Arguments for addressing obesity in American restaurant culture and home cooking practices

Obesity has become a health concern for American households. In as much as pundits would argue that obesity is an issue in many industrialized countries, the American rates call for attention as it ranks as the highest in the world. America is ranked as having the second highest rate of obesity after Mexico. In the early 1960s, the average American adult male weighed 168 pounds. Today, he weighs nearly 180 pounds. Very pertinent questions should be asked about such revelations. Is it the habits that have changed or the types of food that people consume that have changed? Over the same time period, the average female adult weight rose from 143 pounds to over 155 pounds (Cutler, Glaeser & Shapiro, 2003). In the early 1970s, 14% of the population was classified as medically obese. Weights of adults and children alike were also on the upward trend throughout the twentieth century. However, the rise in obesity since 1980 has been phenomenal. For the better part of the twentieth century, weights were below levels recommended for maximum longevity and an increase in weight was perceived as an increase in health, not a decrease (Cutler, Glaeser & Shapiro, 2003). Americans are currently fatter than medical science recommends and weights are still increasing. Questions that we should keep asking are: Are there justifications for these weights? Why is that it is the United States whose rates of obesity are higher than those of other developed countries? Evidence adduced suggests that calories expended have not changed significantly since 1980, while calories consumed have risen remarkably (Cutler, Glaeser & Shapiro, 2003). This evidence does not seem to explain why there has been an increase in calories consumed. Perhaps, the best way to understand the obesity menace in the United States is to first of all illuminate the trends in obesity.

A third of adults in United States are obese and 17% of children are suffering from obesity (Cutler, Glaeser & Shapiro, 2003). Data that is used in calculating the Body Mass Index, the primary measure of obesity, is normally obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES). Individuals with BMI over 25 are likely to experience high rates of disease and death. Between 1971-1975 and 1988-1994, the median BMI increased by 0.9; the 75th percentile increased by 1.5; and the 95 percentile increased by 2.7 (Cutler, Glaeser & Shapiro, 2003). The average increase in BMI between 1970s and the 1990s was 1.9. Married women with exactly 12 years of schooling had the largest increase in average BMI. These groups spend a lot of time preparing meals at home (Cutler, Glaeser & Shapiro, 2003).

Moving away from the trend, science of nutrition has it that people get heavier if they consume more calories or expend fewer calories. Every human being has its own way of carrying out metabolism. It is therefore possible that different caloric expenditures may have different impacts on the amount of weight gained or lost (Cutler, Glaeser & Shapiro, 2003). However, for a typical person, an increase in calorie consumption of 3500 calories or a reduction in caloric expenditure of that amount increases weight by one pound. Calories are burnt through basal metabolism, physical activity and through food processing. Metabolism is the energy cost associated with keeping the body alive and at rest (Cutler, Glaeser & Shapiro, 2003). Basal metabolism represents about 60% of energy utilization for most people. The question that arises with respect to energy expenditure is: Could it be that the majority of Americans are physically less active as in not taking part in regular exercises hence the high rates of obesity? Or are their bodies not in a position to optimally engage in basal metabolism? These are issues that studies on obesity should focus on and amicably provide answers for. Evidence shows that a man weighing 70 kilogram burns on average about 1800 calories before he does any activity (Cutler, Glaeser & Shapiro, 2003).

Having ventilated issues pertaining to obesity trends and caloric intake in the United States, the question that begs answering is whether obesity has become a new normal. A tall person who stands in a crowd is probably aware of his physical stature (Cutler, Glaeser & Shapiro, 2003). He may even be self-conscious about it. However, the situation would not be the same if that tall person stands in a room full of basketball players. His above average height will feel normal anyway. The same scenario is reported throughout the United States with weight (Cutler, Glaeser & Shapiro, 2003). American's average body weights are plump rather than svelte. This shows that the perception of what's normal may be sliding. This obviously has health consequences. This notion is informed by the fact that the average Americans is 23 pounds heavier than his or her ideal body weight. People are changing their idea of what an acceptable body size is. This clears the path for more people to put on weight. Prevalence of obesity is leveling at flood stage unless sanity is allowed to prevail (Cutler, Glaeser & Shapiro, 2003).