ENG 2012 Paper #3 Assignment: Obesity and Diet in America

Obesity and Diet in America
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Introduction
America is among the super powers of the world. It is a trendsetter in virtually every field, from economy, to modern development. However, there is one pitfall and challenge that the developed country continues to battle with. Obesity remains a topical issue in American media being a reflection of the reality in society. Statistics indicate that well over half of the population are bordering obesity and being overweight. There are specific factors that have been cited as contributing to the increase of the phenomenon. Is it the amounts of foods consumed, the contents of the food, or is it non-availability of healthy alternatives? These are some of the questions that this discussion will seek to answer as it delves more on food and nutrition in the American society.
Backgrounder
A good chunk of the American population have at one time in their life, if not currently, battled with weight. Food nutritionists have sought to find out exactly the factors that have contributed to the soaring numbers of obese and overweight people in America. The response appears to be the same throughout; the rate of calorie intake compared to the physical exercise is high. The choices of foods preferred by most Americans are those whose calorie content is high. Yet, most Americans are not as physically active as would be required. As a result, there is an influx and build –up of the total number of calories which eventually leads to being overweight and developing obesity (Campos, 2014).
Nutritionists also note that eating patterns and habits have changed drastically with the total calorie uptake increasing. From 1850 intake of calories per day 30 years ago, the intake has now gone up to 2150. High calorie intake comes in two main ways; either a person takes food with high content of calories or the person consumes large amounts of food in general. Surveys show that for a majority of the American population, it is a combination of both that has seen an increase in the number of obese people.
The Fast Food Craze
If you happen to pass near a pizza store, Macdonald Fries, Kentucky Fried Chicken to mention but a few, the number of people flocking to get a take away meal is quite large. There are myriads of excuses as to why people opt for fast foods as opposed to cooking in their homes. For some, there is not enough time to prepare a proper meal as they are juggling two jobs and school. For others, it is a quick fix and perhaps a cheaper option as compared to preparing a healthy well balanced meal. As for others, well, the fast foods are just too sweet. Campos (2014) notes that having these kinds of foods once in a while does not in itself present a health problem. The problem is only when one makes it a habit and consumes on a daily basis. The calorie intake gets to unbearable levels and before long a person begins to battle with weight.
American diet types
Although, there is no diet that can be referred to as the American diet, the patterns and habits of eating have been identified to be similar. Even with varying tastes and preferences, the level of calorie intake still remains high. Diets in the American society have been categorized into two main classes. These are the western diet and the prudent diet. The prudent diet is considered the most ideal by nutritionists. It is what is referred to as balanced diet with the right portion of each food group. A typical prudent meal would consist of white meat (fish or poultry), vegetables, whole grains, fruits and legumes. This meal will also include foods rich in calories but in very small portions. Foods such as red meat, pizza, desserts, and eggs among others are consumed but in very minute portions. This combination is what every nutritionist recommends. With this diet, one is assured of healthy body and a healthy life.
On the other hand, the western diet is the exact opposite of the prudent diet. Firstly, moderation is not carefully considered so that all types of food are consumed in excess. Further, those that are rich in calories take the bigger portion of the plate with the low caloriefoods taking only a small portion. In addition to the high calorie content, the western diet is also characterized by high levels of cholesterol, sugars and salts. This food often has low fiber content and lacks essential nutrients (Campos, 2014). For instance, a bottle of soda is estimated to have 40 calories per intake. If one takes two to three bottles of soda, the calorie intak...