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Essay / The problem of obesity and unhealthy lifestyle among American citizens
Overweight or obesity among American citizens is increasing at a shocking rate. Currently, it stands at 74.1%, or almost three quarters of the population of our country. This is a frightening truth that must be recognized by all of society. Obesity seems to be a bigger problem today than ever before. Due to the existence of countless fast food chains and misleading labels in supermarkets, obesity seems almost inevitable. Over time, it has been seen as a growing problem for adults; however, childhood obesity is equally evident in all states. For example, according to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, more than 12.7 million children in the United States suffer from obesity. The statistic is saddening because obese children can be controlled and perfectly cared for at home by issuing simple guidelines. In the documentary Overfed and Undernourished, the story of a young Australian boy, Liam, is told. We tend to say that it is to fight against obesity; you have to live an extremely unhealthy lifestyle. The documentary reveals its story and shows the actions we can take to curb the growing epidemic, including through appropriate use of logos, ethos and pathos. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay In Overfed and Underfed, logos are used to directly prove why obesity is such a growing problem in today's society. The proof comes from the film which provides multiple facts about the cause, effects on society, and cures. According to the film, more than 70% of foods are processed with salt, sugar and fat, which tends to have detrimental effects on the body. It's a process that scares people's diets and therefore makes the viewer think about everything they plan to do or eat. Of course, salt, sugar and fats are not easy to avoid, but their consumption should be moderate. In fact, it was moderation that caused Liam a lot of problems. The second challenge revealed by the film is that every 7 minutes, someone is diagnosed with diabetes. However, it has been found that if society takes the initiative to control and change its eating habits as well as adopt a healthier lifestyle, then the statistics can be changed. The film also points out that on average, people spend about eight hours a day on media like television, video games and cell phones. Economically, the eight hours can be spent on productive and healthy activities that can improve individual and societal well-being. Finally, the film reveals that one in four children living in Australia is obese. This means that Liam is just one of thousands of children living in such conditions. The film also leans heavily on the use of ethos. Liam meets Joe Cross, a wellness entrepreneur who had a very similar experience to Liam but still turned out to be the best. Cross gives Liam advice on how to live the healthiest lifestyle by eating various types of foods such as fruits, vegetables and grains. Additionally, Cross advised consuming foods from natural sources rather than processed foods from factories. Natural foods are the healthiest source of nutrition because processed foods are contaminated with chemicals and other substances that can harm the body. Cross points out that food from factories takes these ingredients.”