How Increased Portion Sizes Effect Obesity Drama Essay

How Increased Portion Sizes Effect obesity Drama EssayWould you like to supersize that? Its a simple question asked to patrons at many national fast pabulum chains. Its actu bothy quite a deal, for cents more you can increase the numerate of food and drink you are given. What if by increasing the amount of food you were eating actually increased your chances of maturement severe health issues? A persons take a chance for developing many life-threatening health conditions can be measured by how much excess fat is stored in their fat cells. The United States has had an influx in the number of individuals who are over cargo could supersizing be to blame? While there are other causes for weight gain, increased peck sizes combined with inactivity turn in had a direct meat on the growing obesity cases.Obesity is a condition in which an individuals physical structure accumulates and stores more fat than what is considered healthy. To determine the amount of fat stored in a persons frame, a Body Mass Index (BMI) number is calculated. The formula for determining a persons BMI is the weight (in pounds) divided by the superlative (in inches) squared multiplying that number by a conversion factor of 703. For example, to determine the BMI number for a person who weighs 150 pounds and is 65 inches rangy, the formula would be 150 (65) 2 x 703 = 24.96. A BMI range of under 18.5 is considered underweight, the normal range is between 18.5 and 24.9, while 25 29.9 is considered overweight, finally a BMI score of 30 and above is categorized as obese. (CDC, Ab extinct BMI for Adults, 2009) The BMI calculations are precisely one small part in determining a persons health risks in relation to weight issues. This calculation does non take into account the difference between muscle and fat weight, so it is possible for someone to receive a higher BMI number but non have a high body-fat content because of muscle weight. It is important to take this into account when calc ulating ones body mass index number. One of the first actions interpreted by a technician when a patient is seen by a physician is they are asked to step on a scale. Then they are either asked how tall they are, or are physically measured. It is not a coincidence that these are the two measurements needed to calculate an individuals body mass index. The BMI ranges are based on a documented relationship between body weight, disease and death and are use as a tool to identify increased risk for diseases and health conditions.Obesity is a contributing factor for several severe health conditions and diseases, most of which have proven to be life-threatening. These conditions include hypertension, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, sleep apnea and respiratory problems, dyslipidemia, osteoarthritis, and some cancers to include endometrial, breast and, colon cancer. Even though being overweight contributes directly to the development of such severe health problems, the rates of diagnosed cases of obesity have steadily increased over the past two decades. (CDC, Overweight and Obesity, 2007)According to the Centers of Disease visit and Prevention, during the past 20 years there has been a dramatic increase in obesity in the United States. (2007) The CDC collected information on the mount up in obesity through the CDCs Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, (BRFSS). In 1985, the CDC had gathered data for only 21 states which showed no more than 14% of each states population diagnosed with obesity. In 2008, the CDC collected data on all 50 states of which Colorado held the lowest percentage of obesity cases at 15-19% however all other states were recorded between 20-30% of their population were severely overweight. (CDC, Overweight and Obesity, 2007) Andrew Cates, Portion distortion analysis of food portion size to aid in weight control (2003), states According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average number of calorie s Americans eat each day has risen from 1,854 to 2,002 during the past 20 years. That increase of 148 calories per day works out to 15 pounds of extra weight each year. (2003) This data shows Americans are eating more today than what they were twenty years ago. However, the increased calorie intake only is only part of the cause for the increased obesity in the United States.While other causes for obesity include genetics, disease, and medication side pictures consume large portions of food without expending enough energy to compensate is considered to be the root cause of weight gain. For example, a typical meal from a familiar fast-food restaurant consists of a cheeseburger with condiments (760 calories), medium fries (360 calories) and a 22 fluid ounce soft drink (200 calories) for a minimum total of 1320 calories ingested. An average large weighing 180 pounds would have to walk at a pace of four miles per minute for 4.02 hours or run at a pace of 6.7 miles per hour for 1.6 hours to beam off the calories ingested at this typical meal. However, the average American does not maintain physical activities for extended periods after each meal therefore not exerting enough energy to fully expend the large number of calories. This results in excess calories to be in the bodys fat cells, thus causing an increase in weight. Consider the diet of a professional athlete, these individuals can take in roughly 12000 calories per day, but maintain a lean muscle mass and body strength. They use every calorie ingested for fuel during physical training. For the average human, this high calorie diet is highly dangerous. While the increased consumption of calories is a globose trend, the supersizing of fast food menu items has made the obesity epidemic worse for those living in the United States. (CalorieLab, 2007)Lisa R. Young, PhD, RD and Marion Nestle, PhD, MPH conducted and documented a study call The Contribution of Expanding Portion Sizes to the US Obesity Epide mic. This study compared past food portions to those currently sold to document historical changes. One example of the effect supersizing has had on the typical caloric intake was the comparison of soft drink sizes served at a McDonalds in the United States versus those sold at McDonalds in the United Kingdom. Notably, the sizes of chain fast-food portions in Europe are smaller than those in the United States. McDonalds Extra Large soda portions in London, Rome, and Dublin weigh the same as the US Large. (Young and Nestle, 2002) The study also noted the largest size of McDonalds fries sold in the United States in 1998-1999 contained 610 calories, during that time the United Kingdoms largest fry size contained 446 calories. While the lot sizes at fast food restaurants in America seem to be bigger in comparison to other countries, this does not mean the restaurants are the only cause for Americas increases in obesity cases.Are restaurants largely at fault for the increase obesity rat es in the United States? Because of data on portion sizes, it wouldnt be incorrect to place some blame on the food marketing industry. But this industry runs off supply-and-demand, if there was no demand for larger portion sizes theoretically the sizes would be reduced. Additionally, when faced with the increased portion sizes, consumers are more likely to ignore the recommended sizes and will attempt to ingest what they are served. In addition to high-calorie meals, additional excess calories are taken in throughout the day by snack foods, sodas, flavored waters, candy, and even gum. Nearly everything taken into a persons body through consumption contains a number of calories. As discussed before, the ingestion of excess calories is not what causes the build-up in body fat, but rather the lack of energy used to expend the calories.So does supersized food lead to supersized people? This seems to be the case for the average person who dines on large portions without expending the nee ded energy to burn through the extra calories. While there are other causes for weight gain, increased portion sizes combined with inactivity have had a direct effect on the growing obesity cases. The amount of food ingested is only part of the cause for the obesity epidemic, combine it with the decrease in daily activity and what is leftfield is the formula for an unhealthy, possibly fatal medical condition that takes years to overcome. Would you still like to supersize that?ReferenceCenters for Disease authority and Prevention.(2007).Overweight and Obesity Home.Retrieved from http//www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2009). About BMI for Adults. Retrieved from http//www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/adult_bmi/index.htmlCalorieLab. (2007). Burger King Calorie Counter. Retrieved from http//calorielab.com/restaurants/burger-king/3Cates, A. (2003). Portion Distortion Analysis of Food Portion Size to Aid in Weight Control. Retrieved fr om http//findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0826/is_6_19/ai_111111456/Rolls, B.J., Roe, L.S., Meengs J.S.(2007).The effect of large portion sizes on energy intake is sustained for 11 days.Department of Nutritional Sciences, Pennsylvania State University.Retrieved from http//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17557991Young, L.R. Nestle M. (2002). The Contribution of Expanding Portion Sizes to the US Obesity Epidemic. Retrieved from http//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1447051/