Question

Which of these is the most significant public health issue facing people in the U.S. today, and why is it more of a concern than the other categories? (Select only 1 answer, even though they may be related).

A) Over-consumption of sugary snacks and beverages
B) Over-consumption of saturated fats
C) Lack of exercise
D) Uncontrolled blood pressure
E) Obesity

Answer 1

Obesity. The other categories most often lead to obesity depending on how frequent they occur, but once one is obese...there are even more health complications. I hope I just made sense, haha!

Answer 2

Good answer linalynne. But what about people who are not overweight but who are diabetic? Or thin people who died from heart attacks? Thoughts?

Answer 3

Thanks. This question is very thought-provoking. I'm assuming that the number of non-obese diabetics is increasing, but not at the rate of obese or overweight diabetics. Another assumption: heart complications are way more common in obese people―and the number of obese people is rising quickly.

Answer 4

Your answer makes sense. I wonder if lack of exercise is the one factor that influences all others. Consider football players, Olympic swimmers or other athletes who expend so much energy that they can take in thousands of calories a day without gaining weight. I recently heard about a professional basketball player on a 5K calorie a day diet! When you burn that kind of energy, I think you can afford to eat a little more sugar, fat, etc.

Also, regular exercise is one of the only known "cures" for high blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides and obesity. But, obesity is also an epidemic that touches all of the other areas.

Answer 5

You make a very valid point. Lack of exercise can remedy a lot of the ailments you named; therefore, it seems to be the most right answer.

Hmm, consider the number of athletes/people who are on such regimens―they make up a small percentage of the population.

Also, to what extent does exercise help produce more HDL than LDL? I would assume that reducing intake of saturated fats combined with exercise lowers cholesterol but not just exercise alone. There're plenty of hardcore athletes who have high cholesterol because they don't watch what they eat.

When it comes to sugar, I think it depends on what kind people are consuming. Fructose is not very good for the liver...and it's usually used in a lot of foods.

Anyway, I may be over-thinking this, haha :]
Like I said, you make a very valid point.