Why Americans Diet: Health, Self-Esteem, and Quality of Life
This essay examines the primary motivations behind dieting in America, a country where roughly 100 million adults are overweight and obesity ranks as the second leading cause of preventable death. Drawing on data from the U.S. Surgeon General's office, the paper argues that the most meaningful reasons to diet extend well beyond appearance. The essay analyzes three core benefits: reducing serious health risks such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes; improving self-esteem among individuals whose body image has been distorted by media portrayals of an ideal body; and enhancing overall quality of life in practical, everyday ways. The essay concludes with a brief caution about the dangers of unhealthy dieting and eating disorders.
- The Dieting Obsession in America: Scale of obesity and why people diet
- Health Risks of Obesity and the Benefits of Dieting: Serious diseases linked to obesity and dietary benefits
- Self-Esteem and Body Image: How weight affects self-image and emotional wellbeing
- Quality of Life and Everyday Impact: Daily life limitations caused by excess weight
- Dieting Dangers and the Importance of a Balanced Approach: Risks of unhealthy dieting and eating disorders
✍️ How to write this paper — guide, tools & examples ▾
What makes this paper effective
- The introduction grounds the argument in concrete statistics — 100 million overweight adults and 300,000 obesity-related deaths per year — giving the persuasive claim immediate credibility.
- Each body section uses a distinct category of benefit (health, self-esteem, quality of life), creating a clear and easy-to-follow organizational logic.
- Relatable, specific scenarios (e.g., being unable to play catch with a child, needing two airplane seats) make abstract health arguments tangible for a general audience.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates the use of a three-part parallel structure to build a persuasive argument. Each section introduces a problem associated with obesity, explains how dieting addresses it, and reinforces the overall thesis. This technique, often called the "problem–solution" pattern, is especially effective in persuasive writing because it shows readers not just that a problem exists, but what can realistically be done about it.
Structure breakdown
The essay opens with a hook cataloguing popular diets and obesity statistics before stating a clear three-part thesis. Three body paragraphs follow in the same order as the thesis: health risks, self-esteem, and quality of life. A brief fifth paragraph introduces a counterbalancing caution about eating disorders and unhealthy dieting, adding nuance before the paper closes. The single reference to the U.S. Surgeon General's report anchors the factual claims in an authoritative government source.
The Dieting Obsession in America
One fact about American culture stands out above many others: Americans love to diet. The South Beach Diet, low-carb diets, SlimFast, Weight Watchers, diet pills, and gastric bypass surgery are all examples of ways that adults in America are trying to lose weight. This obsession with losing weight seems to be spinning out of control. The question is: why do people diet? Is it to shed the few pounds gained during the holiday season, to resemble the slim figures portrayed on television, or is there a deeper reason?
The reality is that there are 100 million overweight adults living in America, and that 300,000 people a year die from diseases directly related to obesity. Obesity in America has become such a serious problem that it is the second leading cause of preventable death, narrowly behind smoking. There must be some positive — even essential — reasons to diet. The most compelling reasons to diet are for health, self-esteem, and quality of life.
Health Risks of Obesity and the Benefits of Dieting
Health is the most important and most positive reason for dieting. Obesity can lead to a number of serious health problems. Stroke, heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are among the most serious of the numerous conditions associated with obesity. Other risks include depression, high blood pressure, reproductive difficulties, arthritis, back problems, and breathing problems, among many others. The likelihood of experiencing these problems decreases significantly with healthy weight loss.
There are many health benefits to dieting. By maintaining a healthy diet, a person lowers the risk of heart disease and keeps blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol within healthy ranges. These benefits alone make dieting a worthwhile and potentially life-saving effort for millions of Americans.
Self-Esteem and Body Image
Another important reason for dieting — particularly for women — is to improve self-esteem. Of the 100 million overweight adults in America, a majority also struggle with low self-esteem. They look in the mirror and see only their weight. They feel alone and hopeless, as though they do not fit in anywhere. They feel that their clothes do not fit and wish they could live up to the unrealistic image of the "perfect body" promoted by the media.
In reality, the average American woman wears a size 12 — yet size 12 models are rarely seen in mainstream magazines. The problem is made worse when, in an effort to feel better, people turn to food for comfort. It is well established that obesity is linked to depression and, in some cases, suicidal ideation. For all of these reasons, a safe and effective diet can have a profound impact on people struggling with weight issues.
A balanced, healthy diet can lead to weight loss, higher energy levels, and a much more positive outlook on life. Even something as simple as someone noticing that you have lost weight can transform a person with low self-esteem into someone who feels genuinely happy with themselves, with how they look, and with how they feel. The relationship between body image and mental health is real, and healthy weight management can address both simultaneously.
References
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Office of the Surgeon General; 2001.
Create your account
Always verify citation format against your institution’s current style guide requirements.