Mr. Farias
English Composition 1301 – 047
04 Aug 2014
Title
“Americas War on the Overweight” by Kate Dailey and Abbey Ellin gives readers a look at the hardships and judgment’s that come with being obese in todays America. The majority of obese Americans did not choose to be obese; factors such as illness, genetics, and psychological problems play a determining role. The simple assumption that everyone who is obese is lazy, over eats, or is a slob, is far from the truth. There are numerous reasons as to why one ends up being extremely overweight, and many more reasons why they remain that way forever. Other than laziness and poor food choice, obesity can be onset by medical conditions, which can ensue countless psychological health …show more content…
Food, just like a drug for some people, can cause an addiction. This is a really obvious reason as to why someone would become obese. Over the years there has been a rise in people claiming to be food addicts. The same pleasure and reward section of the brain, usually activated by drugs like cocaine and heroin, can also be triggerd by palatable foods. Palatable foods are foods that are very high in sugar, fat, and salt. Foods rich in any of those three substances release dopamine in your brain, exactly the same way drugs do. Food addiction is a very serious disorder, the addict can continue to eat, dispite all of the negative effects, which can include massive weight gain, relationship interference, and spending substantial amounts of money on …show more content…
Along with physical illnesses there are a numerous psychological complications to come along from being obese. Anxiety is a major psychological effect that goes hand in hand with obesity. Anxiety is a feeling of fear, unease, and worry. Obese people worry about how other people perceive them, and worry about how they are judged by their weight. Imagine having to ride the bus to work every day as an obese person, having to possibly take up two seats. Many anxiety medications also lead to weight gain. Medications like Xanax have been linked to their consumers gaining