Emerging Issue in Society: Obesity

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An emerging issue in today's society is the obesity epidemic. The problem we face is that many children in America are obese and they are turning into obese adults. The problems that go along with being obese are: stroke, heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. With that being said, many Americans will be sick and they will spend a ton of money on healthcare. If people are sick all of the time, it is hard for them to be productive members of society.

The reasons for this obesity epidemic is the fact that people are eating more than they should, and they are not getting the recommended 45 minutes of physical activity per day. According to Cynthia Ogden, PhD, (Griffin, 2012) 31 percent of adults are obese and 15 percent of children and teenagers are overweight. 

The reason people are obese stems from a variety of different social issues. These issues can come from cultural, economic, and environmental factors. Some people may live in an area where there is not a place for them to exercise, or some people may not have the type of money required to get a gym membership. Advertising junk foods is also an issue. Each year, companies spend billions of dollars to advertise junk food on commercials and in public schools.  

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