One in three Americans have excess body fat and about 20% are considered obese. Such excess body fat is dangerous, as the article “The Dangers of Excess Body Fat” by Chad Tackett discusses. The article examines the effects of excess fat on one’s health, how excess fat is affecting Americans, and how losing that fat would benefit one’s health. First, the article examines the effects that excess fat has on one’s body. Excess body fat causes high cholesterol, which raises the chances of one having arteriosclerosis, or “a narrowing of the arteries by deposits of plaque.” It also causes high blood pressure, which can lead to stroke, heart attack, or kidney failure. The article states that, “about 25% of all heart and blood vessel problems are associated with obesity.” Another result of excess body fat is poor regulation of blood sugar and insulin, which eventually leads to diabetes. Diabetes, when not treated correctly, can result in heart disease, kidney failure, blindness, amputation, or even death. These and more are the negative effects that excess body fat can have on one’s body.…show more content… According to the article, the average American gains at least one pound each year after they reach the age of 25. By the age of 50 a person could potentially have 25 pounds of excess fat or more. The article states, “Consequently, people are not only increasing their body fat stores, increasing their risk of disease, but they’re also losing muscle, increasing risk of injury, decreasing activity performance, and further slowing down metabolism.” Also, only one in five Americans exercise regularly (a minimum of twenty minutes, three or more times a week). An average American gets less than fifty minutes of exercise per week and two out of five Americans are completely sedentary (stationary or non active). Clearly, excess body fat is affecting Americans all across the
