Kathleen Bannon
Exploratory Paper
Dr. Tillman
Eng 102
Obesity Outbreak in Texas
Obesity is a large growing problem throughout the United States. “A report released in 2005 found that Texas reported it had the 6th highest prevalence in adult obesity” (Texas Overweight and Obesity Statistics Par.1). Obesity has increased over the last decade, and projected to sky-rocket to dangerously high numbers in the next twenty years. According to Texas obesity statistics, “If the current trends continue, 20 million or 75 percent of Texas adults might be overweight or obese by 2040” (“Texas Overweight and Obesity Statistics” par. 1). Texas contributes multiple cities ranked on the most obese of the nation. It was also said that nearly two thirds of Texans are overweight, much of the obese population being children (“The Cost of Obesity: Squeezing Texas Employers” par.1). Do the people of Texas think this epidemic is a problem? If this does not come to an end they are going to put a whole new meaning on the term “Everything is bigger in Texas!” Two of the main reasons that are said to be responsible for the overwhelming increase of obese people are poverty and school systems influence.
The government of Texas does seem to think this is a rather large problem. They have taken it into their hand to change the outlook on obesity for the state. Bills are in the process of being passed for banning trans-fats in restaurants, changing to healthy foods served in all schools, and several other nutrition related bills. This would be a great first step in the right direction in the fight against obesity (MacLaggan para. 4).
Much of the state believes poverty is the number one reason for obesity in Texas. Half of the battle has to do with the fact that Texans are eating junk food because they cannot afford the healthy food that would best suite them. Low income communities throughout Texas seem to have more obese people in them. Many of the family's who can't afford healthy food will eat fast-food instead because the prices are lower. Consequently, eating off the dollar menu daily seems to be what is packing on the pounds. Author of the article, Poverty and Obesity, Adam Drewnowski concluded, “More and more Americans are becomingoverweight and obese while consuming more added sugars and fatsand spending a lower percentage of their disposable income onfood” (Drewnowski 6). Another reason many of these people are in poverty is because being obese is expensive. Even though these people may think fast-food is cheaper in the end the bill tends to grow faster than if you were going to a normal grocery store. For instance, going out to eat at a fast-food chain, multiple times a day or week will quickly add up to a hundred or more dollars. Fast-food and junk-food seem to be scapegoat. Not having to prepare dinner, or home made lunches is to much to ask in our fast paced world. This reason being why we rely on fast-food; its quick, and easy, but not cheap. Many people seem to think the quick way is the easiest and most beneficial, however, this statement is not true. Though it may be quick, I don't see any benefit coming from fast-food.
On the other hand, school systems play one of the biggest roles in being obese, mainly amongst Texans youth. We all know that school lunch room food might not be top quality food, but the fact that its full of fats, sugars, and racks up the calories is unacceptable. For example Fast Food Nation states that, “USDA chose meat suppliers for its National School Lunch Program on the basis of the lowest price, without imposing additional food safety requirements. For example, the cheapest ground beef was not only the most likely to be contaminated with pathogens, but also the most likely to contain spinal cord, bone, and gristle left behind ”(Schlosser 218). It like telling our children “here you go eat some more slop, its okay to be fat.” In addition many school today have vending machines. Machines that serve snack like candy, chips, soda, and juices filled with sugar. By putting children in a environment surrounded by junk-food and trans-fats its no wonder why they can't control the food that they choose to eat. Schools are dangling the precious sweets right in front of them. In the novel Food Politics the author writes, “Pediatricians report seeing children with high levels of serum, cholesterol, high blood pressure, and “adult”-onset diabetes at earlier and earlier ages- all consequences of excessive caloric intake” (Nestle 175).
Obesity is the most serious dietary issue among American children. This disease is likely to follow you all the way into your adult hood and possible for your entire life. It also has many negative effects such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and many other life threatening diseases. As shown in The FAT of the LAND, “Death rates increase steadily as weight increased ,and went up steeply as the percentage over ideal weight increased” (Fumento 2). It is also projected that because of obesity our generations children will be the first to have a shorter lifespan than that of their parents (Nyberg, Burns, Parker 7).
It's not poverty nor schools systems fault for this obese state. It's both. They both pay a massive contribution to this over-sized state. Even though the school department and government are working to making school cafeterias healthier places it should have never gone this far. As for the poverty issue, people should at least try food stamps or another methods to be able to buy the foods they truly need like milk, eggs, and bread. If they can't supply if for themselves, our government should find a way to pitch and help their own people who are in need.
I believe this problem to be extremely dangerous and is not taken seriously. Though Texas is trying to make changes, our whole nation should be contributing to make a change also. Obesity is a terrible disease that some can and can not control. In few cases some people may just have a very slow metabolism and thus have a hard time staying in shape. I think for the people who can control it are in fact just over eating and need to set limits to learn to take better care of themselves. It's not only their image they are ruining it reflects our whole nation. You can constantly over hear conversations of people from over seas talking about how obese America is. There are even multiple television series jumping on the obesity bandwagon, such as Half Ton Mom, and Half Ton Dad which shows parents ranging from nine hundred to over a thousand pounds. This should not be something we are broadcasting, because it's not something to be proud of. On the other hand, I am glad Texas is at least trying to make things right and get their obesity levels under control, now its our turn as a nation to do the same.
In conclusion, I believe this topic needs more research and should get more attention.
Whether I research into it more or it gets more publicity; one way or another this issue needs to find some solution. Maybe if people become more educated on the effects of obesity and how it's practically killing them, they will be encouraged to make a change in their life. Even though there are many books written, television series, and movies made about obesity, how many people are actually doing something about it? I think it's time we turn over a new leaf and get a new perspective on this issue, and as a nation we do something about it, together. If not, then obesity will only increase until it eats its way across the nation one burger at a time.
Works Cited
Drewnowski, Adam. "Poverty and obesity: the role of energy density and energy costs." American Society for Clinical Nutrition 79.1 (2004): 6-16. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Jan. 2004. Web. 6 Feb. 2010. <
Fumento, Michael. The FAT of the LAND, New York: Penguin Group, 1997. Print.
MacLaggan, Corrie. “State demographer: 15 million Texans will be obese by 2040” 30 Jan. 2009. Web. 6 Feb. 2010. < stories/01/30/0130obesity.html>.
Nestle, Marion. Food Politics, Los Angeles: University of California Press, 2002-2007. Print.
Nyberg, Kara, Annina Burns, and Lynn Parker. "Childhood Obesity Prevention in Texas." (2009): 1-76. National American Press. Web. 4 Feb. 2010.
Schlosser, Eric. Fast Food Nation, New York: Harper Perennial,2001-2002. Print.
Texas Overweight and Obesity Statistics. Nov. 2008. Web. Feb. 4. <
The Cost of Obesity: Squeezing Texas Employers. 2005. Web. Feb. 4. <