Obesity is a growing epidemic in Bahamian society and one of the greatest problems we face in our imperfect humanity. Obesity is defined as excessive weight gain that leads to health risks such as diabetes, heart disease, etc. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get the original essay The increasing prevalence of obesity in the Bahamas has become a normalized norm in our culture, leading to elevated risks of chronic non-communicable diseases . In the article “Fighting Obesity in the Bahamas,” Larry Smith examines the ever-increasing obesity epidemic that individuals in our country are suffering from. He gives several explanations for the increasing obesity rate and also draws attention to our society's lackadaisical views on healthy living. The Bahamian people have become accustomed to obesity and, as a result, it has become an inherent part of our culture. In fact, Bahamian culture breeds obesity through poor diet, lack of nutrition education, and lack of exercise discipline. Our poor diet and food choices have contributed significantly to health risks such as obesity. Food is an integral part of Bahamian culture, with influences from Spain, England and the American South, proving that our diet is diverse and rich in flavor. However, despite the many cultural influences and traditions from around the world, food is nutritionally depraved. Our food choices consist of poorly prepared foods that do not follow dietary guidelines for a balanced diet. The typical Bahamian Sunday dinner consists of fried chicken, baked macaroni covered in cheese, fattening peas and rice, fried plantains, etc. These foods may look appetizing but are saturated with fat, sugar, starch and salt, while there are very few dishes that are nutritionally balanced. Continually eating these unhealthy and terrible foods will ultimately lead to a life of obesity. In addition to our unbalanced diet, Bahamians are constantly snacking between meals. Instead of consuming healthy snacks such as fruits, nuts and vegetables, Bahamians eat chips or candies with low nutritional content. Additionally, there is no limit to the amount of highly seasoned foods Bahamians eat. Our large portions have also been linked to our obesity rate. Bahamians consume large amounts of unhealthy foods that are not essential to the body. Bahamians often splurge and indulge in excessive food consumption without self-control. Overeating unhealthy foods only brings satiety, and the large number of calories consumed can lead to weight gain. In Smith's article, he states that food has become more readily available to the public. Our rapid cultural shift in society has shifted from our usual healthy foods to westernized diets and eating styles. Thanks to the convenience of American fast food outlets like Wendy's, KFC, Popeyes, Bahamians now not only eat more unhealthy foods, but they also do so more frequently and have easier access to them. American fast food franchises are so established in the Bahamas that they are now considered part of Bahamian culture. In addition to American fast food restaurants, the Bahamas has createdsome of their own restaurants such as Bamboo Shack and Sammy's Chicken. Many people can find these restaurants near their homes. With the high calorie intake of these fast foods, individuals are at risk of adopting unhealthy eating habits, which will lead to obesity. Additionally, within our culture, the lack of nutrition education within our school systems has failed to teach students about nutrition and therefore improve them. contributes to obesity. The lack of knowledge about nutritional value comes from the level of education one has received. Many Bahamians are unaware of their eating habits. Curriculum courses, such as food and nutrition and biology, deal with obesity and chronic diseases, are optional and are not made compulsory for students. These courses included in the program serve to educate individuals about nutrition and are an important source for student health. Courses such as food and nutrition should be used as an effective way to make healthier lifestyle choices and combat the current problem of obesity and should therefore be made compulsory. However, the choice to make these courses optional within the curriculum makes it difficult for students to access important health information. As a result, many students are unaware of what a healthy lifestyle is. Additionally, physical education at school is offered approximately once a week. This course helps promote a healthy lifestyle outside of the typical classroom setting and provides opportunities to stay active. Its goal is to get students to engage in high-quality exercises. As classes are only offered once a week, students cannot exercise regularly. Additionally, many schools do not offer a wide variety of foods during lunch. Some schools do not encourage a healthy lifestyle because they provide healthy lunches to students and therefore students do not have the opportunity to eat healthily. Due to lack of nutritional knowledge, students tend to choose the unhealthy foods offered. The lunch served does not have the nutritional value essential to an individual's health. These lunches include foods such as fried chicken, fries, ribs, etc. In the article, Smith presents several statistics regarding childhood obesity. It reveals that 10% of 1st grade students, 18% of 6th grade students and ¼ of 10th grade students are obese. These statistics show the looming problem of obesity among young people. The food served in the cafeteria is of poor quality and contains no nutrients. Some students tend to buy their lunch at school because they cannot bring their own from home and it is also inexpensive. Finally, the lack of exercise discipline for many Bahamians increases obesity within our society. One reason is that the Bahamas does not view exercise as an important aspect of our society. Smith reveals in his article that 70% of Bahamians aged 21 to 60 are obese. This is mainly due to lack of exercise. Individuals tend to view exercise only as a way to lose weight and not as a way of life. When people achieve their goal, many tend to abandon their lifestyle of regular physical activity and end up falling back into their old routine. People who fall back on their old routines will influence unhealthy lifestyle choices, thereby leading to health risks. Additionally, some Bahamians are looking for excuses as to why the shape..