Wp3 full_final

Obesity is a problem in
America

Daniel Sifuentes | Professor Meredith | ENGL 1302:Sec.2010 | May 8, 2016

Table of Contents

0. Cover page
1. Table of Contents
2. Original Image and Topic
3-4. Annotated Bibliography
5. Visual Argument
6-8. Essay

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Topic and Original Image

Topic: Obesity is a problem in America
Image:

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Annotated Bibliography
Repeat after me “only you…”.1977.National Agricultural Library. United States
department of Agriculture. Web. 4 April. 2016.

Smokey the Bear is an American icon created during World War II by the U.S
government that was publicized to help prevent forest fires across the nation. The
U.S Forest Service established Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention (CFFP)
program in 1942, and the CFFP adopted Smokey as their official symbol two
years later. The Wartime Advertising council created Smokey’s famous slogan,
“only you can prevent forest fires.” Albert Staehle was the first artist to render
Smokey the Bear in 1944, and many other artist followed soon after. Rudolph
Wendelin was a prominent artist that humanized Smokey to appeal more to
children.
"Obesity in America." PublicHealth.org. PublicHealth.org, n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2016.
The article begins with discussing why Americans are obese and the cause of
obesity. There is a chart that shows what a healthy and unhealthy weight is. The
second section of the article talks about who is affected by obesity, and shows
how obesity affects certain demographics more than others. Throughout the
second section, there are statistics showing a percentage of people affected based
on race, gender, and income. The third section speaks about the consequences of
obesity, and how it can cause chronic illnesses such as diabetes. The final section
deals with how obesity can be prevented in general.
"Is Obesity a Disease?" ProCon.org. ProCon.org, n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2016.

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The article begins with showing different facts about obesity in general,
and then later delves into the pros and cons of whether obesity is a disease
or not. The pro section consist of points that argue obesity is a disease, and
the cons section argues that obesity is not a disease. A pro from the article
would be that obesity meets the definition of disease. A con from the
article would be that most people who are obese live long and healthy
lives. The article concludes with some background information on obesity,
and it also contains videos on the topic.

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PAGE 5

Obesity in the Future America
Food is a necessity in life, however, it is also the very thing that can end a life.
America is known for its unhealthy eating habits such as eating greasy fast food, and the
companies that market that food are expanding every single day. By the time ten years
pass, thousands will have died from unhealthy eating habits and inactivity. If Americans
become well versed on the dangers of obesity, then there is the potential of saving
thousands of lives. Ten years from now, Americans should know about the dangers of
obesity, and how obesity is a problem in America.
Fast food is known for being tasty and cheap, so it is a given that most Americans
eat it often. What Americans should know, is that fast food can affect ones health. Eating
too much fast food can lead to obesity, and then later lead to chronic diseases such as
diabetes. Americans most of the time find fast food as a quick alternative to cooking at
home, and fast food is a better choice for Americans that are a part of the busy workforce.
Knowing the dangers of eating too much unhealthy food can help millions of Americans
avoid obesity.
Inactivity is another factor that causes weight gain. Most Americans now a days
are less active than they were back in the 1950’s due to less jobs that require physical
work. Without burning any calories from exercise, Americans gain weight at a much
faster rate than if they did workout. It is also more difficult for Americans to exercise due
to the increase in technology, and how that technology causes inactivity. It is important
for Americans to know how lack of exercise can affect weight, and how it is important to
be active throughout their day.

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The Factors that cause obesity eventually cause chronic health problems that can
end a person’s life. PublicHealth.org states that obesity can lead to a person developing
type two diabetes due to an insulin resistance from lack of exercise and an unhealthy diet.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and obesity is
the leading risk factor. Obesity can also cause cancer which is the second leading cause
of death in the Unites States, and it is said that obesity contributes to twenty percent of
new cancers. Depression has been linked to obesity which is most prevalent in children.
Obesity has also decreased fertility rates, and can cause miscarriages in women.
Neurologist have linked obesity to affect ones cognitive thinking and memory loss.
Arthritis and atrophy in muscles can be caused by obesity, and it often occurs in the knee
or foot. Publichealth.org argues that all of the chronic health issues that are caused by
obesity are the main reason why Americans should be knowledgeable of the dangers of
obesity.

On the contrary, ProCon.org argues that obesity is not a problem. ProCon.org
argues that obesity is not a disease itself, but a factor that leads disease. Gaining weight is
a preventable life factor that can easily be fixed through moderate exercise, and eating a
more healthy diet. It is also argued that most people who are obese live long and healthy
lives. It is stated that as many as one third obese people are “healthy obese” which means
that they are obese without the chronic health issues that tend to occur with obesity.
Obesity is also caused by a sedentary life style, and is a very controllable factor in one’s
daily life.

Both of these sources debate whether obesity is a problem in America, and both
show how much of an important topic obesity is in the present day. If Americans were to

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be culturally literate in obesity ten years from now then obesity would be less of a
problem than it is today. Americans should know about the dangers of obesity, and
debate over whether this is true or not.

The reason why I chose the topic of obesity is because it is something that can be
a matter of life or death from simple life choices. Obesity is a problem because it causes
death in the United States, and it is very prevalent across the nation. If people knew how
easily obesity can be prevent then it would not be much of a problem, and we can all
avoid dying from a heart attack. The image I chose to portray my argument is a picture of
Smokey the Bear, and the words below him saying “only you can stop obesity.”

Ten years from now, most Americans will probably be talking about the new
meme that became popular at the time. Instead of talking about the newest meme,
Americans should be talking about the problem with obesity, and how to prevent it at all
costs. Americans should know about the risk factors of obesity, and why it can lead to
their deaths. Americans should think twice before going out, and eating at a place like
McDonalds.

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