Obesity in the United States

[27] A 2007 study found that long-term participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program was associated with a 50% increased obesity rate among female adults.

[29] Obesity is a major public health problem in the United States owing to its rapidly increasing prevalence, substantial mortality and morbidity, and growing healthcare costs.

Food insecure individuals, who live in low-income communities experience higher rates of chronic disease, leading to healthcare costs which create more financial hardships.

[35] Other factors not directly related to caloric intake and activity levels that are believed to contribute to obesity include air conditioning,[36] the ability to delay gratification, and the thickness of the prefrontal cortex of the brain.

[37][better source needed][38] Genetics are also believed to be a factor, with a 2018 study stating that the presence of the human gene APOA2 could result in a higher BMI in individuals.

[39] Additionally, factors contributing to the probability of obesity can occur even before birth, including maternal behaviors during gestation such as smoking or significant weight gain.

[33] The microbiome (population of microbes like bacteria, fungi, and viruses) of a person's gastrointestinal tract can additionally contribute to obesity, and is also modified by it.

[40][better source needed] In the United States, many people's diets are excessively high in calories, often due to fast food and sugary beverages.

Individuals with obesity may consume more calories before feeling full, experience hunger more quickly, or eat in response to stress or anxiety.

A study shows a significant increase in food portion sizes of marketplace products since the 1970s that exceed the federal standards for dietary guidance.

The United States' high obesity rate is a major contributor to its relatively lower life expectancy in comparison with other high-income countries.

[15] Many racial minority populations disproportionately reside in low-income neighborhoods that can lack resources such as adequate healthcare, safe recreational areas, and grocery stores offering affordable, nutritious food options such as fresh fruits and vegetables.

[66] The higher prevalence of obesity among Black women compared to other demographics has been attributed to influence from cultural beauty ideals that tolerate or favor fuller body shapes.

[97] Care should be taken in interpreting these numbers, because they are based on self-report surveys which asked individuals (or, in case of children and adolescents, their parents) to report their height and weight.

[101] ^ Except territories, whose data is from the late 2000s to 2010s Obesity has been cited as a contributing factor to approximately 100,000–400,000 deaths in the United States per year[61] (including increased morbidity in car accidents)[110] and has increased health care use and expenditures,[55][111][112][113] costing society an estimated $117 billion in direct (preventive, diagnostic, and treatment services related to weight) and indirect (absenteeism, loss of future earnings due to premature death) costs.

[121] A financial analysis published in 2007 further showed that the treatment of diseases and disorders associated with obesity costs the military $1.1 billion annually.

[124] In light of these developments, organizations such as Mission: Readiness, made up of retired generals and admirals, have advocated for focusing on childhood health education to combat obesity's effect on the military.

[129]Under pressure from parents and anti-obesity advocates, many school districts moved to ban sodas, junk foods, and candy from vending machines and cafeterias.

[131] A similar law passed by the Connecticut General Assembly in June 2005 was vetoed by governor Jodi Rell, who stated the legislation "undermines the control and responsibility of parents with school-aged children.

According to Circulation, "Beverages with added sugar are a prime candidate for taxation; they constitute >10% of caloric intake nationwide and provide little or no nutritional value."

According to Circulation, "They were considered as a measure at the federal level to fund healthcare reform in 2009 and were proposed in 11 states and 2 major cities in the 2009 to 2010 legislative cycle."

[139] For two years, Duke University psychology and global health professor Gary Bennett and eight colleagues followed 365 obese patients who had already developed hypertension.

[140] Major U.S. manufacturers of processed food, aware of the possible contribution of their products to the obesity epidemic, met together and discussed the problem as early as April 8, 1999; however, a proactive strategy was considered and rejected.

[141] Media influence may play an important role in prevention of obesity as it has the ability to boost many of the main prevention/intervention methods used nowadays including lifestyle modification.

The media is also highly influential on children and teenagers as it promotes healthy body image and sets societal goals for lifestyle improvement.

[142] In 2011, the Obama administration introduced a $400 million Healthy Food Financing Initiative, the goal of the program is to "create jobs and economic development, and establish market opportunities for farmers and ranchers," as described by the secretary of agriculture, Tom Vilsack.

(PMC) The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 helped provide nutrition standards for meals and drinks through a variety of programs affecting 50 million children daily at 99,000 schools.

Some of their nutrition requirements are more whole grains, a wider variety of fruits and vegetables, free added sugars, and less saturated fat.

Research has been done on this program and it has been found that participation in CACFP moderately increases the consumption of milk and vegetables among children, and it helps regulate their weight.

Ultimately, federal and local governments in the U.S. are willing to create political solutions that will reduce obesity ratings by "recommending nutrition education, encouraging exercise, and asking the food and beverage industry to promote healthy practices voluntarily.