Many of the United States citizens are taking advantage of how we consume our products and are reluctant to admit that it is a major problem within our economy. These procedures to get rid of our waste are limited and it has been ultimately hurting our environment. It takes a large amount of resources and energy to dispose of our waste yet United States citizens, who “constitute 5% of the world’s population, consume 24% of the world’s energy”. (IBDG) The amount of energy we use is one problem, but the amount of consumption is where the problem truly lies. It effects the overall health of our citizens and according to the CDC, which stands for the Centers for Disease Control, “prevalence of obesity was 40.0% among young adults aged 20 to 39 years, 44.8% among middle-aged adults aged 40 to 59 years, and 42.8% among adults aged 60 and older”. (CDC)
These statistics can show support towards a trend among United States citizens in which individuals uses their freedom to consume as much as they want. As of 2008, an “estimated annual medical cost of obesity in the United States was $147 billion” due to obesity related conditions. (CDC) These costs come from care related to diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and other harmful conditions, which all stem from United States citizens overconsumption. Healthy products are deemed as expensive, but in some cases “obesity prevalence was higher in the highest income group”. (CDC) Finding what works best with your health, while consuming moderate proportions, is essential to living a long and healthy life.
Life having no limits seems like a extraordinary concept, but it is not an optimal outlook on how life works and will ultimately result in consequences. With the US having the 2nd highest amount of human waste, “the average American generates 52 tons of garbage by age 75”. (IBDG) These are resources turned into waste and according to the Scientific American, a magazine that covers scientific data, “the U.S. uses one-third of the world’s paper, a quarter of the world’s oil, 23 percent of the coal, 27 percent of the aluminum, and 19 percent of the copper”. (Scientific American) United States citizens, with the help of governmental policies, must change overconsumption habits.
Governmental actions can enforce “public policies that promote access
to healthy, low-fat, high-fiber foods”, but many citizens will most likely be
outraged as once favorite eats become unavailable. (Yoffee) Although making these unhealthy
foods can be created within your own household, the efficient options of classic
fast food may cease to exist causing anger. Overconsumption can be related to
healthy foods as well, so not all the blame can go towards unhealthy options. Eating
in moderation and having knowledge towards your waste is important for the United
States citizens to overcome this epidemic.
Work Cited
CDC “Adult Obesity Facts.” Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 June 2020, www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html.
IBDG “Hungry Planet: Consumption Around the Globe.”
International Business Degree Guide, 22 Nov. 2013, www.internationalbusinessguide.org/hungry-planet/.
Scientific American. “Use It and Lose It: The Outsize Effect
of U.S. Consumption on the Environment.” Scientific American, Scientific
American, 14 Sept. 2012, www.scientificamerican.com/article/american-consumption-habits/.
Yoffee, Lynn, et al. “How to Avoid the Obesity Epidemic - Healthy Living Center.”EverydayHealth.com, 2009, www.everydayhealth.com/healthy-living/obesity prevention.aspx.
No comments:
Post a Comment