophageal reflux, heel spurs, hirsutism, lower extremity edema, mammegaly, large anterior abdominal wall masses, abdominal paniculitis with frequent panniculitis, impeding walking, odors, clothing difficulties, musculoskeletal disease, prostate cancer, pseudo tumor cerebri, and sliding hiatil hernia" (American Obesity Association). Now, that I have scared you, I believe it has become obvious that obesity is a problem.

As a society, we are paying more and more into the healthcare system, thus more and more into the insurance agencies. Obesity does nothing but to increase those already-sky-rocketing prices because their weight issues bring more problems that hospitals are needed for. With a steadily increase in the numbers of obese individuals in America, the worse it is going to get. Will we die as a nation of lard? Or will we find some way to counteract this terrible problem?

America could help this problem. Although, the desire should not be to decrease the obesity rate to 0%, as there will always be those individuals who don't mind the heavier stature and the risks that come along with it. More parks and recreational events could be made and the communities could ban together to form a healthier lifestyle. For instance, children need to play everyday. They need to be outside and experience more exercise than just once a week in phys. ed. Right from the start, children need to learn to exercise, making it a habit, just as brushing their teeth.

Foods are the next step. Parents need to limit their children's intake. Sodas should be replaced by water, high-calorie/salty/sugary foods should be replaced with fruits and veggies. Parents need to be role models by introducing the healthy food groups and by staying away from those fast food chains. It is the parents' job to give their children the information they have learned on how to stay healthy and it is their job to enforce it. Does that mean that the kids will never have a bite of chocolate or drink a soda? No.

Losing weight has been a main goal for most in the U.S. Why not act on it? We know what is good for us and what isn't but the temptation seems to be too much. I believe it's because we have become addicted. The only way to control obesity is to fight this. Just as those with alcohol and drug addiction we need to, as a country, admit that we have this problem, then act on it. Even if it's slowly, we need to break away from our addiction and remember that the generations after us are going to learn from us. We need to focus in on them and make sure they don't get this addiction.

Works-Cited
American Obesity Association. "Obesity."