Rascon

Kelsee Rascon
Quantitative Reasoning 1030
December 2, 2014
Final Paper
Consumption of Added Sugars and the Obesity Rate
Is the increase of processed sugars in American diets the cause of obesity?
Research shows that obesity rates are on the rise and getting worse in the American
population. A 2014 Gallop Poll indicates that the adult obesity rate is at its highest ever
at 27.7%. Some theories say that if you exercise and eat less you should weigh less but in
reality the population is still showing increased growth rates in weight gain. This paper
will discuss the obesity rates and how the intake of processed sugars in our diet is causing
the rise in obesity.
This topic is interesting because many people are suffering from obesity and it is
only increasing. Our society wants a quick fix to the obesity epidemic by taking pills or
finding easier ways to lose weight. Americans think that it will be the best way to get
back to a healthier lifestyle. Diets have changed throughout the course of the years from
when people use to stay at home to eat a healthy homemade meal together and now
families are running to grab fast food for dinner. The media has played a large role in
influencing our food choices by advertisements, commercials on television or ads in other
various forms. Over 44% of commercials advertise snack foods that entice viewers to
become hungry or over eat during and in-between meals. (Weiss) The evolution of
technology has changed the work force from plowing in the fields to now sitting at a
desk. What our society may not realize is that the key may be found by simply reducing
sugar in our daily diet. If Americans continue to eat this way and pass it over to the next

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generations, over the course of time, obesity will become the normal. It is also currently
causing a large negative impact on our health care and economy. It will continue to do so
if it is not managed.
For the purpose of this paper and to establish quantitative numbers of obesity
rates and the increase of processed sugars in American diets it will focus on the course of
the past 40 years. It is reasonable to explore that the unnecessary addition to more sugar
consumption in our diets has contributed to the obesity rates.
In order to find out if the hypothesis is true I needed research that included
gathering data from each topic. From the information gathered, it required to write about
the comparisons between the obesity rates in America as well as the increase in sugar
over the same time period, to see if there are any correlations between the two. The time
period chosen for the observation is from 1950 to 2000 because during this time there
was a lot of change in the American diet. Researching the internet provided the needed
data to evaluate the obesity rates and the consumption of sugar over the previously stated
time period. Otherwise, it would have required time consuming studies and polls to
gather information and additional data.
The information used to plot the points on the scatter plot (page 3) is from two
articles that showed the increase with the sugar rate and obesity rate from the years 1950
to 2000. It makes the most sense to use the information to see if there is any correlation
and causation between the two variables. In order to plot the points the numbers given
had to be changed into percentages. Once they were changed into percentages the
numbers became easier to plot on the graph to show the increase in both sugar and
obesity.

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Sugar Rate %

1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000

Obesity Rate %

0
4
12
15
33
39

0
9.7
11.3
14.4
23
30.5

45
40
35
30
25

Sugar Rate

20

Obesity Rate

15
10
5
0
1940

1950

1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

2010

(Weiss), (McCarthy)
A positive correlation exists because the scatter plot shows a line in an upward
trend. It also has a strong correlation because the data follows close together. There are a
few possibilities of why the scatters plot shows correlation. First of all, it could be just a
matter of coincidence because they are so close in correlation. It is also possible that
variables may be causing an underlining common cause that we may not be aware of. The

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positive correlation may also have an underlying cause because there may have been
people who changed their exercise or eating habits. Consumers may also blame obesity
on their genes. However, it takes generations for our genes to adapt to the environment
changes while the obesity epidemic has become apparent within the last few decades. The
majority of what we have been taught about health is that if we eat less and exercise more
that we should be less obese. However, the increase in obesity does not support that to be
true because the rate continues to rise. And lastly, one of the correlated variables may be
the cause over the other proving that the increase of processed sugar truly is the cause of
the increase of obesity rates.
A strong correlation does not mean that there is causation. Dr. Jeffery Weiss
stated after a study, In 1993, an experiment was conducted to determine the power of
endorphins (sugar). Scientists inserted electrodes into the brains of rats. After the rats ran
a maze, they could either pull a lever, which would, through the electrodes, trigger the
release of endorphins, or they could pull a lever that provided non-endorphin releasing
food. The observable results were that the rats chose endorphins, neglecting food, which,
in some cases, resulted in death. (Weiss) Each day consumers have their own maze to
follow with two choices, fueled mainly by food, they can choose to eat the healthy food
or choose to eat the foods filled with sugar that create endorphins. These sugary foods
can trick our brain and give us euphoric feelings that keep us wanting to go back for
more.
In earlier days, according to Dr. Jeffery Weiss Early man ate only enough to
meet his caloric requirements. Present day inhabitants continue to eat for a very different
reason: to gain a euphoric feeling through the chemicals released in the body by the foods

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we eat. And what are these chemicals that are so powerful as to induce behaviors that are
sometimes irrational and often detrimental to our health and continued evolution?
Endorphins. (Weiss) Today, our society continues to eat for very different reasons. That
euphoric feeling through the chemicals released in our body creates a physical and
emotional need our brain seems to make us think we need. The chemicals can be so
powerful and induce behaviors that could eventually put our health and lives at risk.
In conclusion, the quantitative numbers have drawn a strong correlation and
causation between the increase of obesity rates and the intake of processed sugars. It has
shown that the data collected over the course of 50 years indicate there has been a change
in the way processed sugars have contributed, not only to calorie intake, but the increase
of obesity. If we dont consider the growing problem it will continue to expand over the
next decades and eventually the epidemic could become uncontrollable. Quoted by Dr.
Jeffery Weiss he said, "At the rate the average waistline is expanding in the United
States, everyone will be overweight in another 100 years . . . It's not our genes that are the
problem; it's our environment." (Weiss) As Americans we need to stop ignoring the
problem and start now to better our future. The best way to stop this growing epidemic is
to choose healthier foods and limit ourselves with the sugary foods we consume.

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Works Cited

(Us Department of Agriculture) 2, Chapter. "Profiling Food Consumption in

America." Profiling Food Consumption in America14 | Agriculture Fact Book | Chapter
2 (n.d.): n. pag. Us Department of Agriculture. Web.
(Mccarthy) "In U.S., Adult Obesity Rate Now at 27.7%." In U.S., Adult Obesity Rate Now at
27.7%. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2014. Justin Mccarthy.
(Weiss) "Why We Eat . . . . and Why We Keep Eating." Why We Eat . . . . and Why We Keep
Eating. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2014. Dr. Jeffery Weiss.