Causes of Modern-Day American Obesity
By Elissa Driggin
The economy, presidential election, and Middle Eastern affairs usually take the forefront in today’s media. However, looming behind the news of rising and falling gas prices is a most alarming domestic issue, namely the obesity epidemic. There has been an occasional eye-opener, such as the documentary “Super Size Me,” to force Americans to realize the enormity of this issue. Still, some Americans neglect to acknowledge the pounds accumulating directly onto their bodies. The number of obese citizens in the United States has increased at a frightening rate during the past several years because Americans obsess on fattening foods. A typical nutritional philosophy is the backbone of the problem: fast food is cheap, filling, and great tasting, so why not eat it? . . . As an eating disorder, obesity heightens vulnerability to life-threatening conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory problems…..