What Are The Main Causes Of Obesity In America Today? 7 Possible Answers

Millions of Americans are considered clinically obese. Insubconscious. These negative thoughts often lead
the past 30 years the amount of obese children andpeople to overeat or develop food addictions.
adults has literally exploded in the U.S. While some of 
the causes of this health trend may seem obvious,Body image has become controversial due to the
there are some other less well-known theories. Whilefact that super skinny models and actors are held up
these theories can be debated by experts andas the ideal standard of beauty. However, many
regular folk, everyone agrees that something mustpeople cannot achieve this look and shouldn't even
be done about the obesity problem.try.
  
What causes obesity?Everyone is born with a certain natural body type
 and our society needs to do more to teach young
Larger Serving Sizespeople and adults that all types of bodies are to be
 admired and appreciated. Now, this doesn't mean that
The "Super Size" mentality doesn't just belong to theit's okay to be obese, but it does mean we should
fast food industry. Seems like many restaurantsbe more sympathetic to those who are and
offer huge serving sizes for everything from a chefunderstand their struggles.
salad, to spaghetti and meatballs, to a steak dinner. 
Most people have been raised to finish everything onAfter all, there's a fine line between just being
their plate and when someone sits a giant plate ofoverweight and becoming obese. Any one of us
food down in front of you, you're more likely to trycould cross into dangerous unhealthy territory due to
and finish it without even thinking much about it.bad habits. Feeling good about yourself no matter
 where you land on the weight scale should be
Americans have now gotten used to eating largereveryone's top priority.
portions per meal and that can translate into their 
own kitchens. There is a tendency to cook andBeing Stressed Out
serve larger meals at home too. Going back for 
seconds and third helpings is also common.Stress has been identified as a leading cause of many
 physical ailments, including obesity. When we feel
Eating More Fast Foodstressed, we're more likely to turn to comfort foods
 that contain more fat and sugar.
Studies have shown that the consumption of fast 
food meals has quadrupled from 1977 to 1996 and it'sThink about the last time you felt really stressed. Did
probably grown more since then. Our increasinglyyou grab a healthy apple or did you open up a candy
busy society means that more people don't have thebar and wolf it down?
time or inclination to cook meals from scratch at 
home.Stress is a part of everyday life, but more needs to
 be done to teach people how to control and manage
The average fast food meal consists of foods like:stress with healthy, all natural alternatives. Eating
big burgers, large fries, chicken nuggets, pizza withdonuts in the morning and a big sloppy hamburger at
lots of toppings, stuffed to the brim tacos, heavylunchtime may make you temporarily feel good, but
milkshakes and sugary soft drinks. Many items areultimately, all that fat contributes to heart disease
laden with fatty cheese and sauces. Yes, theseand diabetes. Being stressed out and overweight is
foods taste great and are okay to eat in moderation,often a deadly combination.
but Americans are substituting these foods for 
everyday meals.Drugs and Medication
  
It used to be that most people ate a fairly nutritiousMany drugs that people take for common maladies
meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner and occasionallyand health issues cause weight gain. It can be
they'd hit the fast food place. It seems like thingsprescription medication for things like depression,
have almost reversed themselves. For many people,diabetes, sleep disorders, birth control and blood
at least one meal per day comes from fast food.pressure. Some steroid hormone drugs also can make
 you gain weight.
Lack of Physical Exercise 
 Often, people don't feel they have a choice but to
In order to maintain a healthy weight, eating healthytake this medication, leaving them feeling trapped in a
foods isn't enough. You need to exercise on a regularheavier body they don't really want. More study
basis. Now, this exercise can mean going to the gym,needs to be done on how to reduce or prevent this
playing a game of tennis, biking around theside effect.
neighborhood or going out for a brisk walk around 
the park.Genetics and Family History
  
Many people simply are not exercising at all, whichFor some people (not many), being overweight is in
contributes to their weight gain and ultimatetheir genes. If both of your parents are overweight,
unhealthy lifestyle. A lot of people have a mentalthen there is a higher probability that you are going
block when it comes to exercise because it's been soto be also. While studies have found that there can
long since they've done it. It's like exercise is almost abe a predisposition to obesity among family
dirty word for some.members, this isn't an absolute.
  
However, if you want to preserve your healthyEven if you do come from a family that is naturally
weight or get back down to one, then this is a must.heavier, this doesn't mean that obesity should be
If adults don't prioritize exercising for physical fitness,allowed to just happen. Being chunky or big boned is
then the children of today are doomed to repeat thequite different than being 300-400 pounds. Family
same patterns of obesity in the future - this isn't fairhistory shouldn't be used as an excuse to let yourself
to them.go.
  
Low Self-EsteemWith time, guidance and effort, obesity in America
 can be conquered, but it's not going to be easy or
A lot of people struggle with low self-esteem or nothappen overnight. Each one of us will have to
feeling very good about themselves in general. Theseexamine our own lifestyle and take action to include
issues are often routed in their childhood and involvehealthier eating and exercise habits in our daily routine.
thoughts that are often buried deep in the