Human Services and Health

In America, there is a growing epidemic of obesity. Incarefully. With it affecting so many Americans, it is
the United Sates, there is also an alarming increase ofshocking that there is not much awareness about
diabetes. These concerns are asking people thediabetes. Everyone in the U.S. knows someone who
questions, "how healthy are Americans?" and "Is therehas touched diabetes or who is currently getting
anything we could do to help raise healthiness?" Mytreated for this disease. While the U.S. Department of
understanding is that health is a lifestyle that is basedHealth and Human Services is trying to spread this
on choices that one makes. From the food one eatsmessage, there are other actions being taken as well.
to going for a walk or jog, everyone has a choice toThe President of the United States, with the help of
make.the Department of Health and Human Services, is now
According to the U.S. Department of Health andlaunching a campaign called "Small Steps." This
Human Services, those national and state policies onprogram's goal is to help Americans by making 3 small
health are falling short of their goals. Nearly 119 millionchoices about their health to get big results, instead of
Americans, 65% of the population, are overweight ormaking a drastic lifestyle change. The choices start
obese. The direct and indirect costs of this obesitywith helping them eat better, by using portions and
problem are over 119 billion dollars a year. These statsmoderations with healthy fruits and vegetables. The
help prove that we as a nation need to help eachprogram focuses on getting physically active for five
other and correct this epidemic. Some of the thingstimes a week for at least thirty minutes; examples are
that the U.S. Department of Health and Humanjogging, walking or going to the gym. The last step is
Services is trying to do are to bring more attention tolearning more, since information is easily accessible
school food and physical activity programs. There arethese days changes are always being made to
more issues than just obesity that affect theimprove health.
population of the United States.In the military, the concerns of health are always being
Diabetes in America is another concern that is risingtalked about from briefings to barracks life. Once you
rapidly. Diabetes is a group of diseases marked byleave that military community the issue of health
high levels of blood glucose resulting from defects inseems not to come up as much as it should. The most
insulin production and insulin action or both. According tocommon phase you hear people ask is "How are you
Center of Disease Control, diabetes in youth underdoing?", but you never hear a truthful answer. Most of
twenty years of age has recorded 176,500 casesthe time people just say what they think the other
which is roughly 1 out of every 400-600 kids. For adultsperson wants to hear.
between the ages of 20 and 60, there are 20.6 million"The groundwork of all happiness is health" by Leigh
cases of diabetes or 9.6% of all people in that ageHunt
group. While in 2005, 1.5 million new cases of diabetesIn short, people underestimate their health and become
being diagnosed in the United States were older thanshocked when something happens to them. Then they
20 years. Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of deathtry blaming the physician rather than looking at their
in the United States; it kills around 224,092 Americansown health style. Health is a choice, the choices one
each year. There are numerous complications thatchooses to make about their health, will determine a
diabetes can contribute to.healthy lifestyle.
Diabetes in the United States needs to look at