The Main Causes of Obesity in America

America; also tagged the greatest country in the western world, appears to have fallen behind in overall obesity rates, dubbing itself as the “Most Obese Country in the World.” With obesity being the leading cause of diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease, as well as playing a significant impact on a person’s likelihood of having a heart attack and stroke, it would be reasonable to think that obesity rates are decreasing over time. However, quite the opposite is true. Before people can take the initiative to solve the growing health issue, they first have to understand the causes behind obesity. Such a diverse problem within American society can be due to the individual’s genetics, socioeconomic status, and general misinformation that is present within the whole society.

According to the Obesity Medicine Association, there have been over 50 genes discovered to relate to obesity, which factors into between 40-70% of obesity cases in America. These genes contribute to obesity on a molecular level by promoting food intake, producing fat cells, stimulating appetite, and promoting energy expenditure. One of the most commonly found genes is known as MC4R, and when bound to an alpha-melanocyte hormone, it increases a person’s appetite. There are various other genes involved in obesity such as PPARG, which increases the development of fatty tissue, and FTO, which promotes food intake.

When people have one or more of these genes in DNA, they’re more likely to have increased hunger. In turn, this reduces a person’s ability to control themselves when eating, resulting in increased calorie intake. Certain genes, such as PPARG, also make a person have an increased tendency to be sedentary and store excess body fat. It’s no doubt that genetics makes a person more susceptible to obesity, and socioeconomic status appears to facilitate people’s gene expression.

When others think about socioeconomics and obesity, they might think about the greater food availability within the upper-class, thus increasing the caloric intake of upper-class citizens and increasing obesity. However, despite what common sense may say, scientific research begs to differ. In fact, people of a lower socioeconomic status have shown a greater population of obese citizens while people that hold a higher socioeconomic status have lower obesity rates.

The scientists who conducted the study theorized that a person’s social status was a key factor in lifestyle. For example, a lower-income family may watch a lot of television, go to sporting events, and shop quite often. “Jobs demand less physical activity, and leisure time for many is often spent in front of a television or computer screen”.

According to the Journal of Obesity and Weight Loss Therapy, “lower SES was [also] associated with a higher density of fast food restaurants and convenience stores, an unfavourable retail environment, poorer food environments, higher consumption of junk foods, and higher obesity rates” (A, Gangami).

Additionally, a person of high SES may spend their free time reading, attending cultural events, and going to the movies. In fact, these actions “were associated just as much as exercise was with a lower BMI” (Houle). Using this information, scientists came to the conclusion that lifestyle differences shape a person’s socioeconomic status and put them at an increased or decreased risk of obesity depending on that status.

SES may also be associated with education levels, which further restricts a person’s knowledge of how to solve the obesity epidemic. Many people are unsuccessful in their weight-loss goals because of the plethora of false information on the internet and a general lack of knowledge about proper nutrition and weight-loss strategies.

One example of this is the fact that nearly 42% of the population is receiving nutritional information from blogs and websites instead of trusted sources such as registered dietary nutritionists. These blogs tend to encourage certain dieting fads like the paleo diet, South Beach Diet, vegetarianism, and gluten-free foods. While these eating plans may be healthful, “choosing high-quality, nutrient-rich foods in all food groups, is the best diet advice to follow”.

It’s also important for consumers to be aware of the risks of these nutrition fads. For instance, vegetarianism, or the consumption of only plant-based foods, is a growing trend, however, it comes with several risks and, without proper knowledge, “it can lead to nutrient deficiencies in people of all ages”.

In order to achieve long-term success, people also have to understand the importance of both dieting and exercise, two activities that go hand in hand for successful weight-loss. Many people falsely believe that they can pursue a certain diet with no exercise or vice versa. However, it takes both diet and exercise to achieve weight-loss goals.

The misinformation surrounding weight-loss strategies clouds people’s minds and covers up the facts that are such a necessity for long-term success. The lack of knowledge about obesity acts as the biggest roadblock for others to overcome the issue. In order for America to lose the reputation of “Most Obese Country in the World,” the population has to be aware of the cause of obesity as well as the solutions, something that can’t be found on blogs and websites.