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 leading to health risks such as diabetes, heart disease, and so on. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The increasing prevalence of obesity in the Bahamas has become a normalized standard in our culture resulting in elevated risks of chronic non-communicable diseases. In the article “Tackling Obesity in The Bahamas,” Larry Smith examines the ever-growing obesity epidemic that people in our country suffer from. It provides several explanations for the rising obesity rate and also draws attention to our society's casual view of healthy living. The people of the Bahamas have become accustomed to obesity and as a result it has become an integral part of our culture. Indeed, Bahamian culture breeds obesity through its poor diet, lack of nutrition education and lack of discipline in exercise. Our poor diet and food choices have significantly contributed to health risks such as obesity. Food is an intrinsic part of Bahamian culture with influences from Spain, England and South America, proving that our diet is varied and full of flavour. However, despite numerous 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 they are high in fat, sugar, starch and salt, meanwhile there are very few dishes that are nutritionally balanced. Continuously eating these unhealthy and terrible foods will eventually lead to a lifetime of obesity. In addition to our unbalanced diet, Bahamians are constantly snacking between meals. Instead of consuming healthy snacks like fruits, nuts and vegetables, Bahamians eat chips or low-nutrition candy. Additionally, there are no limits to the amount of highly seasoned foods Bahamians consume. Our large portions have also been linked to our obesity rate. Bahamians consume large amounts of unhealthy foods that are not essential for the body. Bahamians often indulge in luxury and excessive consumption of large quantities of food with a lack of self-control. Eating too much unhealthy foods only provides satiety, and the large number of calories consumed can result in weight gain. In Smith's article, he states that food has become more readily available for public consumption. Our rapid cultural change in society has moved from our usual healthy foods to westernized diets and eating styles. With the convenience of American fast food restaurants like Wendy's, KFC, Popeyes, Bahamians now not only eat more unhealthy foods, but they also do so more frequently and with easier access. American fast food franchises are so established in the Bahamas that they are now considered part of Bahamian culture. Along with American fast food restaurants, the Bahamas has opened some of its own restaurants such as Bamboo Shack and Sammy's Chicken. Many people can find these restaurants near their home. With the high calorie intake from these fast foods, individuals mightpotentially acquire unhealthy eating habits, which will result in obesity. Furthermore, in our culture, the lack of nutrition education within our school systems has failed to teach students about nutrition and therefore further contributes to obesity. The lack of knowledge of nutritional values ​​stems from the level of education received. Many Bahamians are unaware of their eating habits. Courses in the school curriculum, such as Food and Nutrition and Biology that address obesity and chronic diseases, are optional and not required for students. These lessons incorporated into the curriculum serve to educate people about nutrition and are an important source of student health. Courses such as Food and Nutrition should be used as an effective means of making healthier lifestyle choices and tackling the problem of obesity and should therefore be made mandatory. However, due to the choice to make these courses optional in the curriculum, it is difficult for students to obtain important health information. As a result, many students ignore the concept of healthy living. Additionally, physical education at school is offered approximately once a week. This course helps promote healthy living outside of the typical school setting and provides opportunities to stay active. Its aim is to engage students in high-quality exercises. By only offering classes once a week, students are unable to engage in regular physical activity. Additionally, many schools do not offer a wide variety of food during lunch. Some schools do not encourage healthy living because they provide healthy lunches to students and therefore they do not have the opportunity to eat healthy. Due to a lack of nutritional knowledge, students tend to choose the unhealthy foods offered. The lunch served lacks the nutritional value that is fundamental to an individual's health. These lunches include foods such as fried chicken, french fries, ribs, etc. In the article, Smith presents several statistics on childhood obesity. He reveals that 10% of first year students, 18% of sixth year students and ¼ of tenth year students are obese. These statistics show the impending problem of obesity among young people. The food served in the canteen is of low quality and is not rich in nutrients. Some students tend to buy lunch at school because they cannot bring it from home and it is also inexpensive. Finally, the lack of exercise discipline for many Bahamian people increases obesity in our society. One reason is that the Bahamas do not prioritize exercise as an important aspect in our society. Smith reveals in his article that 70% of Bahamians between the ages of 21 and 60 are obese. This is mainly due to lack of exercise. Individuals tend to view exercise only as a means to lose weight and not as a lifestyle. When people reach their goal, many of them tend to abandon the lifestyle based on regular exercise and eventually retreat into their old routine. People returning to their old routines will influence unhealthy lifestyle choices, resulting in health risks. Additionally, some Bahamians make excuses as to why fitness is not a priority in their life, as they cannot find the time to exercise. Exercise is a great tool for maintaining weight and promoting healthy lifestyle choices. Additionally, many people in the Bahamas work in sedentary jobs that require moderate exercise. In some cases, people who work in jobs that don't require much physical activity often eat lunches that are heavily saturated with fat and sugar..