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America is a great nation. Its greatness was built on the ideals of freedom, equality and justice. Americans have fought in many battles to maintain these ideals, fought on battlefields and in courthouses. As great as this unique nation is, I have been feeling a sense of embarrassment. Our unique position as the greatest nation certainly has its benefits however we have developed a significant drawback that has been hurting the people of this nation for years. This problem is obesity. America has become the unhealthiest nation in the world.
There are reasons why foreigners mock Americans for obesity. In 2009, every state in the Union (with the exception of Colorado) has at least 20% of their population labeled as Obese. That is at least one out of five. Because so many Americans are obese, I consider this to be a national embarrassment. A national embarrassment because it affects certain peoples more then others. There is a reason why blacks have a 51% greater chance of becoming obese and Hispanics have a 21% greater chance. Child obesity is a big problem too. Studies in 2006 show that obesity prevalence exists in 12.4% in children aged 2-5 years, 17% in children aged 6-11 years and 17.6% for children aged 12-19 years.
This national embarrassment is heavily linked to poverty. Americans with low-incomes simply can not afford to eat nutritious foods. They have no choice but to feed their children inexpensive waste from the local "fast-food" locations or other high-calorie fatty foods from their local thrift stores. Many low-income families are surrounded by establishments that mainly sell those unhealthy products and many low-income children are unable to eat nutritious foods because their parents often work in multiple jobs. Low-income families are normally unable to exercise regularly because they can not afford to go to exercise facilities and can not exercise outside in their own neighborhoods due to safety reasons. America is the greatest nation but it is embarrassing to see so many Americans overweight and obese because of their low income. It is sad and pathetic that the citizens of the best nation on Earth are obese because they can not afford to eat nutritious foods. That is another part of our shameful embarrassment with obesity.
This national embarrassment even costs this nation in terms of increased health care costs. They have trouble adapting to the current infrastructure. It is incredibly embarrassing to see those obese people catered to on airlines or anywhere else. Even simply observing obese people is embarrassing. They are everywhere and they have no shame toward how people view them. We should not be viewed as a nation of obese people. It damages our image and reduces our standing in the world. If a foreigner desired to insult an American, they would probably go after obesity before they start with the imperialist card! I am tired of hearing insults from foreigners about our obesity problem. It is simply embarrassing!
Obesity affects everyone. It results in higher fuel costs for commercial planes. Obesity ages people faster so they are not as productive to society as a non-obese person would. The government has to pay more to help obese people so even equates to higher taxes! All these problems with obesity are embarrassing. We easily have the highest percentage of overweight citizenry in the world and everyone is paying for it.
To conclude, I would like to repeat that America is the greatest nation in the world and even the Universe but if we fail to defeat obesity, our greatness will be reduced while our life expectancy drops lower and lower. The government should probably do something to defeat obesity. Obesity is perhaps America's most embarrassing problem that needs to be eliminated before it is too late. I would like to ask everyone if they think obesity is this nation's greatest embarrassment. What do you think about people you know that are obese. Are you obese yourself? What do you think the government should do? Lastly, is obesity America's greatest embarrassment?
