Obesity is defined as an adult who has a BMI (body mass index) of 30 or higher. A person’s BMI is calculated by taking his or her weight, dividing it by his or her height in inches squared and multiplying by seven hundred and forty. Obesity rates in the United States have greatly increased over the last twenty years. According to the centers of disease control (2007) in 1985 no state had an obesity rate of twenty percent or more but in 2005 forty-six did seventeen of those states reported rates of over twenty-five percent and three states reported obesity rates of over thirty percent. At this weight it is believed that people increase the likelihood of certain diseases and health problems. More so now that ever obesity is becoming more evident globally, but especially in America. Daily routines in most places in America are very quick, sometimes with very little time to pause to sit down and have a meal. Fast food restaurants become very desirable when someone is on a tight schedule, but this is not the only reason for obesity.
The American Journal of Nursing (2006) explains how there are many contributing factors for obesity such as energy imbalance. For example, eating too many calories and not getting enough physical exercise. Body weight is also the result of genes, metabolism, behavior, environment, culture and socioeconomic status. Behavior and environment are the two biggest areas for prevention and treatment actions. A person has the most control over their behavior and environment, if someone is surrounded by fast food restaurants and on top of that there no sidewalks where they live, they may want to consider moving to another area where they will have healthier options. Food marketing in fast food restaurants and even grocery stores have given Americans quick selections of ‘fast foods’, pre-prepared foods, and soft carbonated beverages which tend to be packed with calories,...