The medical definition {singular or plural¡ªone definition...is...} of overweight and obesity are defined by individual body mass indexes, or BMI. According to the International Journal of Obesity (1985) [,] body mass index is determined based on an individual's height and weight and serves as an indicator of obesity in adults. Medical findings endorsed by the Surgeon General suggest that one possible explanation for the rising trend of obesity is genetics in conjunction with environmental factors that cause an imbalance between calor

The current United States population is estimated at 290 million. If 64 percent of Americans are considered overweight or obese, that means that an estimated 185 million Americans are suffering from overweight problems. The Surgeon General reports that about 300,000 Americans die of obesity related causes every year and that the economic cost of obesity in the United States was about $117 billion in the year 2000. The Weight-Control Information Network and the Surgeon General report of medical research that? provides evidence linking obesity to heart diseases, cancer, breathing problems, arthritis, reproductive complications, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, gallbladder disease and gallstones, different types of diabetes, liver disease, osteoarthritis, gout and many other illnesses. Obesity is a direct result of an imbalance between caloric intake and expenditure. This imbalance is very likely a result of eating fast food and lack of physical activity encouraged by technology. Thus, it can firmly be established that all the enumerated illness and many more are very likely consequences of the fast food industry and advances of modern technology.

What has happened to our eating habits in the past twenty years that has allowed for so many American¡¯s, both children and adults, to have such a high intake of calories? The answer is the growing multibillion dollar fast food industry. A Jack in the Box Bacon Ultimate Cheeseburger has 1120 calories, more than half of the recommended daily calorie intake, not to mention 75 grams of fat. A slice of regular pepperoni pizza from Pizza Hut contains 280 calories and 13 grams of fat. One Krispy Kreme raspberry filled donut has 21g of fat, that¡¯s 32 percent of the recommended daily fat intake. The list goes on, {colon: to set up the list}: McDonalds, Burger King, KFC, Dominoes Pizza, and many other fast food chain restaurants which also have an unhealthy amount of fat in their food. According to the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, fast food compared to home-prepared food contain more of the nutrients that Americans over consume such as fat and saturated fat. The National Restaurant Association estimated that fast food sales in 2002 totaled more than $115 billion dollars. Such a large amount of money spend on fast food proves that Americans are purchasing more fast food but and as the Center for Disease Control reports, larger portions of it. Adults are not the only ones eating fast food. According to the 2000 California High School Fast Food Survey brand name fast foods have become a staple on high school campus. This survey demonstrates a general behavioral eating pattern for America¡¯s youth and can serve as a possible explanation for why 15 percent of American¡¯s under the age of 19 are overweight or obese. Almost all overweight and obesity cases are a result of an excess caloric intake. Fast food restaurants sell an unprecedented amount of food abounding in fat and calories every year. Thus, it can safely be concluded that there is a high probability that the fast food industry is the supplier of America¡¯s excess calories and one of the main reasons that Americans are overweight and obese.¡ªreasonable conclusion inference drawn here¡Ì

Why is it that some Americans can eat fast food all the time, almost never exercise and still remain slim? It answer is believed to be held in genetics. Medical opinions (here¡¯s a spot where a footnote and/or citation would be helpful to the reader to demo

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