Essay Instructions: ProWriter
1500 words
In this assignment, you will work to create an informative and dynamic introduction. A dynamic introduction is important to grab your readers? attention, and it also sets a tone for your essay. To write an effective introduction, writers use many different types of patterns of development to provide an introduction that not only introduces their thesis statement, but creates interest that insprires readers to read the rest of the essay. Write an introduction to create interest for your essay.
To Prepare Your Introduction:
1. Choose a pattern of development explained in your textbook from the list below:
a. Narrative
b. Description
c. Illustration
d. Process Analysis
e. Comparison and Contrast
f. Classification and Division
g. Definition
h. Cause and Effect
2. Use the pattern of development that you have selected and create your introduction.
3. At the top of your paper, place the type of pattern of development you have chosen.
4. At the end of your introduction, place your thesis statement.
Thesis Statement
Obesity in the United States is largely caused by unhealthful lifestyles and the ubiquitous availability and continual promotion of non-nutritious fast foods and junk foods throughout American society.
Introduction
Approximately one-quarter of all Americans are clinically obese and as many as two-third are overweight (Oliver, 2006). With estimates of obesity-related deaths as high as 400,000 annually, Surgeon General Richard Carmona has called obesity a greater threat to Americans than terrorism and former Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson has referred to obesity as an American public health ?crisis? (Oliver, 2006). The cumulative costs attributable to obesity-related diseases approach $123 billion every year (Obesity in America). According to some projections, America?s teens are at risk of becoming the first generation in history to live a shorter lifespan than their parents, mainly because of obesity issues (Oliver, 2006).
Defining Obesity and Overweight
A person is considered to be overweight if they have a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or greater and weigh at least 10 percent more than the recommended weight for their height and body type (Obesity in America). A person is obese if they weigh at 30 percent more than their recommended weight and have a BMI of 30 or greater (Obesity in America). Currently, approximately 25 percent of American children are overweight or obese, while an estimated 54 percent of American adults are obese, and another 22 percent are overweight (Hill & Peters, 1998).
The Causes of Obesity in America
Non-nutritious, high-fat, high-calorie foods are ubiquitous in American supermarkets and restaurants, particularly in fast-food restaurants (Hill & Peters, 1998).
Even more generally, portion-sizes in all American restaurants have continued to grow to unreasonable sizes as a result of their values in marketing and promotions. The average person is typically presented with an over-abundance of high-fat food choices and comparatively few low-fat choices. Empirical research has linked such diets of 35 percent fat or higher to obesity in animals, especially when they are not physically active (Hill & Peters, 1998).
The other principal component of obesity in America is the increasingly sedentary lifestyle attributable mainly to modern advances in technology and transportation, in addition to the appeal of sedentary entertainment options, such as television, video games and computers. There is substantial empirical evidence documenting the benefits of increased activity and improved aerobic fitness in connection with bodyweight reduction and obesity prevent obesity, particularly in children (Epstein, Paluch, Gordy, & Dorn, 2000).
Preventing Obesity
Obesity prevention likely requires cooperation from both consumer and the food industry, together with education aimed at controlling portion sizes and reducing dietary fat content. Parents must encourage their children to eat low-fat foods as early as possible as well. Another important change would be creating an environment that encourages physical activity by raising the physical education standards in schools, resisting the appeal of sedentary activities by emphasizing the ?fun? component of sports and aerobic exercise, shifting the focus of social gatherings from food consumption to more active pursuits, such as a family hiking, and offering public incentives such as lower insurance rates or more paid vacation time for healthy individuals (Hills & Peters, 1998; Epstein, et al, 2000)
Conclusion
The available empirical evidence demonstrates conclusively that a combination of a healthy diet and regular physical activity most effectively treats and prevents obesity, regardless of family history. In general, even individuals with a genetic predisposition to obesity can avoid becoming obese by cultivating certain habits, such as ?restrained eating? and regular exercise. In essence, while obesity is a disease, it is one of the most easily preventable diseases for those who approach it proactively, though this obviously requires very specific departures from the typical contemporary American lifestyle
