Obesity Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Obesity in the United States - Research Paper Example In the United States, obesity cuts across gender, race and socioeconomic status. Currently, the greatest prevalence of obesity is among Hispanic people, African-Americans, and Native Americans. While 13% of white youth are overweight, 20% of non-Hispanic adolescents who are African American are overweight. Further, research reveals that 24% of African American youth are overweight, with the same percentage of Mexican American youth sharing the same status. Approximately 39% of all Native American youth face the risk of becoming overweight (Wieting, 546). With regard to gender, 29% of African American females and 22% of African American children are obese while an excess of 27% of Mexican American male children and adolescents suffer from obesity. Societal factors also contribute to obesity, especially in children. Many neighborhoods in the urban areas lack healthy alternatives, outdoor produce stands, and supermarkets as alternatives to fast food outlets and convenience stores. This makes it more difficult for people to buy and consume inexpensive and fresh produce. Furthermore, an insufficient public transport system has increased dependence on cars, therefore reducing healthy activities such as taking walks and biking. A report by the CDC shows that overall participation in physical activities has reduced by 30% over the last ten years. Limited physical activity contributes to circulatory problems as well as obesity in children. A reduction in physical activity has further been reduced by pressure from both federal and state authorities to improve state proficiency tests performance. This pressure forces schools to try meeting these increased expectations by cutting down the time for recess.