The Obesity Kuznets Curve, a concept traditionally used to describe the relationship between economic development and income inequality, has gained attention in the context of obesity prevalence in the United States. This study extends the analysis of the Obesity Kuznets Curve by examining it through the intersecting perspectives of globalization and biocapacity. The United States, a global economic powerhouse, has seen a concerning rise in obesity rates over the past few decades, paralleling its increased integration into the global economy.
This study investigates the relationship between economic development, globalization, and biocapacity in the United States and their impact on obesity trends. We begin by reviewing the historical trajectory of obesity rates in the U.S. and its correlation with economic growth. By applying the principles of the Kuznets Curve, we assess whether obesity initially increases with economic development, only to decline once a certain income threshold is reached. Furthermore, this study delves into the effects of globalization on dietary patterns, food availability, and physical activity in the U.S. It examines how increased international trade, cultural exchange, and the global food supply chain have contributed to changes in American diets and lifestyles, which, in turn, may have influenced obesity rates.
Biocapacity, as a measure of a region's ecological sustainability and its ability to support its population, is integrated into the analysis. We explore whether excessive consumption and wastefulness in the United States, fueled by globalization, may be straining the nation's biocapacity and influencing obesity as a health outcome.
