Forces That Impact on Obesity, Essay Example

Obesity is a major problem in the United States and several factors have been established to impact on the increasing number of people with obesity within the country. The first force linked to the obesity problem is the economic factor. American’s economic status has been on the decline and this has been a contributing factor to the increasing of purchases in low priced food and especially fast food. Fast foods have offered the best alternative for dealing with stress associated with the increasing economic hard times. Secondly, political factors attributed to the fall and declining number of unions. Unions have a direct impact on the welfare of workers and by extent the living and working conditions of all Americans.

The declining number of unions has contributed to the worsened state of living and working conditions because workers lack representatives to negotiate on their wages and other benefits. This reduced economic power explains why Americans have resorted to cheaper food alternatives and increased stress levels thereby contributing to increased cases of obesity. Thirdly, stress has been one of the contributing factors for increased cases of obesity within the country. Stress impacts on the mental and physical condition of a person and contributors of stress range from the lack of work, increased responsibilities at work, and reduced job security.

The stress factors are attributed to the loss of control in the eating habits of Americans and therefore resulting in obesity. Fourthly, obesity has increased immensely amongst the American populace due to the changes in lifestyles. Increased access to entertainment such as television and other electronic gadgets can be linked to the reduced or lack of physical exercise. The changes in lifestyle have a negative correlation to the changes in diet, which have increased calories intake with lack of corresponding calorie burning activities.